Carrie Nelson, fair manager for the past 12 years, hopes to see a good turnout in what might be her final year in the role.

“Temperatures are supposed to be in the 70s,” she said. “Last year was average. This year we’re looking forward for bigger attendance. I think our demo is going to be a huge draw.”

Her office is now in a building that served as storage area. They painted the floors and installed new flooring in the bathroom.

“It was a good move. It’s more open and it’s more centrally located. I was not centrally located before,” Nelson said.

VOLUNTEER TIM HAMILTON puts plastic on display tables in the exhibition rotunda in preparation for the 132nd-annual Iron County Fair, set to take place Thursday through Sunday in Iron River. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

They normally begin working on the fair in earnest about three weeks before it opens, but this year decided to paint the fence at the bottom of the hill so started in May.

“I thought it would be a couple weeks’ project but because we had to scrape it all down, it was two and a half months of scraping and painting,” she said.

This is also her first fair without her husband and right-hand man, John Nelson, who passed away in January. She also will be without other helpers for various reasons.

Parking, which includes admission, is $10 for the weekend and $5 daily; walk-ins are $1.

Fair entries will be accepted from noon to 7 p.m. Wednesday. Open class exhibition judging will start at 9 a.m. Thursday and Friday.

THE EXHIBITION ROTUNDA at the Iron County Fairgrounds in Iron River. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

An arts and crafts sale takes place Thursday through Saturday. Antique tractor equipment will be on display each day of the fair.

Senior Day is Thursday, with a free lunch for seniors at noon. Paula D will be in the bandstand from noon to 3 p.m.

The horse fun night starts at 4 p.m. in the horse arena.

Three girls will vie for Miss Iron County — Gracie House, 15; Khali Woolard, 16; and Emma Goldbach, 16. They will give speeches at 4:30 p.m. in the bandstand, with judging at 7 p.m. in the rotunda.

“I love their talents this year. One is doing welding (Gracie), one is doing her horse (Khali) and one is doing archery (Emma).

“It’s kinda cool. I love when the girls think outside the box. Back in the day, everybody did dance or sang. These girls are like, ‘Nope, we’re going to step it up a bit’ — which is great,” she said.

A coin scramble for kids takes place at 6 p.m. in the rotunda, followed by the Friend of the Fair award at 6:30 p.m.

The carnival opens Thursday, with three tickets for $5. Wristband specials will be offered from 4 to 8 p.m. Friday and 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday. The rides are being provided by K&M Rides & Amusements.

Nelson noted they have more animals entered this year for the livestock auction. Livestock judging Friday starts at 9 a.m., with market livestock judging at 1 p.m. in the rotunda. The market livestock auction will be 6 p.m.

Other events Friday include the fourth-annual mud bogs at 5 p.m. on the old practice field. Registration is from 2 to 5 p.m. Tickets for this event are $10 for adults and $5 for children 6 to 12 years old; ages 5 years and younger are admitted free. No carry-ins are allowed. Spectators are encouraged to bring a chair.

Humphrey Haus plays in the bandstand from 6 to 9 p.m. A cornhole tournament is set to start at 7 p.m., with registration from 6 to 7 p.m.

The demolition derby will be at 6 p.m. Saturday in the grandstand. Classes include for combines, lawn mowers and different-sized cars and trucks. This year the derby is being put on by local promoter Scott Stapleton of Good Ol’ Boys. Entry is $10 per adult, $5 per child 12 and younger.

“He says it’s in his blood,” Nelson said of Stapleton, “because back in the day when you ran the demo, I guarantee there was going to be a Stapleton in every heat.”

Stapleton has been doing a lot of work at the fair. He installed the new sidewalk to the new office and helped with the fence at the grandstand, plus assisted with cleanup like weed whacking.

“He’s a valuable person in our fair,” Nelson said.

Horse speed events take place starting at 9 a.m. Saturday in the horse arena.

The Down on the Farm meal will be at 11 a.m. in the rotunda. Laura’s Lyrics will be from 1 to 4 p.m. in the bandstand.

A kiddie demolition derby by Bump’s Burgers is set for 2 p.m. in the rotunda. It is free for ages 3 to 7.

A DJ will provide music from 6 to 9 p.m. in the bandstand.

Sunday opens with the loggers/farmers breakfast served starting at 8 a.m. in the bandstand.

The open class horse show is at 9 a.m. in the horse arena. Rabbit showmanship starts at 10 a.m. in the rotunda.

Backseat driver and tricycle races begin are set for 1 p.m. in the rotunda. The Soundz of Time performs at 1 p.m. as well, in the bandstand.

Also new this year is how they will be conducting the annual raffle. “This year you pick which items you want to try for,” she said. In previous years names were selected for prizes. The winners will be drawn at 3 p.m. in the rotunda.

Exhibits and livestock will be released at 4 p.m.

“I’m very passionate about the fair. I love this fair. Every year I look forward to the fair, seeing the people, the kids,” Nelson said. “There’s so much that goes on behind the scenes. that people don’t see,” she said. “It takes a whole village to make a fair happen, it really does.”