Gwinnett Daily Post

In this 2011 file photo, Angela Sanchez, 5, top far left, Alexis Orellana, 5, center, and Jasmine Orellana, 7, right, munch on an ear of corn at the Gwinnett County Fair.

LAWRENCEVILLE -- It's that time of year again when the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds are transformed into a child's -- and every grown up with memories of childhood's -- favorite place to be: the annual County Fair.

For the 58th year, the Lawrenceville lot has opened its gates for another week and a half of rides, pageants, games and food, which runs through Sept. 23.

Families, teens and empty nesters have the chance to jump on carnival rides, nibble on fried fair food and win prizes at the gaming booths.

When you visit the family friendly event, watch a live performance of the "Nojoes Clown Circus" and get a balloon animal from Ozseeker the Clown, who will be on site every day.

The talk of the fair is always the Miss Gwinnett Pageant because young babies, girls and women (ranging from newborns to 24 years old) will be crowned beauty queens today through Sunday, including People's Choice winners.

And if sequin dresses and hairspray aren't your thing, there are numerous livestock shows with everything from red angus cattle to meat goats ready to be pinned this year's blue ribbon winners.

FRIDAY

5 p.m. -- Meat Goat show

7 p.m. -- Toddler Miss Gwinnett Pageant (19 to 35 months old)

8 p.m. -- Young Miss Gwinnett Pageant (11 and 12 years old)

7 and 9 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

SATURDAY

11:30 a.m. -- Southeast Empire Lamb show, then Southeast Empire Breeding Ewe show

8 p.m. -- Miss Gwinnett Pageant

4, 6 and 8 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

SUNDAY

10:30 a.m. -- Fleckvieh show

11:30 a.m. -- Red Angus show, then combined breed showmanship, followed by Simmental show and ending with Simmental Percentage show

1 p.m. -- Wee Miss Gwinnett Pageant (3 and 4 years old)

2 p.m. -- Tiny Miss Gwinnett Pageant (5 and 6 years old)

3 p.m. -- Little Miss Gwinnett Pageant (7 and 8 years old)

4 p.m. -- Junior Miss Gwinnett Pageant (13 and 14 years old)

5 p.m. -- Miss Gwinnett Queens Finals and People's Choice

5:15 p.m. -- Teen Miss Gwinnett Pageant (15 to 17 years old)

2, 4 and 6 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

MONDAY

5 p.m. -- Chi-Influence show, then combined breed showmanship and ending with Angus show

7:30 p.m. -- Billy "Crash" Craddock performs

7 and 9 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

TUESDAY

4 p.m. -- Charolais show, then other register breeds show, followed by combined breed showmanship and ending with Hereford show

7:30 p.m. -- Jimmy Fortune performs

7 and 9 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

WEDNESDAY

5 p.m. -- Open breeding ewe show

7:30 p.m. -- John Conlee performs

7 and 9 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

THURSDAY

5 p.m. -- Gelbvieh show, then combined breed showmanship and ending with Shorthorn show

7:30 p.m. -- Baillie & The Boys perform

7 and 9 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

SEPT. 21

5 p.m. -- Steer show, then combined breed showmanship show and ending with Commercial Heifer show

7:30 p.m. -- The Skillit Lickers and River's Edge perform

7 and 9 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

SEPT. 22

4 p.m. -- Dairy Heifer show

4, 6 and 8 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus

7:30 p.m. -- The Alex Hall Band performs

SEPT. 23

9 a.m. -- Sunday School in the barn

9:30 a.m. -- Swine show

10 a.m. -- Dairy Goat show

2, 4 and 6 p.m. -- Nojoes Clown Circus