AFTON – This weekend, thousands of fun seekers from all over will be flocking to the Afton Driving Park for the 123rd annual Afton Fair, which kicks-off today at the Afton fairgrounds.

Despite this year’s loss of the midway, the show must go on, said event coordinator Dennis Fletcher. The Afton Driving Park and Agricultural Association is bringing in family-fun attractions that promise to please for the highly-anticipated annual event, he said. Last minute conflicts may have kept rides from the fair, but the volunteer board has actively recruited local musicians and vendors, organized games and contests, dairy displays and horse shows, and a number of different agricultural education exhibits and displays for people of all ages.

“We still have things lined up and we’re going in a new direction. We’re going to have it more agricultural and educational,” Fletcher said. “We’re leaning back toward the old-time fair.”

More than 100 school art exhibits will be showcased in Floral Hall, in addition to exhibits of work from professional artists in the area. “It’s not just limited to school kids,” Fletcher said, noting several individuals, businesses and non-profit agencies that will have exhibits spotlighted in the fair buildings.