Disney star Corbin Blue headlines fair

By Bennie Scarton Jr.

Published: August 11, 2008

Corbin Blue, nationally known for his television and film roles including, "High School Musical," will highlight activities today at the Prince William County Fair.

More than 7,000 of his fans are expected to fill the grandstand area for his 8 p.m. show "An Evening with Corbin Blue."

Reserved seating tickets close to the stage are still available for $20 but the grandstand seating is free on a first-come basis.

Also tonight is the announcement of the winners of the Greatest Grandparents Essay Contest at 7 p.m. in the show barn and a performance by the Bull Run Troubadours

barbershop singing group at 8 p.m. in the show barn.

The fair gates open at 3 p.m.

Also on tap today is the continuing daily attractions in the Kid's Zone. The Sea Lion Splash will take place at 6 and 8:30 p.m. and the Middle Earth Story Telling at 4, 5:15 and 7 p.m. The Children's Barn with a variety of activities such as face painting, crafts and science projects will be open from 3 to 8 p.m.

Judging of dairy goats will be at 9 a.m. and dairy cattle at 1 p.m. Judging of the home arts second exhibit items will also be during the day.

The Deggeller Attractions Midway also opens at 3 p.m.

Blessed by beautiful sunny weather, attendance for the first three days of the fair is up more than 7,000 from last year's numbers, Keith Johnson, fair manager, reports.

The total for the weekend was 27,000 fans, topping last year's figure of 20,000. Friday, which was half-price day, had the largest increase, 5,000 spectators.

"The increase in attendance shows that despite the doom and gloom of the economy, people will come out if you give them a good show. We pride ourselves on doing that—and have for 59 years," Johnson said.

Sidney Flickinger, 81, one of the original founders of the fair and of the Veterans Farm Club that sponsors the farm classic, said he is glad to see attendance climbing again.

"We used to draw upward of 100,000 but with so much competition from other attractions in the area we have had to battle to keep families coming to our fair," he said. Last year, the fair drew 80,000 people but with the weekend's large turnout and an expected big crowd for tonight's Corbin Blue show, fair officials hope to significantly up last year's turnout.

Flickinger said two of the biggest changes, excluding the attendance that was less than 5,000 for the first fair, is the fact that "our initial fairs were mostly entries from Prince William farmers." Now, with few farms left, almost all of the livestock and many of the produce entries come from counties other than Prince William.

"I've also detected a big change in the way fairgoers dress. A long time ago, many came dressed in suits and dresses … and now they are wearing a lot less," he observed.

• The winners of the first two baby contests at the fair have been announced.

In the girls 9-18 age group, Lazoria President, the daughter of Linda Keo and Lamoines President, of Manassas got the blue ribbon and in the boys 9-18 age group Aaron Patterson, son of Heather Charters and Richard

Patterson of Manassas got the winning trophy.

• The top competitors in the weekend Truck and Tractor Pull by East Coast Pullers were announced.

On Friday, Todd Jarvis of Lititz, Pa. captured the 4x4 super modified truck division; Johnny Gott of Port Republic, Md., the two-wheel super modified truck classification; Tommy Owens of Montgomery, N. Y., the modified tractor division; and Robert Martin of Chambersburg, Pa., the super stock tractor.

On Saturday, Jarvis came back to win the 4x4 super modified truck classification; Steve Wilson of Frederick, Md., the two wheel truck and the team of Cory

Forrester/Jason Mellott of Chambersburg the super stock tractor. The winner of the modified tractor was not available.

The annual fair continues through Saturday. Demolition derbies on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday spotlight the grandstand shows, following by Freestyle Motocross Jump-Off on closing night. Other attractions in the show barn include a Flyball demonstrations on Wednesday, Back Porch Band on Thursday, KYDA Pro Wrestling on Friday and Elvis imitator Lionel Ward on Saturday.

Staff writer Bennie Scarton Jr. can be reached at 703-369-6707.