Great food, rides, animals, shows, the Northwest Montana Fair has it all.

Northwest Montana Fair events start this week

This year's Northwest Montana Fair promises "A Squealin' Good Time!"

The event starts early with shows and competition beginning Friday, Aug. 8 in Kalispell, and the fair formally begins on Wednesday, Aug. 13 and runs through Sunday, Aug. 17.

The theme of this year's event — "A Squealin' Good Time!" — takes on more meaning because of a first-time highlight: pig wrestling.

It's a competition where four people get in a pen of slippery bentonite mud along with a pig. Then they have a minute to wrestle it into a barrel — butt first.

On Friday and Saturday of Fair Week (Aug. 13-17), pig wrestling matches will be held at 3 p.m. near the horse wash racks. Pigs are sized to the people. Entry fees are: pee wee, 5-8 years, $10; junior, 9-15, $40; women, 16 and older, $60; men, 16 and older, $60. And, winners will be able to recoup a portion of their entry fees.

Thursday is Co-op Day. Flathead Electric Cooperative will offer bucket truck and safety demonstrations. Also there will be the human generator, ZAP board demonstrations and a "human battery" at the FEC booth.

Elise Anderson of Kalispell will reign as the 2008 Pro-Rodeo Queen during the Northwest Montana Fair, along with Cidni Meyer, Princess, and Trinity Williams, Little Miss, but there will be no pageant to name new royalty for 2009.

Although there won't be a pageant this year, chairman Mike Twillman invites anyone who is interested in pursuing future pageant opportunities as a director to contact him at 253-5022, or pageant treasurer Chris Scott at 261-9454.

Work will begin this Sept. 1 for pageant activities during the 2009 Northwest Montana Fair. Pageant contestants compete to represent the sport of rodeo. There are competitions for girls and young women ages 10 to 22.

The PRCA Rodeo will take place Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 14-16, starting at 7:30 p.m. each evening.

Advance rodeo tickets bought and picked up by Aug. 10 include admission to the Fair. Prices for Thursday's event are $15 for reserved tickets, $13 for adult general admission and $5 for child general admission.

Friday's rodeo tickets are $20 for reserved; adult general admission, $18; and child general admission, $5.

This year there will be three concerts during the Fair.

The first is Sawyer Brown on Monday, Aug. 11 at 7:30 p.m. Adult tickets are $35, and $39 at the door.

On Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 7:30 p.m., Emerson Drive performs. Tickets reserved in advance are $35 and $30 for general admission.

Then on Wednesday, Aug. 13, Jeremy Camp performs at 7:30 p.m. Reserved tickets are $35 and general admission is $30. All children general admission concert tickets are $15.

Gate admission to the fair for those 13 years and older is $5. Children are free.

For more information, call 758-5810 or go to www.nwmtfair.com.