The Four States Fair will be painting the fair pink in the name of breast cancer awareness for the 64th annual Four States Fair & Rodeo.

Held Sept. 12-20, the Four States Fair will hold several events raising money and awareness to fight breast cancer and promote the “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” campaign.

WWE Raw Live wrestling comes to town to kick off the opening day on Friday, Sept. 12, followed by a demolition derby on Saturday, Sept. 13, and the Four States Fair Rodeo itself from Sept. 17-20.

“We’re doing something different with the fair,” said Dwight Duncan, president and chief executive officer of the Four States Fair, “kicking the fair off with the WWE.”

Tickets are already on sale for RAW, which features John Cena, Batista, Shawn Michaels, Rey Mysterio, Kane, Chris Jericho, CM Punk and others. That group of wrestlers, though, is subject to change.

“PRCA and Wrangler jeans company sponsors what they refer to as ‘Tough Enough to Wear Pink,’” said Duncan. “That is normally one night at the rodeo that makes people aware and raises some funds for breast cancer. We in turn thought it was such a good ideal that we have used the ‘Paint the Fair Pink’ as kind of our slogan for this year. You will see that in the parade. We have other activities throughout the week that relates back to this also.”

Those activities include a pancake breakfast on Sunday, Sept. 14, at the Oasis Pavilion. The parade will be conducted with the pink theme in mind as pink floats and dressing in pink are encouraged.

And as part of the rodeo itself, participants will be required to wear pink. Ultimately, all the Tough Enough to Wear Pink events will raise money for the local breast cancer awareness foundation.

Another change with this year’s fair festivities concerns the open horse show. Typically, that’s held the day after the fair ends, but this year’s schedule places the show on Sept. 14.

Duncan said more than 500 entries will be on hand for the junior breeding beef livestock show, which he said is the largest such show in Arkansas.

Entertainment on the outdoor stage is planned each night, and is included with admission to the fair. Normally there will be two shows a night.

Last year the Agriculture Learning Center programmed special events for school kids, and this year that continues and includes a Sept. 16 day for children with special needs.

As part of those kid-focused events, there will be a stick horse rodeo Sept. 17. (Register at Cavender’s Boot City. The first 100 kids registered ages 5 to 12 will get a stick horse and back number.)

That’s just a bit of what’s happening over the week. The Four States Fair & Rodeo is traditionally one of the Texarkana’s most popular events of the year.



(Gate admission: $5, $3 for children 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and under. WWE Wrestling at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 12: $40, $30, and $20. Demolition Derby at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 13: $15, $12, $8. PRCA Rodeo from Sept. 17-20: $15, $12, $8.

More information and tickets: www.fourstatesfair.com and 870-773-2941.)