fort bend county fair

The Fort Bend County Fair opens today with the annual Fair Parade, starting at 9 a.m. at the County Courthouse in Richmond and marching toward Rosenberg and the fairgrounds.

The county fair runs from today through Saturday, Oct. 6. Today's opening schedule includes coronation of the fair queen, the annual youth rodeo and music until midnight.

Here's today's schedule:

→ The fair gates and the midway open at 10 a.m. at the fairgrounds, just off of State Highway 36 south of Rosenberg;

→ From 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. opening ceremonies and a parade reception, by invitation only, will take place in Building B;

→ Commerical heifer judging is scheduled at 1 p.m.;

→ Student Fun Day activities take place from 2-4 p.m. at O.D. Tucker Arena;

→ Rowdy Rates of KILT will be broadcast live on the Texas State from 3-7 p.m.;

→ A student art auction and exhibit will be held at Building B from 3:30-4:30 p.m.;

→ The fair queen coronation will be held at 6 p.m. in Building B;

→ Goat judging takes place at 6 p.m. in Barn H;

→ At 7:30 p.m. the Fort Bend County Reunion Youth Rodeo takes place at O.D. Tucker Arena;

→ The Emotions are featured in the Midnight Concert, from 9 p.m. until midnight on the Texas Stage.

The complete Fort Bend County Fair event schedule, including information and ticket prices, can be found at the fair's web site.
For most of us, it wouldn't be the Fort Bend County Fair without the thrilling rides and noisy midway of the carnival. For those who can't wait to get a taste of the cotton candy atop the Ferris wheel, the Todd Armstrong Midway Show offers its annual Sneak Preview Night beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday.

There is no charge for admission to the fairgrounds Thursday evening, and armbands for unlimited rides are $15 each - or $10 each with two Coca-Cola cans.

Amid the squeals of delight on the Tilt-a-Whirl, there will be plenty of other activities going on around the fairgrounds.

Thursday

�Entries for the Creative Arts Department will be accepted from 8 a.m. to noon, and rabbit judging begins at 7 p.m. in the A.P. George Barn.

Friday


�The fair officially opens, with children 18 and under admitted free until 7 p.m. The fair's gates open at 10 a.m., followed an hour later by the opening of the midway.

�At 9 a.m., the parade begins its trek down U.S. 90A from Fort Bend County Courthouse in Richmond to Jeannetta Street in Rosenberg.

�Registration for Student Fun Day activities will take place from 10 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. in the O.D. Tucker Arena, followed by the event itself from 2-4 p.m.

�Commercial heifer judging begins at 1 p.m. in the Ag'Tivity Barn.

�Rowdy Yates of radio station KILT will broadcast from 3-7 p.m. on the Texas Stage.

�The Student Art Auction exhibit will take place from 3:30-4:30 p.m. in Building B.

�The annual fair queen coronation begins at 6 p.m. in the R.L. "Bud" O'Shieles Community Center on Band Road, adjacent to the fairgrounds.

�Goat judging begins at 6 p.m. in the Ag'Tivity Barn.

�The rough-and-tumble excitement of the Reunion Youth Rodeo will be at 7:30 p.m. in the O.D. Tucker Arena.

�The Ed Maly Band will perform from 8 p.m. to midnight in the Fair Club, and The Emotions perform from 9 p.m. to midnight on the Texas Stage.

Saturday

�The headliner concert on the Budweiser Stage in the O.D. Tucker Arena begins at 9:30 p.m., with No Justice opening for popular Texas recording artist Cory Morrow.

Tickets to the fair include admission to rodeos, concerts, dances, parking and all attractions except the carnival. For more information, visit Web site www.fbcfa.org or call the fair office at 281-342-6171.
The For Your Information column appears daily in The Miami Herald's Broward section. You'll find classes, clubs, programs for senior citizens and children, and community entertainment events. On Fridays, Broward's Weekend section features comprehensive listings of the coming weekend's entertainment events and a look at what's ahead.

Listings are subject to change without notice. It is recommended that you call before attending an event.

THURSDAY, SEPT. 27 EVENTS

30th Annual Faculty Art Exhibition: Features a variety of media, including fine art, digital media, graphic design and photography; 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., through Nov. 5; Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale, 1799 SE 17th St., Fort Lauderdale; free. 954-940-6937.

Beacon Pointe Toastmasters: Learn the secrets of public speaking at the weekly meeting; 12:30 to 1:20 p.m., American InterContinental University, 2250 N. Commerce Pkwy., room 17, Weston; free. Call Carol Edwards at 954-446-6318 or Patricia Brown at 954-446-6310.

Biz to Biz Networking: Business card exchange. Includes appetizers and drink specials; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m., Posh, 110 N. Federal Hwy., (inside The Waverly), Fort Lauderdale; $10. 954-838-9644 or biztobiznetworking.com.

Broward County Mummers String Band: An open invitation to all musicians who play banjo, saxophone, glockenspiel, drum, bass, accordion or keyboards to bring in an instrument and sit in for a rehearsal; 7:30 p.m., Anglesea Pub and Restaurant, 200 E. McNabb Rd., Pompano Beach; free. Call Jack Hultman at 954-956-7212.

The Career Choices-Your Ticket to Success Job Fair: Job fair is geared towards career opportunities in business, banking and customer service; 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Broward Community College, North Campus, 1000 Coconut Creek Blvd., Coconut Creek; free. 954-201-2282 or e-mail pmarshal@broward.edu.

City of Pembroke Pines Art Competition: Parks and Recreation Department and Pembroke Pines Arts and Culture Advisory Board call for artists for the third annual art competition. It's open to artists ages 18 and older who can submit any type of fine art media; selected art will be on display at the Pembroke Pines Glass Gallery inside City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd., from Oct. 16-Nov. 27. Deadline for applications is Oct. 1. For more information or to obtain an application form, call the Fletcher Art & Cultural Center at 954-986-5027.

Expedition Dinosaur: Exhibit displays fossil fragments of mammoths, mastodons and saber-toothed cats; highlight is a 15-foot by 8-foot skeleton of a triceratops dinosaur. Exhibit also includes spear points, decorated pottery shards, and carved bones and antlers; 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m., through Oct. 31; Plantation Historical Museum, 511 N. Fig Tree Ln., Plantation; free. 954-797-2722.

A Flair of Spain: Features works by Ferdie Pacheco, former boxing coach known as the ''Fight Doctor,'' boxing commentator, author and, for more than a quarter of a century, an artist. Available for view 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., through Oct. 16, Pembroke Pines Glass Gallery, 10100 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines; free. 954-986-5027.

Florida Department of Revenue Workshops: Sales and use tax seminar in Spanish; 1 p.m., Stirling Road Library, 3151 Stirling Rd., Hollywood; free. Alberto Collazo at 954-967-1821.

Greater Dania Beach Chamber of Commerce: Networking business card exchange; 5:30 p.m., Dania Beach Lion's Club, 279 SW Fifth St., Dania Beach; $12, $9 members. 954-926-2323.

Greater Fort Lauderdale Chamber of Commerce: Chris Wren of the Downtown Development Authority discusses final design and interim improvements on local traffic; 7:30 to 9 a.m., Tower Club, 100 SE Third Ave., 28th Floor, Fort Lauderdale; $25-$35. 954-462-6000, ext. 8760 or e-mail connie@ftlchamber.com.

Greater Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Leadership Class: The chamber is accepting applications through Sept. 30 for its 32nd Leadership Hollywood class, a nine-month, 14-session leadership training program which runs October through June; $695, $595 Chamber members. For more information or an application, call 954-923-4000 or go to hollywoodchamber.org.

Haitian American United Weekend: The Haitian American Historical Society in Miami invites the public to a weekend of activities in Savannah, Ga., in honor of the unveiling of the Haitian Memorial Monument at Franklin Square. Activities include a welcome reception, tour of the city, scholastic conference, concert and entertainment and a black tie gala; Oct. 5-8. For more information, call 786-621-0035, send an e-mail to haitianhistory@bellsouth.net or go to haitianhistory.org.

Howl-O-Scream: Features performers from Busch Gardens dressed in costumes, food and drink specials and passes to Busch Gardens; 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., Tequila Ranch, Seminole Paradise, Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, 1 Seminole Rd., off U.S. 441 near Hollywood, Hollywood; no cover charge. 954-556-7430.

IMAX Theater: Five-story high screen and 42-speaker surround sound; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday; open daily, including holidays; Museum of Discovery & Science, 401 SW Second St., Fort Lauderdale; $9 adults, $8 seniors, $7 kids 2-12, free kids 1 and under; museum and film: $15 adults, $14 seniors, $12 kids 2-12, free for kids 1 and under; special engagement films: $12 adults and seniors, $10 kids 2-12, free for kids 1 and under; museum and special engagement film: $16 adults and seniors, $13 kids 2-12, free for kids 1 and under. 954-467-6637:

? Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, special engagement film follows Harry as he returns for his fifth year of study at Hogwarts: through Oct. 2.

? Sharks 3D, documentary narrated by Jean-Michel Cousteau features 500 dive hours worth of footage: through December;

? Dinosaurs Alive! 3D, viewers can discover some of the great dinosaur finds in history, including exotic, trackless expanse and sand dunes in Mongolia's Gobi Desert: through Dec. 31.

Michael Joseph Gallery/Artists Haven: September 11th Remembered, displays the Historical September 11th Memorial Banner Project and New York City photographs by artist Michael Joseph. Exhibition available to view 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily through Sept. 30; 2757 E. Oakland Park Blvd., Fort Lauderdale; free. 954-563-5157.