The theme of this year’s Schuylkill County Fair is “Cheers to 35 years of farms, family, fair and fun.”

Monday night, for the opening of the fair, numerous dignitaries attended and provided a toast.

Among the special fair guests were Russell C. Redding, Pennsylvania’s Agriculture Secretary; Elizabeth Voight of Lebanon County, Pennsylvania’s State Fair Queen, and George Halcovage, chairman of the Schuylkill County Board of Commissioners.

Redding said he was impressed with the fair.

“Schuylkill Fair is one of the strong agricultural fairs in Pennsylvania,” he said. “In some fairs, agriculture is pushed into a corner. At the Schuylkill Fair, you step right into the agriculture.”

Redding said there are 109 fairs in Pennsylvania and he tries to visit as many as he can.

He said fairs are a big boost to economic development.

The Schuylkill County Fair, located in Summit Station along Route 895, continues through Saturday and offers foods, exhibits, games of chance and free live entertainment.

Monday night, the featured entertainment was by the band New Individuals, which played oldies music.

They sang songs from The Dave Clark Five, The Grass Roots and Paul Revere and the Raiders.

The band Laredo will play tonight with shows at 7 and 9 p.m. Laredo is a country-rock band based in Harrisburg.

The Mahoney Brothers, who are veteran performers, will be at the fair on Wednesday.

Paul Kennedy, president of the fair, said opening night featured the royalty coronation and the dedication of several new buildings.

There also was a hog show during which a new champion and reserve champion were announced.

He said he is pleased with the turnout of 4-H animals and anticipates spirited bidding during the 4H/FFA Livestock Auction and Awards event at 5:45 p.m. on Thursday.

Kennedy’s main concern is the weather, especially upon how poorly some fairs fared last week because of heavy rain falling most days.

“If the weather holds, we hope to have phenomenal attendance,” he said.

“It’s our 35th anniversary. That’s an indication we’re going strong.”

Halcovage said, “The county fair is a family event. As a county commissioner, to see all the children, parents and grandparents together here at the fair is phenomenal.

“This is my favorite time of the year,” Halcovage added.

“With the challenges of dairy farms, we’re working toward a common purpose.”

One of the favorite attractions is “Circus Incredible,” a two-person balancing act which has shows twice daily and three times on Saturday. Among the performers is Lyric Wallenda, a seventh-generation member of the famous Wallenda family.

Her partner for the show is Simon Arestov, who is originally from Russia.

Spectators were in awe of the couple’s breathtaking performance of spinning hoops, keeping balance on a platform atop a cylinder and spinning on a skinny bar high above the crowd.

The main grandstand attraction on Monday was a truck pull.

Tonight, a tractor pull is featured on the track.

A celebrity tractor pull will be held at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, there will be side-by-side, 4 wheel drive drag racing beginning at 8 p.m.