The Skagit County Fair is swinging open its gates today to welcome visitors to the 110th annual event.

The county fair kicks off with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday on the main stage at the fairgrounds.

The color guard of American Legion George Baldridge Post No. 43 and all three Skagit County Commissioners will attend the ceremony, with local singer/guitarist Marcia Kester singing the National Anthem and God Bless America.

Kester will continue with a performance after the ceremony.

Admission is free today and Thursday from 10 a.m. until 1p.m.

“We just want to make sure everyone can have a chance to experience the fair,” said Leslie Collings, Skagit County Fairgrounds manager.

New this year is free transportation to and from the fair. Shuttles are located at Home Depot, Walmart and downtown. The shuttles will operate today through Friday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., and on Saturday from 10 a.m. until 10 p.m.

Fairgoers can expect a variety of entertainment, exhibits and dizzying carnival rides.

“We have a real good cross section of entertainment that can relate to a lot of different people,” Collings said.

New this year are performances by Shakespeare Northwest, a local theater group. The group will hold one performance Thursday at 5 p.m., and two performances Saturday at 10:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Also new is a Beatles tribute band called The New Brittns. The band will perform a variety of Beatles tunes Thursday at 2:30 and 7:30 p.m.

Country artists Jonathan Harris and Joe Slick will perform at the fair.

Harris will perform at 10:30 a.m. and at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. Friday. Slick will perform at 4:30 and 8:30 p.m. Saturday.

For the younger crowd, Jim Valley will provide musical entertainment for children at 2:30 and 5:30 p.m. today. The adolescent crowd can enjoy a performance from Fraggle Rock at 12:30 and 3:30 p.m. today.

Other musical entertainment includes performances by the Konzelman Family, Jerry and the Rough Riders and Marty Davis.

FFA and 4-H members will enter a variety of exhibits with a livestock sale Friday at 6:30 p.m.

“The kids put in a lot of time throughout the year preparing and working with their animals,” Collings said.

Carnival rides provided by Davis Amusement will be in full swing again this year as well.

Between 130 to 150 entrants are expected for the Skagit County Fair Rodeo that will be held this weekend, Collings said. Entertainers Al Parsons and JJ Harrison will lead rodeo patrons throughout the evening of fast-paced rodeo fun.

The rodeo is absolutely a smash and will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Collings said.

“Both (Harrison and Parsons) are just high energy and comedic,” she said. “They really put on a good show.”

The annual Skagit Council Fair Parade will begin at 11 a.m. in downtown Mount Vernon. The parade will follow Cleveland Avenue and First, Montgomery and Second streets.

Coupons offering $2 discounts to the fair that day will be distributed during the parade while supplies last.

The Husky and Cougar Alumni bands will perform at the parade followed by a performance at the fairgrounds.

There are so many people who help make the Skagit County Fair happen every year, Collings said.

“It’s definitely something that takes everybody to make it happen,” she said.

For more information regarding the Skagit County Fair, call the Skagit County Fairground office at 360-336-9453 or visit http://www.skagitcounty.net/fairgrounds.