LITTLE ROCK — The 2009 Arkansas State Fair kicks off Friday at 11 a.m. at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds and continues until Sunday night, Oct. 18. Here's an almost complete rundown of the fair from A to Z.

Admission

The 2009 Arkansas State Fair opens 11 a.m. daily Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 18. Tickets are $8 adults, $4 for children and $4 seniors (60 plus). Children under 6 are free. Parking is $5. (Advance tickets ordered before 5 p.m. Thursday are $7, and parking is $4.

Blood, Sweat and Tears

Celebrating 41 years of touring, the jazz rock band powered by horns known for such hits as "You've Made Me So Very Happy" and "Spinning Wheel" visits the Wendy's Main Stage for an 8 p.m. performance on Friday, Oct. 9.

Crazy Chopper

The newest ride from amusement ride manufacturers CMD Enterprises is the Crazy Chopper, a brightly colored, realistic-looking helicopter ride that sends riders up and down and all over. It's one of the three new rides at the 2009 Arkansas State Fair, including Side Show and Windsurfer.

Downtown diners

The 2009 Arkansas State Fair includes a new lunchtime option for hungry downtown diners: From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday there will be free gate admission and parking for people wishing to eat lunch at the fair.

Exotic petting zoo

Located in the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas' Family Land, the zoo allows children to pet and feed animals including a camel, zebra, kangaroo and pygmy goats.

Food

The 2009 Arkansas State Fair presents dozens of favorite fair foods such as funnel cakes, chicken on a stick, cotton candy, turkey legs, popcorn, pizza, Italian sausage, hamburgers, catfish, ice cream and tons more. P.S. After making its debut last year, the Pig Licker - bacon smothered in chocolate syrup - makes its return as a tried-and-true favorite fair food.

Giant Wheel

The spectacular, gondola Ferris wheel is just one of more than 60 rides on the midway.

Hendrick's Promotions Pig Races

Pig races will be held up to five times a day throughout the 10 days of the fair as the pigs attempt to be the first porker to cross the finish line and enjoy an Oreo.

India

India is the home country of the tigers in The Marcan Tigers of India educational show presented each day of the fair. The show includes rare Golden Tabby and Snow White Bengal tigers in an awe-inspiring, 30-minute show for the whole family.

Julianne Hough

Hough - a two-time winner of ABC's Dancing with the Stars known for her country pop hit "That Song in My Head" - performs on the Wendy's Main Stage at 7 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11. Hough won the Academy of Country Music Award for Top New Female Vocalist and Top New Artist in 2009.

KSSN 96, 94.9 TOM-FM and Hallelujah 106.7 Ladies Night Out

Ladies 18 and over are admitted free at the gates from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15.

Lou Gramm

The former lead singer of '70s and '80s rock group Foreigner graces the Wendy's Main Stage on Friday, Oct. 16 at 8 p.m. Expect Gramm's solo hit, "Midnight Blue," along with classic Foreigner hits such as "Hot Blooded," "Juke Box Hero," "Urgent," "Waiting for a Girl Like You" and "I Want to Know What Love Is."

Military Appreciation Day

Military personnel and immediate family members with valid military ID may enter the gates free Tuesday, Oct. 13 from 11 a.m. to close.

Night of Destruction

Barton Coliseum becomes the scene of catastrophic entertainment Saturday, Oct. 10, with Night of Destruction, a demolition derby with monster truck exhibition, along with stunts by Dr. Danger. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the ruination kicking off at 7:30 p.m. Reserved seats are $12 adults and $8 children with children under 2 free when sitting with an adult.

Owen, Jake

The Grammy-nominated country music star appears Wednesday, Oct. 14, at 7:30 p.m. on the Wendy's Main Stage. Both of Owen's albums have appeared in the Top 10 on the country charts, and spawned hits such as "Startin' With Me," "Yee Haw" and "Don't Think I Can't Love You."

Power 92 Power Pack

Power 92 picks up the gate admission tab from 11 a.m. to 12:32 p.m. for children 12 and under Saturday, Oct. 17. It's 92 minutes of free admission.

Queens

Arkansas young women vying for the title of 2009 Arkansas State Fair Rodeo Queen will compete for the title through a riding competition and private interviews. The contestants will ride in the grand entry of both rodeo performances Oct. 16 and 17 with the crowning during Oct. 17's rodeo at 7:30 p.m.

Rodeo

The Arkansas State Fair Rodeo will include two performances at Barton Coliseum: Friday, Oct. 16 and Saturday, Oct. 17. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association rodeo kicks off at 7:30 p.m. each night. Box seats are $16 for adults and $13 for children; center section seats are $13 for adults and $10 for children; and end section seats are $10 for adults and $6 for children. Each night includes a performance by One Arm Bandit and Company - one of the top rodeo acts in the country.

Springboard chopping

Springboard chopping is just one of several logging activities demonstrated during The Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, which features three lumberjacks running through such rugged, outdoor logging jobs like ax throwing, two-man crosscut sawing, chainsaw carving and log-rolling competitions. The show is held two or three times daily over the course of the fair.

The Point 94.1 Dollar Day

Local classic rock station The Point 94.1 presents Dollar Day on Monday, Oct. 12, with gate admission, parking and rides only $1 apiece.

Untold numbers of animals

Cattle, swine, dairy goats and goats, rabbits, sheep, chickens, ducks, turkeys and horses are just some of the animals that will be judged over the course of the 2009 Arkansas State Fair with more than 10,000 animals on exhibit. The Junior Livestock Sale of Champions will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Oct. 16 in Barton Coliseum.

Vino

The Arkansas Wine Competition will include the state's seven wineries competing for gold, silver and bronze awards in 106 categories along with the fair's first amateur wine competition. The amateur wine contest Grand Champion will be judged at 2 p.m. and the commercial wine competition and tasting will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11, in the Farm Bureau Arts and Crafts Building for interested fair patrons. Proceeds will benefit the Dr. Justin Morris Scholarship Fund. Central Arkansas Fermenters will judge the Grand Champion Home Brew Beer at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 17.

Walgreens

Family Value Packs are available at local participating Walgreens for $42.95 and include four admission tickets, a parking pass, 24 ride coupons and $10 in food coupons. Participating Walgreens also are offering $6.99 gate admissions, and $19 advance purchase Ride Cards. (The Walgreens promotions are not valid Dollar Day, Monday, Oct. 12.)

Xtreme foods (So we cheated.)

If it can be fried, it's a guaranteed fair food, with the 2009 Arkansas State Fair offering such common and weird fried delicacies as fried dill pickles, fried jalapeno slices, fried Coke, fried Oreos and Snickers, fried cheese on a stick, fried bacon, fried Twinkie, and fried peanut butter, jelly and banana sandwiches (a favorite of Elvis Presley, minus the jelly). Other unusual foods - nonfried category - include walking taco (Place taco contents in a bag, and eat it with a fork while using your own two legs to walk.), a jumbo baked potato stuffed with pulled pork and a burger on a hot dog bun. Good eats.

Youth Talent and Fair Queen Contests

Over the course of four days, the Arkansas Building will be the home of talented youth from across Arkansas for the Youth Talent Competition and Fair Queen Pageant. The finals will be held Saturday, Oct. 17, at 7 p.m. followed by award ceremonies and the crowning of the 2009 Arkansas State Fair Queen.

Zaq Sparks

Strolling fair attraction Funny Man Mark Sparks - a juggling, fire-eating comic/magician - has a son: Zaq Sparks, a comic/magician who has also mastered the ability to juggle and other useless skills. Both father and son will be roaming the fairgrounds.