The 139th annual Jeff Davis Parish Fair will get under way Sept. 30 and runs through Oct. 5 at the parish fairgrounds, 801 South Lake Arthur Avenue, Jennings.

“The community can expect all the fun, family events like we have always had in the past,” Fair Board Vice President Kori Myers said. “It’s a community event and people can come and see what our communities and kids are doing.”

The fall festival will feature exhibits of area crafts, livestocks shows, commercial booths, as well as a talent show, queen’s pageant, food booths, carnivals rides, midway games, a parade and more.

“We want people to just come and enjoy themselves in a great environment that supports the community as a whole,” Myers said.

The fair will open 5-11 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Friday and noon-11 p.m. on Saturday. Armbands will be available for carnival rides and games.

A $2 per person gate admission will be charged on Friday and Saturday beginning at 5 p.m. Proceeds from the gate fee will help cover the cost of providing extra security for the event, according to Myers.

Single entry for all events will be at the main gate located between the multipurpose building and the school booth exhibit building.

The Mighty Thomas Carnival returns this year with traditional carnival rides and midway games for all ages to enjoy.

Local school and church groups will be selling crawfish etouffee, fried fish, barbecue pork steak, pork steak sandwiches, barbecue hamburgers, pulled pork sandwiches and nachos, pasta, boudin balls, hot links, frito pies, sweet dough pies, funnel cakes, onion blossoms, fried oreos, fried Snickers and more.

“These are all school or church organizations raising money for school clubs or to support the work the local churches are doing in our communities,” Myers said. “So all the money they are raising at the local food booths, it all goes back to our schools and our community.”

School booths can begin setting up on Monday-Tuesday with judging for all school, 4-H and Future Farmers of America exhibits scheduled for Wednesday. All other exhibits can be entered on Tuesday with judging scheduled to take place Thursday.

The theme for this year’s fair is community.

The fair officially kicks off at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday with the 31st annual Jeff Davis Parish Talent Show at the fairgrounds arena.

The event will spotlight the hidden talents of local residents of all ages from dancing and singing to cheering, karate and more.

There will be first, second and third place winners in the groups and adult division in each age division. The first place will receive $60, second place will receive $40 and third place winners will receive $20.

There will be an overall winner for the solos or duets and an overall winner for the groups. Highest score wins and will receive a plaque.

All Jeff Davis Parish residents are invited to be part of the entertainment.

Deadline to enter the talent show is Monday. Sept. 30.

Judging of agricultural and homemaking exhibits takes place at 9 a.m. Thursday.

The annual Queen’s Pageant is set for 6 p.m. Thursday at the fairgrounds.

Juniors and seniors from all area high schools will be vying for the honor of reigning as the 2024 fair queen and her court.

The queens, along with winners of the Jeff Davis Parish Fair Little Miss, Teen and MS Jeff Davis Parish Fair Queen’s Pageant will ride in the fair parade.

Festivities continue with the annual fair parade and School Day on Friday, Oct. 4.

The parade will roll through downtown Jennings at 9 a.m. It will feature local pageant royalty, school clubs, marching teams, dance lines and cheer teams, decorated floats and vehicles, fire trucks, horses and more.

Grand marshal will be Sandra Guillory of Elton. Guidry has served as the assistant director of the talent show for several years and was recently appointed director.

Judging of livestock, poultry and rabbits will be held at noon on Friday.

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