The South Mountain Fair provides a chance for children to be acknowledged for their personal efforts ranging from hobby interests to animal husbandry, for local and national merchants to show off their wares, and for community members from far and wide to come together and set aside family differences for a plate of pulled pork.

Generally, around 10,000 people attend the annual five-day event held at Arendtsville Union Park, just outside of Arendtsville.

This year, the 91st year of the South Mountain Fair, the event will be held from August 20 through 24, although a South Mountain Fair Rabbit and Cavy Show is scheduled to take place on August 18 at 9 a.m.

Aside from the one August 18 event, August 18 through August 19 are reserved for registration for those who wish to exhibit during the main fair.

Livestock exhibitions scheduled to be held during the fair include poultry, rabbit and sheep competitions on August 20, goat, swine and beef competitions on August 21, calf, beef and steer competitions on August 22, and a dairy cattle competition on August 23, followed by a livestock sale on August 24.

Other activities include a food auction on August 20, a draft horse pulling contest on August 21, a fireworks display on August 22, an antiques small gas engine demonstration on August 23 and 24, and a parade of antiques farm equipment on August 24.

Entertainment scheduled includes a Battle of the Bands beginning 7:30 p.m. August 21, Richie Fields on August 22 at 7:30 p.m., John Conlee on August 23 at 7:30 p.m., Texas Country Showdown at 5:30 p.m. and Pat Garrett at 7 p.m. on August 24.

Other competitions, activities and events are also planned. Visit the visit the association's web site at southmountainfair.com for a complete schedule.

The fair was officially kicked-off in 1922, and continued on annually until 1930, when it was cancelled that year because of a drought. The annual event picked-up again in 1931 and continued until 1941, when it was again cancelled, this time due to a polio epidemic, then World War II. The fair was resumed in 1948.