Regan Zaremba, 9, rides through the last patch of sunlight inside the indoor arena at the Douglas County 4-H Fairground during a rehearsal for the grand-entry parade July 27. The event will be the first event to kick-off the Douglas County Fair. Zaremba and other 4-H members were practicing Tuesday.

For Regan Zaremba, 9, and Baylie Moon, 12, carrying flags at the start of a horse show at the Douglas County Fair is serious business.

Well, maybe practice Tuesday night was more serious for their horses, Ice and Koko. But the Douglas County 4-H members from Lawrence are ready for the annual county fair, which gets rolling soon.

“I just like to ride horses,” Regan said. “I’ve done it since I was real little.”

Patriotic music blared from the speaker system at the indoor arena at the Douglas County 4-H Fairgrounds, 2110 Harper St. The girls were practicing riding while holding flags for the 7 p.m. July 27 parade of flags to precede the youth and adult horse barrel racing competition.

Some fair events begin Saturday: a 4-H pet show at 9 a.m. in Building 21 South and a dog show at 2 p.m. in Building 21 North.

But most of the main judging and fair events will take place the week of July 30 through Aug. 5. Organizers say offerings will be similar to past years, including the carnival, musical performances, a demolition derby and a hot rod tractor and truck pull.

“There’s usually something for everybody,” said Margaret Kalb, executive secretary for the Douglas County Fair Board.

BR549 frontman Chuck Mead, a 1979 Lawrence High graduate, will perform at 8 p.m. Aug. 2 at Black Top Arena.

Early fair entries are looking good as 134 cattle have been entered and just fewer than 250 entries in poultry divisions, Kalb said.

She said county fairs have become important community gatherings, especially because more urban-based children don’t know much about where their food originates.

“You need to come out here and see where it starts, whether it’s an animal product or fruit and vegetables,” Kalb said.