Family fun and traditions continue next week at the Allen Parish Fair.

The fair officially opens at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Nov 16 with Family Night and a ribbon cutting ceremony at the fairgrounds on Tiger Lane in Oberlin. The fair continues through Saturday, Nov. 19 with craft exhibits, carnival rides, midway games, food booths and more.

“The Allen Parish Fair is an old fashioned fair, where people can still enter exhibits, such as sewing, art, crocheting, woodwork and canned goods,” Syble Ryder, of the Allen Parish Fair Board Association, said. “It’s a place where judges actually taste the delicious baked goods to determine the winners. It’s a place where farmers can enter their vegetables to be judged or displayed.”

The theme for this year’s fair is “Allen Parish Fair – Stepping into the future, but not forgetting our past.”

“In Allen Parish, they remember their past and what it used to be, with hope for the future,” Ryder said. “A hope that the children will learn how to do all the things the old timers learned, such as food preservation, sewing, woodworking, how to raise a garden and how to care for animals.”

The fair will have rides and games provided by Mitchell Brothers Amusements and delicious food that everyone loves, Ryder said.

“We want everyone to come out and support the fair and keep the tradition going,” she said.

General exhibit entries will be accepted 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday, Nov. 14 with general and agricultural exhibits entered 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 15. Poultry exhibits can be entered noon-8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15. Culinary exhibits will be accepted 7 a.m.-8:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 16.

The general exhibit buildings will be open  4-8 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17; 9 a.m.-noon and 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 17; 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, Nov. 18 and 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 19.

Senior Citizens Day will be held at 9 a.m.-noon Thursday, Nov. 17 at the Allen Parish Civic Center. Area senior citizens ages 60 and older are invited to attend.

Friday, Nov. 18 is School Day. All parish schools will be closed to allow students to attend the fair.

A parade will kick off the day at 10 a.m. Lineup for the parade begins at 9:15 at the Oberlin Recreation Park, west of the fairgrounds.

The parade will feature the newly crowned Miss Allen Parish and her court. Other entries will include decorated floats and vehicles, marching units, emergency vehicles, horses and more.

As part of School Day, reduced prices on bracelets will be offered 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

Advance discounted ride armbands may be purchased by calling 337-639-4376. The armbands can be redeemed at a fair ticket booth for rides for any one day or one night of the fair.

Admission to the fair is free, but there is a $5 parking fee.