Houghton County Fair opens TODAY, Aug. 21, at Fairgrounds in Hancock

"Wake up! It's time for the Houghton County Fair!" says this 2013 prize-winning rooster. The fair starts TODAY, Thursday, Aug. 21 -- and the Poultry-Rabbit Show is one of the opening events. Check out the Small Animal Barn to see this year's winners. (2013 video by Keweenaw Now)

HANCOCK -- The 2014 Houghton County fair opens at 3 p.m. TODAY, Thursday, Aug. 21, and continues to 5 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Fairgrounds in Hancock. It will feature Spectrum Entertainment for the carnival and midway.

The Miss Houghton County Fair Queen Pageant for teens aged 16 to 18 will take place at 6:30 p.m. TONIGHT, Thursday, on the Indoor Stage.

At 8 p.m. tonight don't miss the Kivajat and Loistavat Finnish Dancers, also on the Indoor Stage.

Kids of all ages enjoy the rides at the Houghton County Fair. (2013 Keweenaw Now video. Click on x to remove ads -- beyond our control)

Entertainment this weekend will include Midwest Monster Trucks, Cirque Amongus (shows and a time for fair attendees to try their hand at circus acts), Whispering Pines Mobile Zoo with the addition of an aviary this year, Wayne the Wizard with magic shows, ballon-a-tics, and ventriloquism. Kerry Sharp, hypnotist, will return for a second year due to his popularity last year. Ward’s Local Logging Competition as well as Horseshoe Pitching and an Antique Tractor Display are also among the returning events.

Musical acts will include Mike Urbis, Yesterday’s Wine, Tom Katalin, Vince Anthony, and the Country Drifters. At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, a youth talent show will offer nice monetary prizes.

Motorized events include Motocross Races, the Farm Tractor Pull, Off Road Derby, and both a Truck and Car Demolition Derby. A local truck Tug of War will entertain at half time of the Monster Truck Show.

This hen laid an egg to exhibit her talents to visitors in the Small Animal Barn. (2013 photo by Keweenaw Now)

Livestock shows include Open, Youth and Jump Shows, along with the "Cowboy Challenge." Kathy Caspary and Jack Kujansuu will offer an Equine Education Seminar for exhibitors. Rabbit, Poultry, Swine, Beef, Dairy, and Goat Shows are scheduled -- and new this year will be a Camelid (alpaca and llama) show.*

Horse jumping is a favorite event at the Houghton County Fair in Hancock, Michigan. This young rider puts her horse through some winning paces at the 2013 Fair. (Video by Keweenaw Now)

Exhibits, including youth projects, range from baking and preserving to arts and crafts, folk arts, needlework, photography, horticulture, floriculture, science projects, poetry, education posters and antiques. Exhibit buildings are open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

This year the fair is pleased to announce that a matching grant of more than $1000 was obtained from the Michigan Soybean Promotion Committee for printing the Fair premium book, brochures, and passes.

* Click here for the full schedule of events.