There’s plenty to see and do at this year’s Kitsap County Fair & Stampede.

The fair, which takes place through Aug. 26, features daily shows, carnival rides, a rodeo and even a demolition derby.

The annual event takes place to educate, entertain and create a better quality of life in Kitsap and the surrounding areas, according to its website.

Along with all the entertainment offered, the fair exists to teach children historical lessons and consumers more about where their agricultural products come from.

On Thursday-Saturday, the arena will host a PRCA pro rodeo that features eight events over the three nights. Saturday night is Tough Enough to Wear Pink Night, where attendees are encouraged to wear pink and all proceeds are donated to a local breast cancer non-profit.

Rodeo events start each evening at about 6:30 p.m.

Music is another big attraction for the fair, and this year is no different.

At 9 p.m. each night, a different act is featured. On Thursday, Soul Siren will take the stage. Playing everything from funk and soul to rock and pop, there’s sure to be something for everyone.

Country artist Jessie Leigh will be the featured artist on Friday night. Leigh has opened for a number of major acts, including Kenny Chesney and Craig Campbell.

The main show on Saturday will be performed by Dakota Poorman, a singer-songwriter from the Pacific Northwest who plays songs about drinking beer, having a good time and slow-dancing the night away.

Daily entertainment includes carnival rides provided by Davis Amusements near Gordon Field, as well as a kiddie carnival near the West Hills Auto Plex Center Stage.

According to the fair, more than 100 acts will perform across four stages, and they include local performers as well as world-class acts. Be on the lookout for hypnotists, cowboy ropers, magicians, tap dancers and more.

Also running daily are animal shows, which begin each day at 10 a.m. in the arenas. At the Pet-Me-Barn, children will have the chance to interact with animals such as chicks, bunnies and even a miniature donkey.

Sunday’s big event is the Demolition Derby, which takes place at 1 p.m. in the Thunderbird Arena. Come see full-contact car racing at its best.

Fair history

The first Kitsap County Fair took place in 1923 in Port Orchard, about 15 miles from the current fairgrounds. By 1929, the fair featured more than 1,000 exhibitors. Today, that has grown to more than 6,000, and 80,000 people visit the fair each year.

In 1958, the fair moved to Bremerton. In 1960, the fair began raising funds for the Thunderbird Arena, which held 12,000 people when completed. Today, the arena features covered grandstands and seats about 5,000.