Ella Erb, of Webster City, shows her chicken, Corky, a Housan, to Nicole Hanson, Clover Kids judge during the Clover Kids judging Sunday evening in the Show Arena at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds. Erb also showed her flower art.

The big event today at the fair is the Hamilton County Fair Parade, which kicks off the public side of the week-long celebration of agriculture and rural culture.

The parade begins at 6 p.m.

Here’s the parade route:

It starts at the corner of Prospect and Elm streets, which is at the southwest corner of the Webster City Middle School. It heads north on Prospect — which is a great place to view it; lots of candy is thrown along that street and there are plenty of shade trees.

At Second Street, the parade turns east along Webster City’s downtown. This is another great place to watch.

The parade will then turn at Superior Street, heading south to Bank Street, where it turns again and makes its run past East Twin Park, over the Boone River bridge and up the hill to Bluff Street, where it makes its final residential trek before entering the fairgrounds.

The Hamilton County Fair Foundation Meal & Beer Garden will open on the fairgrounds once the parade concludes.

Music by Jordan Beem, sponsored by Iowa Forklift and Equipment, will fire up on the Keim TS Stage at 7:30 p.m.

New this year, also at 7:30 p.m., are the Corgi Races, sponsored by Hamilton County Farm Bureau. You can see those dogs run in the Show Arena.

Of course, before the 6 p.m. parade start-up and ensuing food and entertainment, a lot will have already taken place at the fair today.

Here’s the schedule for 4H and FFA exhibitors:

7:30 a.m. — Check in for Dog Obedience Show;

8 a.m. — Dog Obedience Show in the Show Arena;

9 a.m. to 8 p.m. — Exhibitors may stall their horses; Note: check-in for horses is from 7 to 8 p.m. only;

12:30 to 3 p.m. — Check in poultry at the Poultry Barn;

12:30 to 3 p.m. — Check in rabbits at the Rabbit Barn;

7 to 8 p.m. — Check in horses at the Horse Barn;

Following the Hamilton County Parade, the Static Exhibit Reveal will be hosted in the Van Diest Building.

Open Class judging will be held today also. Here’s the schedule:

9 a.m. — Open Class judging of Photography;

9:30 a.m. — Open Class judging of Textiles and Hobby Craft;

10 a.m. — Open Class judging of Fine Arts;

10 a.m. to 7 p.m. — Creative Showcase Exhibits.

Commercial Exhibits will be open in the Ed Prince Building from 7 to 9 p.m.

The Midway, with Scott Amusements, will open at 6 p.m. Wristbands will be honored from 7 to 10 p.m.

Clover Kid Teegan Hanson, of Stratford, shows her Corgi, Luna, in the show arena Sunday.
Clover Kids is a 4-H program specifically designed for children in kindergarten through third grade. The purpose is to foster the development of essential life skills.

JJ Grundmeier, of rural Ratcliffe, with her father, Seth Grundmeier, shows Ruger, a German shepherd-Siberian husky mix.

Xzavier Reisinger shows two red-eared slider turtles, Dennis and Mr. Wilson.

Brynn Crawford, of Webster City, tells Nicole Hanson, Clover Kids judge, about her Buff Orpingtons.

Masynn Reisinger shows his dog, Nova, a border collie-Lab.

Luke Bishop, of Webster City, tells about his Origami Ninja Stars.