The West End Fair in Gilbert, Monroe County, is marking its 104th year in the community, but celebrations will be worthy of 250 years.

Start with the 250-plus flags lining the entrance to the fairgrounds.

Fair President Dale “Peanut” Greenzweig said the flags were sponsored by people in the community in honor or memory of loved ones. It’s a great community tribute and it offset the costs for the fair association.

The theme is “America 250: Celebrating Freedom, Family and Pa. Fairs.”

Throughout the week, Abe Lincoln and George Washington will be strolling the grounds. Portrayed by Eric Richardson, Honest Abe will also be stopping to present the “Gettysburg Address” in the bandshell several times a day.

Monday is Happy Birthday Day, with two wristbands available for $25 all day long.

Tuesday is Red, White and Blue Day and people can pay just $2.50 for admission from 2 to 4 p.m. From 2 to 6 p.m. rides are $2.50. Tickets purchased at this time can be used all week long.

On Wednesday, military and veterans with ID are admitted for $4. The Swingtime Dolls will be providing patriotic music at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m.

There will be plenty of rides, shows, games and more to keep fairgoers busy.

On Thursday afternoon, Kim Hoffman was in the Queen of Peace Church kitchen, unloading supplies for the coming week. Her grandchildren Kelsey Hoffman, 10, and Reese, 8, were helping.

The church serves potato pancakes, kielbasa and sauerkraut, pulled pork sandwiches, chicken tenders, macaroni and cheese, coleslaw and desserts.

The stand is popular for the food choices, but Hoffman said the eat-in building is also a refuge in the rain.

“If the weather is bad, people flock to us here,” she said.

They been running the stand since 2014 and are blessed with volunteers. “We’re very lucky,” Hoffman said.

Proceeds benefit the church’s capital fund and the youth group conference. The capital fund pays for items such as roofing, blacktop and paint.

Bring your appetite because there is plenty of food. Just a few ideas, in random order: St. Matthew’s Church will be providing hot dogs, hamburgers; Effort United Methodist Church is offering up barbecue and cold sandwiches; Marsh’s is serving up sausage and pizza, West End Food Pantry is serving gyros, chicken sandwiches and mac and cheese bites; Kunkletown Fire Company has sausage sandwiches and more; West End Fire Company has tacos, taco salad and clam chowder; Coastal Cravings has seafood delights; Middlecreek Church offers bean bake and apple dumplings; Western Pocono Women’s Club has different soups every day, roast beef sandwiches and famous strawberry shortcake. Don’t forget about french fries, blooming onions, fried Oreos, elephant ears, roasted peanuts, hand-dipped ice cream, fudge and Pleasant Valley PTO’s traditional funnel cakes.

Greenzweig said, “For a lot of the nonprofits, this is the biggest fundraiser of the year.”

When you’re fueled up check out the gift vendors and get a start on Christmas shopping.

“You’re supporting mom and pop businesses,” Greenzweig said. “A lot of these people make a lot of nice things that you don’t see anywhere else.”

Who can resist animal acts? Check out the Banana Derby with Capuchin monkey jockeys riding on dogs.

Gilligan is a white face Capuchin monkey, and he is racing on Ace, a beautiful goldendoodle. He will be racing against Bert, a black cat Capuchin who is riding Luna, a beautiful mixed breed shepherd from Miami-Dade animal control.

Check the schedule posted daily in the show area by the arena.

While you’re there, check out the Goat Island petting zoo, with about “50 goats of mixed breeds, big goats, little goats, silly goats, but no Billy Goats,” says Phil Hendricks, butler at the Banana Derby.

He said the Goat Island Petting Zoo is the world tallest traveling Petting Zoo and is open during the hours of the fair.

If cars are your passion, Monday night is your big chance to join the fun. With KOI Drag Racing, you can race whatever you bring.

“We have classes for everything. We like to say if it has a motor and wheels we have a class for it,” the website says.