High gas prices could keep many families from leaving Cayuga County this Fourth of July weekend. But there is still plenty summer fun right here.

Starting tonight, the county fair will open its gates and carry on through the weekend. While the annual event will feature plenty of time-honored favorites - animal shows, agriculture exhibits, carnival rides and food on a stick - there will also be several new activities.

“We want it to be community oriented, and we want it to be youth oriented,” said Bill Faulkner, fair president, who added that approximately 15,000 visitors came to the fair last year. “The numbers have been up quite a bit for the last few years.”

This year's fair will feature the additions of a competitive floral arrangement show, as well as free live music Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the stage in front of the Grange building.

This will also be the first year the fair sponsors a full concert. Taking place on Friday, the “Country 4 X 4 Concert” will feature Nashville performers Jamie O'Neal, Rhett Akins, Doug Stone and Wes Earl.

One $30 cover charge means a full afternoon of music starting at 2:30 p.m. and followed by fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Unlike many concerts, the fair show will allow guests to meander in and out throughout the show, according to John Lester, the fair's director.

“We want people to walk out, have some fair food and enjoy the midway,” Lester said. “Then, you can walk back in and enjoy the music again.”

The rest of the fair will feature dozens of arts and crafts vendors, hay bailing contests and pedal-powered tractor pulls for the children. There will also be daily drawings in which each visitor has a chance to win prizes donated by local businesses.

And what would a fair be without animals? There will be plenty of chances to see sheep, goats, cattle, horses, rabbits and more throughout the weekend.

Faulkner, who has been involved with the fair's organization for 15 years, said Cayuga County has a pretty relaxed festival compared to others in the area. Part of that has to do with the event's cover charge, or lack thereof. Since people do not have to pay to park or get in, they can come and go as they please, Faulkner said.

“It is a lot more relaxed than the state fair, which has more hustle and bustle to it,” Faulkner said.

But even a relaxed fair takes a lot of work. Both Faulkner and Lester said the event's organizers started planning for this weekend the day after last year's fair shut down.

Officials have also put a lot of work into erecting a new horse barn after the structure burned in a fire. The final touches were just finished last week, Lester said.

“There is lots of great food, lots of new vendors,” Lester said, “and the animals will be here all week.”

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.

If you go

What: Cayuga County Fair

When: Today through Sunday, July 6

Where: Cayuga County Fairgrounds, Route 31, Weedsport

Cost: Parking and admission both free

Info: Visit www.cayugacounty-fair.org

Today at the fair:

9 a.m. - 4-H horse show

4 p.m. - Pedal tractor pull

5 p.m. - Ribbon cutting ceremony, exhibits and vendors open

5 p.m. - Floral contest entries due

5 to 11 p.m. - All midway rides $1

7 p.m. - Gypsy Fire Band performs for free