OXFORD — Oxford Fair, one of the oldest in the state, returns this week.

Thousands of people from Oxford County and beyond are expected to descend on the Oxford Fairgrounds off Pottle Road beginning Wednesday, Sept. 10.

Fair officials say they have made many changes in the past few years, including affordable pricing, new competitions and big-name entertainment, turning the fair into a highly successful event focused on families and agriculture.

New attractions include the hands-on petting zoo, agricultural demonstrations, museum demonstrations and tractor pulls.

Fair-goers will also have the traditional favorites, such as demolition derbies and harness races, the midway operated by Smokey’s Greater Shows and nightly entertainment.

Capping off the four-day fair will be a show by legendary country singer Charley Pride, beginning 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13. Jimmy Lehoux will open for Pride at 5:30 p.m.

The fair opens Wednesday, Sept. 10, with the annual Agriculture & Conservation Day from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. It is open to all public, private and home-schooled children from prekindergarten through grade four.

“We usually have between 600 and 800 students with another 100 adults, as well as teachers, parents and chaperons, attending from all over Oxford County,” Jean E. Federico, administrative assistant at the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District, said in a statement.

According to Federico, this year’s event is called Back to Basics and will feature over 45 areas where the children can see demonstrations, visit exhibits, do hands-on activities, hear storytelling and go on wagon rides.

Some of the highlights will be mineral identification, making goat’s milk soap and gem sluicing.

Children must be preregistered to receive the educational materials, Federico said. For more information, or to register a child for this event, call the Oxford County Soil & Water Conservation District at 743-5789, ext. 111 or email oxfordcountyswcd@gmail.com.

The Oxford Fair continues Thursday with Community Day. It will include the youth market lamb show in the Youth Livestock Barn, starting at 10 a.m., the youth beef judging, also in the Youth Livestock Barn at 3 p.m.; and the steer and oxen competition, along with scores of other events and exhibits.

Friday brings the return of the popular Woodmen’s Day.

On Saturday, events continue all day with tractor pulls, beef and heifer shows, the 4-H market lamb show and the popular pig scramble.

Fair officials say there is new pricing for this year. Admission is $1 per person on Wednesday, $5 per person on Thursday and $10 per person on Friday and Saturday. Children under 5 are free.

ldixon@sunjournal.com