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The rides are going up for the Salem Fair, which opens Thursday. Miranda Adkins supplies this photo gallery of what's taking shape. You can view her photos in the slideshow above or in this gallery format.

Here's a link to our previous post about the new sea lion exhibit at the fair.

And here's what you need to know about this year's Salem Fair in terms of schedules and what not:

2009 Salem Fair

Fair Hours:

Saturdays and Sundays: 12 p.m. through 11 p.m.

Weekdays: 4 p.m. through 11 p.m.

Carnival Ride “Pay One Price” Promotions

Thursday July 2

-$10 WSLS night; must be purchased before 6 p.m.

Fridays July 3 and July 10

-$22 WSET TV 13 night; must purchase before 6 p.m. (or until 7 p.m. with coupon from west.com)

Saturdays July 4 and July 11

-Pepsi days afternoon pop wristband $15 between noon and 5 p.m.; must purchase before 4 p.m.

-All day promotion $27 good between noon and 11 p.m.; must purchase before 6 p.m. sharp

Sunday July 5

-All day promotion good between noon and 11 p.m. $17 if purchased before 6 p.m., $22 after 6 p.m.

Monday July 6

-Merchant’s night $17

Tuesday July 7

- Spirit FM/Fox 21-27/Salem-Roanoke County Food Pantry Night. $17 with donation of two items of nonperishable food, $22 without.

Wednesday July 8

-Q99/Pepsi night; $17 with two Pepsi proofs of purchase or $22 without

Thursday, July 9

-Star Country/StellarOne night; $17 if purchased by 6 p.m., $22 after 6 p.m.

Friday July 10 same as Friday, July 3

Saturday July 11 same as Saturday, July 4

Sunday July 12

-WDBJ 7/K92 and Kroger final day at the fair; $15 if purchased by 6 p.m., $22 after 6 p.m.

2009 Salem Fair Entertainment

Musical Entertainment and Stage Schedule

Nightly at 7 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

July 2: Cimmaron

July 3: Cimmaron

July 4: Crobar Cane

July 5: Crobar Cane

July 6: Cimmaron

July 7: Cimmaron

July 8: Glen Shelton

July 9: Cimmaron

July 10: Crobar Cane

July 11: Acoustic Endeavors

July 12: Cimmaron

2 p.m. July 4 & 11: Five Seconds Later

2 p.m. July 5 & 12: Dominion Trio

Exhibits:

4-H & Open Competitive Events

Commercial Exhibits and Kroger Sampling Area

Sea Lion Splash

Hedrick’s Racing Pigs

Jessie & James & Mutts Gone Nuts

Dairy Farm on Wheels

Small World of Agriculture

Pirates of the Colombian Caribbean

Hedrick’s Petting Zoo

Kandu Magic Show

Wild and Wacky Game Show

Wide World of Animals