The Gwinnett County Fair kicks in to high gear Thursday with livestock shows, midway rides, music, pageants and food galore.

The fair starts at 4 p.m. and runs for 10 days at the Gwinnett County Fairgrounds in Lawrenceville.

One of the main attractions is the cattle show, which is the second largest in the state. The show gives visitors a chance to learn about hogs, goats and lambs and to “see the animals on the hoof versus the grocery store,” fair manager Dale Thurman said.

Those with a sense of adventure can hop aboard the approximately 50 fair rides. Although rides are in addition to the $5 general admission fee, Thurman said the fair offers specials. Thursday and Monday through Thursday of next week, an empty Coke can and a $15 hand stamp will allow patrons to ride any of the rides as many times as they want.

New this year is folk hero Okefenokee Joe, who will play the guitar and share stories about the Okefenokee Swamp. “I think the kids will get a kick out of it,” Thurman said.

Those with hardy appetites can indulge in candy apples, hotdogs, vegetables and homemade pudding among the many offerings.

And the fair wouldn’t be complete without the Miss Gwinnett County Youth Pageants. More than 100 girls, ranging from infants to 17 years of age, will compete in nine pageants. The money raised pays for a scholarship award for the Miss Gwinnett Pageant. The winner of that competition enters the Miss Georgia contest next June in Columbus.