It’s fair time in St. Tammany, and the week-long events promise to be fun, educational and entertaining.

Festivities kick off today with the baby contest at 9 a.m. at the Homestead Suites-Hilton Hotel. The Princess, Junior and Miss St. Tammany Parish Fair pageants are at 4 p.m. today at the same site.

The midway opens on Wednesday at 5 p.m. with $1 rides, Family Buck Night.

The St. Tammany Parish Fair kicks off this week.

Thursday, Family Buck Night continues from 3 p.m. until the fair closes. Friday, the midway will be pay one price $12 from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m., and midnight midway rides will begin at 3 p.m. with 22 coupons for $20. On Saturday, the midway will be open from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. with a pay one price of $15. On Sunday, midway rides will also be $15 pay one price beginning at 10 a.m.

On Wednesday and Thursday there will free admission to the Fairgrounds.

Friday’s admission is only $2 after 3 p.m., and Saturday entrance is $2 after 10 a.m.

Friday is a public school holiday in St. Tammany Parish.

Friday the parade lines up on Jefferson Avenue and will roll at 10 a.m. along its traditional route through downtown Covington.

The grand marshal’s identity is not revealed until parade time, but he or she and city and parish officials will join the fair queens and local bands in the procession to the fairgrounds.

The opening ceremony will take place at 11 a.m., and the 4-H talent show will take place at 11:45 a.m. Cheerleading and dance team competitions will begin at 1 p.m.

Musical entertainment begins Thursday with gospel night on the main stage starting at 6:30 p.m.

Friday’s band, 5 Finger Discount, will perform from 6-8 p.m. Saturday’s entertainment will include Chris Johnson from 10 a.m. until noon, Russell Walker and Bandera from 1-3 p.m.; Sharon Bertucci from 4-5:30 p.m.; and Chris Gay from 6-8 p.m.

The rodeo will take place Friday and Saturday nights beginning at 8 p.m.

Sunday will be the day exhibits are taken down, and only the midway rides will be open to the public.

Exhibits will include educational exhibits, floral and home economic exhibits, senior citizen exhibits, 4-H exhibits and livestock.

A special feature beginning Wednesday will be mini-farms, presented by the FFA clubs at several schools.

Fifth Ward Junior High will exhibit on Wednesday; Thursday will feature mini-farms by Pearl River, Fontainebleau and Covington high schools; Friday will feature the junior high schools of Fontainebleau, Folsom and Monteleone; and Saturday the mini-farm will include exhibits by Northshore High School and Lee Road and Creekside junior high schools.