GOUVERNEUR -- The Gouverneur and St. Lawrence County Fair hits its stride today and runs through Aug. 4 with animal exhibits, harness races, tractor pulls and 4-H shows.

Free gate admission and ground acts will be offered all week, including Sylvia the Ventriloquist, Pirates of the Columbian Caribbean and a petting zoo.

Sylvia will appear near the children’s rides. The pirates, a high wire act, will be located near the maple building. The petting zoo will set up near the youth building.

4-H groups will host displays and several animal shows throughout the week.

Other highlights will include a horticulture contest, fair booths, harness races, a vegetable show, amusement rides, a tractor pull, a flower shop, the high school bands parade and mannequin modeling.

A bicycle drawing, fireman’s parade, mini horse show, fleece judging, talent show, moto cross, comedian, concerts and demolition derby are also on tap.

The schedule:

Tuesday, July 30

• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 4-H Youth Building Open

• 9 a.m. All Exhibits/Animals in place

• 10 a.m. 4-H Goat Show – Sheep Barn

• 12:30 p.m. Harness Racing Begins

• 1 p.m. Vegetable Judging (under grandstand)

• 1 p.m. 4-H & FFA Dairy Judging (show ring)

• 3 to 4 p.m. 4-H Dairy Fitting Contest (show ring)

• 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. Clothing Revue – Youth Building

• 4 p.m. Fair Officially Opens – Rides open

• 5 p.m. 4-H Dog Show (Horse Show Ring)

• 6 p.m. Garden Tractor Pull - $8 adult admission, children 10 & under free

Wednesday, July 31

• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 4-H Youth Building Open

• 9 a.m. 4-H English Horse Show (horse ring)

• 9 a.m. 4-H Beef Show (show ring)

• 10 a.m. 4-H & Open Sheep Show – all breeds (sheep barn)

• 11 a.m. Open Beef Show (show ring)

• Noon First Flower Show (under grandstand)

• 12:30 p.m. 4-H Dairy Showmanship (show ring)

• 1 p.m. RIDES OPEN

• 1:30 p.m. High School Bands Parade

• 2:30 p.m. Carlton Peck Awards

• 3 p.m. Mannequin Modeling – Youth Building

• 5:30 p.m. Bicycle Drawing (Must be present to win)

• 7 p.m. Firemen’s Parade (grandstand) (free)

Thursday, Aug. 1

• 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. 4-H Youth Building Open

• 9:00 a.m. 4-H Western Horse Show (Horse show ring)

• 9:00 a.m. 4-H & Open Holstein, Guernsey and Milking Shorthorn Show (show ring)

• 1:00 p.m. Open Mini Horse Show (Horse show ring)

• 1:00 p.m. Wool Fleece Judging (sheep barn)

• 1:00 p.m. RIDES OPEN

• 2:00 p.m. Mannequin Modeling – Youth Building

• 5:30 p.m. Bicycle Drawing (Must be present to win)

• 6:30 p.m. Talent Show (grandstand) $5 admission, under 5 free

Two free passes per participant 48

Friday, Aug. 2

• 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. 4-H Youth Building Open

• 9 a.m. 4-H & Open Ayrshire, Brown Swiss and Jersey cattle Show (show ring)

• 9 a.m. 4-H Gymkhana Horse Show (horse show ring)

• 11 a.m. Mannequin Modeling – Youth Building

• Noon Second Flower Show (under grandstand)

• 1 p.m. rides open

• 2 p.m. – 5 p.m. Public Presentations – Youth Building

• 5:30 p.m. Bicycle Drawing (Must be present to win)

• 7 p.m. Monster Truck, Thrill Show, Moto Cross (grandstand) - $15 admission, $10 for children 10 and younger

Saturday, Aug. 3

• 9: a.m. to 8 p.m. 4-H Youth Building Open

• 9 a.m. Black & White Show (show ring)

• 1 p.m. rides open

• 2 p.m. 4-H Cat Show (Youth Building)

• 5:30 p.m. Bicycle Drawing (Must be present to win)

• 6:30 p.m. Comedian Costaki Economopoulos – admission $15 per ticket

• 8:30 p.m. Local Band Concert; Revolution; Dragonfly; Echomagnet

Sunday, Aug. 4

• 8 a.m. Church Service (show ring)

• 9 a.m. Open Horse Show (horse show ring)

• 10 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. 4-H Youth Building Open

• 1 p.m. rides open

• 3 p.m. Release of Junior Fair Animals & Exhibits

• 3 p.m. Demolition Derby (grandstand) $12 admission/$8 for children 10 and under.