The familiar fair favorites — the Horse Fun Night, crowning of the fair queen, the livestock judging and auction, the cornhole tournament, the regular and pint-sized demolition derbies — all remain as highlights of the event, which extends through Sunday afternoon.

The inaugural Mud Bogs competition, where trucks attempt a run through the mud course, proved such a success that it will return this year as well, at 5 p.m. Friday.

Fair organizers also will show off the roughly $50,000 new 10-stall outdoor horse barn on the grounds, completed just Tuesday morning.

One other noteworthy change this year: Except for trained service animals, no dogs will be allowed on the fairgrounds from Thursday through Sunday.

CARRIE NELSON, MANAGER of the Iron County Fair, walks away after checking the new 10-stall outdoor horse barn that was completed Tuesday just in time to house fair entries due to arrive today. The 130th Iron County Fair in Iron River officially opens Thursday and continues with a full slate of daily events through Sunday afternoon. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

“This decision came about because of safety concerns over the last few years (dogs in the barns with the animals, untrained animals, dogs off leash, excrement, etc.),” organizers stated in a post on the fair’s Facebook page. “We have decided that it is in the best interest of our volunteers, animals, and all Iron County Fair attendees.”

The schedule calls for fairgrounds gates to be open from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday to begin checking in entries.

As in the past, an arts and crafts sale will be featured on the grounds all day Thursday through Saturday. The antique farm equipment display will open Thursday and continues through the fair.

The carnival, K&M Rides and Amusements, will offer three rides for $5 on Thursday. Wristband specials will be available from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The fair did not have information available yet on ticket or wristband prices.

Thursday offers the start of open class exhibit judging. It also is Senior Day, with a free lunch at noon for seniors.

ANOTHER VIEW OF the new outdoor horse barn on the Iron County fairgrounds in Iron River. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

Music by Jim Clement, a regular at the fair, can be heard from noon to 3 p.m. at the bandstand.

Horse Fun Night events begin in the rodeo arena at 4 p.m. The Miss Iron County Queen candidates will give speeches at 4:30 p.m. at the bandstand and the kids’ coin scramble will be at 6 p.m. in the rotunda.

The Friend of the Fair Award takes place at 6:30 p.m. in the rotunda, followed by the Miss Iron County Queen being crowned at 7 p.m.

Friday features more open class exhibit judging throughout the day, along with livestock judging starting at 9 a.m. and market livestock judging at 1 p.m., both in the rotunda. It culminates in the market livestock auction at 6 p.m.

As mentioned, the Mud Bogs competition returns Friday, with registration from 2 to 5 p.m., then runs beginning at 5 p.m. at the old practice field behind the grandstands. All vehicles are welcome to compete. Entry fee is $35 for truck and driver per class and $10 per person in pit crew. For more information on entering, call Mike Robl at 906-284-1432 or Steve Gagnea at 906-284-2590.

Admission for the Mud Bog is $8 for adults, $4 for ages 12 to 6, with 5 and younger allowed in for free.

Curious Pig from Crystal Falls will have food for sale Friday night during the event.

Kyndrid Acoustic performs from 6 to 9 p.m. both Friday and Saturday at the bandstand. The band, which played at the fair last year, lists as influences Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, Chevelle, Stone Temple Pilots, Bad Company, Rush, Filter, 3Doors Down, System of a Down and others.

The other major Friday night event is the third-annual cornhole tournament, with $200, $150 and $100 awarded to the first- through third-place teams, respectively. The competition will have co-ed and advanced divisions. Registration will start at 6 p.m. — cost to enter is $20 per team — with competition beginning at 7 p.m., both in the grandstand area. The tournament will follow rules outlined by the American Cornhole Association. This event is sponsored by the Iron River Downtown Development Authority.

Saturday kicks off at 9 a.m. with horse speed events in the arena, followed by a “Down on the Farm” presentation at 11 a.m. in the rotunda.

Laura’s Lyrics karaoke will be 1 to 4 p.m. at the bandstand.

The fair’s popular Kiddie Demolition Derby competition will start at 2 p.m. Saturday, with a fleet of 10 tiny, battery-powered cars available to little drivers. Open to ages 3 to 7 and up to 80 pounds, Kiddie Demo mimics the well-known larger version of demolition derby but has balloons attached to the cars, with the winner being the driver that emerges from the rotunda with the most balloons still intact.

With Bump’s Burgers of Iron River sponsoring the event this year, no fee is required to participate. There also is no limit to the number who can enter — the more drivers, the more heats that will be run in each age group. Registration can be done starting at noon Wednesday at the fair office in the blue Bernhardt building on the fairgrounds.

Kiddie Demo drivers should bring a bicycle helmet if they have one, although some helmets will be available at the event as well.

A new promoter, TNT Demolition Derby Michigan, is handling the demolition derby that starts at 6 p.m. in the grandstand. It will add a youth event this year in which participants bring their own modified battery-powered vehicles. For more information, rules and payouts, go online to tntdemoderby.com or call 231-425-6990.

Admission to the evening demolition derby event is $10 for adults, $5 for children, with gates opening at 4 p.m.

Sunday begins with the loggers/farmers breakfast at 7 a.m. at the bandstand. The fair also has the Logger Expo starting at noon Sunday at the grandstand. Organizers say they would like to see more people at this event, both as spectators and participants in the various logging-related activities. Those who want to compete can sign up at the event.

The open class horse show begins at 9 a.m. in the arena, while rabbit showmanship will be 10 a.m. in the rotunda.

The “backseat driver” competition — a blindfolded person tries to maneuver with a partner in a wheelbarrow through a course, using only the other person’s voice commands as guide — and tricycle races start at 1 p.m. and are open to all ages, with no entry fee. A wheelchair will be available to use in the “backseat driver” race for adults uneasy about climbing into a wheelbarrow.

Soundz of Time will play at 1 p.m. at the bandstand.

Drawings for the 162 raffle prizes — such as more than $600 in firewood, several cash prizes and a number valued at $100 or higher — will start at 3 p.m. at the grandstand. Raffle tickets are $5 each or five for $20 and can be purchased at the fair office or from any fair board member.

Exhibits and livestock will be released at 5 p.m.