ALTENBURG -- The East Perry Community Fair will kick off at 1:30 p.m. today with a parade down Main Street in Altenburg.

Donald Welge, president and general manager of Gilster-Mary Lee Corp., will serve as grand marshall. A lifelong resident of Chester, Ill., he began working for the company in 1957.

Today, Gilster-Mary Lee has 12 plants, including one in Perry County, and employees 3,000.

Opening ceremonies for the fair will be conducted near the tractor-pull track. At kiddie tractor pull will be at 3:30 p.m., an antique tractor pull at 6:30 p.m. Frank Ray and the Cedar Hill Band, a bluegrass band from Hillsboro, will perform at 6:30 p.m. on the fairgrounds stage.

On Saturday, the program is livestock oriented, with judging of various animals all day long. The popular mule jumping competition is scheduled from 5:30 p.m.

Stage entertainment Saturday will include a country dance group at 1 p.m. and music by Little Rock from 4:30-8:30 p.m. The fair will close at 9:30 p.m.

Admission to the grounds, parking and all entertainment and events is free.