MANISTIQUE — The Schoolcraft County Fair returns Friday and Saturday at the Schoolcraft County Fairgrounds.

Fair Manager Deb Gierke said the Schoolcraft County Fair has been a long-running tradition in the area.

“It’s about 40 years now, I would say,” she said.

According to Gierke, the fair’s continued operation is made possible by a summer day camp held at the fairgrounds. This camp is able to use the fairgrounds for free; in turn, the money it raises is used to hold the fair and pay for utilities at the fairgrounds throughout the year. This fulfills an agreement the City of Manistique and Schoolcraft County have with the State of Michigan which states that, if a fair is not held at the fairgrounds annually, ownership of the fair building will revert to the state.

“Without one, there wouldn’t be the other,” Gierke said of the camp and the fair. The camp starts on the first Monday after school ends in the area, and continues to be held weekdays throughout the summer.

Gierke also noted that, thanks to a grant from the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, the fairgrounds’ kitchen was recently renovated. This kitchen, which is also used to feed children participating in the day camp, will be open during the fair.

The fair will open at 3 p.m. Friday. At 4 p.m., a new event will be held — the Power Wheels Demolition Derby.

In this event, children between the ages of 2 and 10 will compete to be the last driver standing in a vehicle-based battle.

“We will attach four balloons to each Power Wheel … and then, they’re (going to) ride around in the horse arena and try to break each other’s balloons,” Gierke said.

The fair’s midway — featuring mechanical rides, inflatables, vendors, displays and demonstrations, food and snack booths, exhibits, and games — will open at 4 p.m. Friday. Midway attendees will also have a chance to throw water bombs at community celebrities.

The midway, along with a barnyard petting zoo and pony rides, will be open until the fair closes at 10 p.m. Friday. Wristbands granting unlimited access to the fair’s mechanical rides, inflatables, petting zoo, and pony rides will be sold; attendees will also have the option of paying an hourly rate for access to these activities.

The Schoolcraft County Fair Pageant will run from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday. During the event, winners will be crowned in the Miss Schoolcraft (female between the ages of 14 and 19), Junior Miss (female between the ages of 9 and 13), Little Miss (female between the ages of 4 and 8), and Little Prince (male between the ages of 4 and 8) categories.

On Saturday, the fair will open at 10 a.m.; the arena will also open for exhibition at this time, and will remain open for exhibition until noon. The midway, the barnyard petting zoo, pony rides, and the International Barrel Racing Association/Fair Horse Show will open at noon.

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, fair attendees will have an opportunity to throw pies in the faces of community leaders or hockey players/coaches.

At 2 p.m., another new event — the Youth Talent Show — will start. Gierke said this event will allow participants between the ages of 3 and 18 to showcase their abilities.

“We’ve got … a variety of talents,” she said.

A dog show will be held at 6 p.m., and the Three Generations Band will perform at 8 p.m.

The fair will close and exhibit pick-up will start at 10 p.m. The midway will close at this time, and the barnyard petting zoo and pony rides will close at 8 p.m.

Building, grounds, and barn clean-up, as well as exhibit and premium pick-up, will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.

For more information on the fair, visit www.schoolcraftcountyfair.com.