October means one thing in Pike County: Fair time.

Mega Midway, one of the top fair promoters in the country, has been contracted by the Troy Shrine Club for the 2011 Pike County Fair Oct. 11-15.

“Mega Midway has been a promoter of the Georgia State Fair for 17 years, the Vidalia Onion Festival for 11 years and the Tennessee State Fair for nine years,” said Homer Homann, Troy Shrine Club president. “Mega Midway is a top promoter in five states. It is a fantastic company and we are pleased to have Mega Midway on aboard with us.”

Homann said Mega Midway will bring 25 rides, including four brand new thriller rides, to the Pike County Fair Midway.

“We have never had that many rides before so the midway will be the biggest and best we have had,” he said.

The Mega Midway will have rides for the brave and daring and for the faint of heart and a large number of kiddie rides.

“The best deal for rides is armbands that allow you to ride as many rides as you wish,” Homann said. “On the midway, armbands will be $18 but, those that pre-purchase armbands at the local Piggly Wiggly stores can get them for only $10. That’s a great savings so we encourage people to buy their armbands in advance to take advantage of the savings.”

The midway will also feature games and all the popular carnival foods and nightly entertainment.

Broken Strings Bluegrass Band will be on the midway Tuesday night, the Alcazar Shrine Band on Wednesday, SheBANG! and the Mystery House Band on Thursday, Johnny Barron and the Waterfall Children’s Band on Friday and the Perfection and Grace Band on Saturday.

CB the Clown will be on the midway nightly.

There is more to the Pike County Fair than what’s on the midway.

The exhibits and displays in the main fairgrounds building always attract a crowd.

“We’ll have all of the traditional county fair competitions – arts and crafts, photography, artwork, woodwork, needlework, baked goods, produce, flowers and canned goods,” Homann said. “Those who bring canned goods for judging need to make sure they are in canning jars. Otherwise they can’t be accepted.”

Entries in the county fair competitions may be registered from 1 until 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 8 and 9, at the Pike County Fairgrounds.

Rules and regulations are included in the 2011 Pike County Fair newspaper tab. The tabs are available at the fairgrounds.

Admission to the Pike County Fair is $6 for adults and $4 for children ages four through 11 without a free admission pass.

Homann said the Troy Shrine Club distributed more than 4,000 free passes for ages 4-11 to all schools in Pike County and to several area schools.

The Pike County Fair will open at 6 p.m. nightly.