The fair runs July 16-20 at the county fairgrounds, 520 Fond du Lac Ave., and is packed with rides, food, entertainment and more.

Open daily at 9 a.m., the fair has free general admission, but parking on the grounds is $10 per carload and tickets are required for grandstand events.

Here's everything to know before heading to the fairgrounds.

Fond du Lac County Fair events kick off early with bull riding and barrel racing shows.

The Immel Insurance and Financial Services Professional Bull Riding and Barrel Racing show will kick off fair season a day early on the National Exchange Bank Foundation stage at the Holiday Automotive Grandstand at 6:30 p.m. July 15.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $19 for adults and $6 for kids ages 3 to 12, available on the county fair website. VIP tickets are $41 and include early entry and a $5 food and drink voucher.

Carnival rides at Fond du Lac County Fair open at noon most days.

Carnival rides from Rainbow Valley Rides include high-speed thrill rides, a fun house, bumper cars, the Tilt-A-Whirl, kiddie rides and more.

Rides open at 1 p.m. July 16 and noon July 17-20. Unlimited ride wristbands are $15 on opening day, valid from 1 to 4 p.m.

From there, wristbands are $25 for each five-hour timeslot: noon to 5 p.m. and 5-10 p.m. July 17 and noon to 5 p.m. July 18-20.

Free bounce houses and pony rides will be available all five days.

Cows, pigs and more are featured in the barns during Fond du Lac County Fair.

The Cow Palace, the Horse Arena and the Poultry Barn will host judging of a variety of animals, including cows, goats, pigs, horses, rabbits, llamas and caged birds.

The Cow Palace will also hold the small animal auction and Little Britches Animal Show, followed by a kids' tractor pull. The Horse Arena will have the Fun Day Horse Shows July 19 and 20, plus the Drill Team Performance July 19.

Erin, Sophia and Mitch Ziesemer look over a pen of goats Friday, July 16, 2021, at the Fond du Lac County Fair in Fond du Lac, Wis.

In other farm-related activities, Nick's Barnyard Adventure Show daily in the Recreation Building will invite kids to be farmers for a day and engage them in common farm chores.

The "MOO"-ternity Ward and Education Center, also in the Recreation building, brings in cows that are close to giving birth to give attendees a chance to see a live birth, meet baby animals and learn more about the area's livestock industry.

Food options at Fond du Lac County Fair feature pretzels, tacos and sweets.

Deanna Hagy of Florida hands Katrina Mikolich of West Bend an order of fries Friday, July 16, 2021, at the Fond du Lac County Fair in Fond du Lac, Wis.

Food options will include fair favorites like shaved ice, cheese curds, ice cream, funnel cake and cream puffs, as well as kettle corn, tacos, soft pretzels, gyros and french fries.

The Wine & Beer Garden tent opens at 3 p.m. July 16 and 17, at noon July 18 and at 11 a.m. July 19 and 20.

Vendors at the Expo Center include face painting and crafts.

Vendors will set up in the Expo Center, ranging from small business crafters to home improvement businesses. Artists like Whimbubble Studio Face Painting and Chonatan Art will also be live, according to the vendor highlights on the Fond du Lac County Fair Facebook page.

Some other named vendors include Crafts by Selena, A Spice Above, Wildflower Wonders and GeoCreations Crystals.

Fond du Lac County Fair stages will feature live entertainment, including headliners Dylan Scott, Bret Michaels and Tracy Lawrence on the grandstand.

Evening entertainment on Leinie Lodge Stage will include Star Six Nine July 16, Eagles tribute band Take It Easy and Fleetwood Mac tribute band Hypnotized July 17, Milwaukee Tool Shed Band July 18 and The Now July 19.

Other Fond du Lac County Fair shows include a tractor pull and demolition derby.

Non-music grandstand entertainment for July 16 will be the truck and tractor pull. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. show. Tickets are $14 for adults and $6 for kids ages 3-12.

Lawn tractors, cars and pickup trucks took part in the demolition derby Sunday, July 18, 2021, at the Fond du Lac County Fair in Fond du Lac, Wis.

The demolition derby will kick off at 2 p.m. July 20. Tickets are $19 for adults and $6 for kids ages 3-12. Gates open at 12:30 p.m.

VIP tickets are $40 and include early entrance at noon and a $5 food voucher.

A wood carver and other shows will engage kids at Fond du Lac County Fair.

In addition to the carnival rides, kid-friendly activities include watching the Bear Hollow Wood Carvers at the Kids Carnival Corral with daily shows scheduled so far for 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6 p.m., though July 20 shows are at 10:30 a.m., noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.

Nick's Kids Show will also be daily, starting at 10:15 a.m. and 12:30, 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on the Family Stage in the Expo Building.

Fondy's Got Talent, engaging a variety of talents from the area's youth ages 2 to 18, will kick off at 1 p.m. July 19 on the Family Stage.