The Kenai Peninsula Fair Association is gearing up for a weekend full of food, music, animals, carnival games and more.

The fair manager, Lara McGinnis, said Monday that now more than ever it’s important to have events to look forward to.

“I thought about what it means to the community,” she said, “and so I agreed to take it on.”

Opening day is Friday in Ninilchik from noon to 8 p.m., where there will be multiple shows on both the inlet and oceans stages, including performances from Dan the Sword Swallower and the Triumvirate Theatre. At the fairgrounds there will be pig races and rodeo barrels and bull riding.

Saturday from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. there will be more entertainment and rodeo events, including more pig races, the junior rodeo and the rodeo grand entry.

Sunday will be the last day of the event with a worship service, more stage shows, a car show and the rodeo grand entry. The fair hours on Sunday are noon to 5 p.m.

Admission is $30 for a family pass, $10 for adults and $5 for youth and seniors.

McGinnis said one of her favorite parts about the fair is that the sponsorship donations get funneled right back into community organizations that help put the event on.

“It’s full circle,” she said.

To celebrate 70 years of Kenai Peninsula Fair memories, McGinnis said there will be a lot to do and be entertained with, including everything from intermittent flash mobs to a petting zoo.

“We went all in this year,” McGinnis said.

This is her first year back as the primary coordinator for the fair, after taking time to recover from a 2015 head-on car crash that left her with serious bodily and brain injuries, including two broken legs.

McGinnis said she’s privileged to be putting on an event for the community that has supported her since her accident. She said it’s her way of saying thank you.

“The fair has always been a labor of love for me,” McGinnis said.

More information about this weekend’s event can be found at kenaipeninsulafair.com.

Reach reporter Camille Botello at camille.botello@peninsulaclarion.com.