Today marks the first official day of the Choctaw Indian Fair.

    Gates open at 11 a.m. This year’s theme for the fair is “Past, present and future,” said tribal Direct of Public Information Misty Dreifuss.

    “We have the Oak Ridge Boys being the past,” Dreifuss said. “The present is represented by Gary Allan, and to the future we have Jerrod Niemann, who we know that one day he will be just as big as the Oak Ridge Boys and Gary Allan.”

    Events for the 66th Annual Choctaw Indian Fair events are as follows:

    • Wednesday: Mississippi Braves Meet & Greet at 11 a.m.; Choctaw social dancing at 4 p.m.; Choctaw Indian Princess Pageant at 7 p.m.; and World Series Stickball at 10 p.m.    

    • Thursday: Choctaw Social Dancing at 6 p.m.; Got Gospel Singing Challenge winner at 7 p.m.; Oak Ridge Boys concert at 8:30 p.m.; and World Series Stickball at 10:15 p.m.

    • Friday: Choctaw Social Dancing at 6 p.m.; Living Traditions Dance Troupe at 7 p.m.; Jerrod Niemann concert at 8:30 p.m.; and World Series Stickball at 10:15 p.m.

    • Saturday: Choctaw Social Dancing at 5 p.m.; closing ceremonies with Chief Phyliss J. Anderson at 6 p.m.; Gary Allan concert at 8:30 p.m.; and World Series Stickball at 10:15 p.m.

    For ticket information go to: www.choctawindianfair.com.

    Dreifuss said putting the fair together each year is a huge undertaking.

    “The entertainment committee starts immediately right after the previous fair ends,” Dreifuss said. “They take a little bit of a break in August and then immediately pick it back up and start to work on a plan on who to bring to the fair next year that would bring a crowd, and put on a good show.”