The demolition derby is the highlight of the opening day of the Navan Fair which opens today at 4 p.m. and runs until Sunday. File photo

Organizers are making the final preparations for this year's Navan Fair which gets underway at 4 p.m. today at the Navan Fairgrounds.

Animal lovers can see the Jersey Dairy Cattle Show in the Navan Arena at 6 p.m. and Ayrshire and Holstein Cattle Show at 7 p.m. which is the same time the Navan Fair Ambassador will be selected in the Navan Community Hall on the second floor of the arena.

The theme of this year's Fair is "Here we grow again" and many of the attractions from last year's Fair are back by popular demand like the musket demonstrations by the 78th Fraser Highlanders and the President's Choice SuperDog Wild, Wild Woof Show.

Tthe opening day highlight will be the demolition derby which traditionally attracts huge crowds. Thursday night is reserved for the smaller four-cylinder cars while the larger six-cylinder vehicles will do battle on Friday night. Both events get underway at 7 p.m.

After the demolition derby, the cover band Quarter to Six will keep things rocking under the Domes along with headliners Highway Sunrise. The four-member cover band plays a mix of classic rock, pop, and country music.

Nova Scotia country music legend George Canyon will take to the stage on Friday night. The multiple Juno and CCMA Award recipient will play a variety of songs from his vast repertoire that includes 12 studio albums.

Another highlight on Friday will be three performances by the high-flying President's Choice Super Dogs which have appeared on ESPN and the Rick Mercer Show. These amazing canines are at the centre of a show that is fast-paced, interactive, heart-warming and hilarious. The dogs will also perform three times on Saturday and Sunday.

Inside the Navan Arena on Friday, preliminary judging will be done in the Heavy Horse Harness Classes at 6:30 p.m. Little Ray's Reptiles will also present their Animals of Wizardry show at noon, 2 and 4 p.m. in the Navan Curling Club.

Finally, visitors to the midway will be able to purchase a wristband for $30 which will allow them to enjoy limitless rides for the entire day.

Saturday's schedule of events will kick off with the annual Navan Fair breakfast at 8 a.m. in St. Mary's Hall on Colonial Road. The annual Navan Fair Parade will get underway at 10:45 a.m. along Colonial Road, while inside the arena judging will proceed in the Heavy Horse Show at 9 a.m. and the Heavy Horse Harness Classes at 11 a.m. They will be followed into the arena by the light horses at 12:30 p.m.

The Tractor and Truck Pull will begin at noon which is also the same time Little Ray's Reptiles will present their Animals of Wizardry Show in the Curling Club. At 12:30 p.m. the 78th Fraser Highlanders will perform their musket demonstration under the Domes. The President's Choice Super Dogs will do their thing at 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 4:30 p.m., and Little Ray's Reptiles will be back at 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Saturday's grandstand show under the Domes will feature Ottawa Valley country artists Rainwater Whiskey. They will be followed on stage by Chad Brownlee fresh off his 2017 Juno nomination for Country Album of the Year for his latest release Hearts on Fire.

The Fair will come to a close on Sunday, Aug. 12 with a series of performances by The Bowes Brothers at 1 p.m., The Riley New Band at 2:45 p.m., and The River Town Saints at 4 p.m.

Sunday's lineup will also feature the popular Baby Show at 11 a.m. on the second floor of the arena, and two performances by the President's Choice Super Dogs at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m.

For more information on this year's Navan Fair visit www.navanfair.com.

(This story was made possible thanks to the generous support of our local business partners.)