LAKEPORT, Calif. – The annual Lake County Fair week gets started on Saturday, Aug. 24, with the junior horse show and gymkhana, which is followed on Sunday, Aug. 25, by the open horse show.

For 2013, the open horse show features a revamped and expanded show for horses in harness on Sunday afternoon.

Horses of all sizes, from the cute and spirited miniatures to the classy carriage horses and the colossal “gentle giant” draft horses will be shown in a total of 10 competitive classes.

The animals will be decked out in fancy harnesses and pulling elegant carts driven by teamsters decked out in period appropriate costumes.

One of the more popular classes is the “gambler's choice,” a timed obstacle course with elements of varying degrees of difficulty, each worth a different number of points.

The driver must gamble on which obstacles he or she can guile the horse and cart through in the allotted time so as to accumulate the most points. Other classes include single horse and cart, multiple horse hitches, and various timed competitions.

Classes will begin soon after the light horse classes on Sunday, expected to be around midday, and continue for several hours into the afternoon. The competition takes place in the infield of the Lakeport Speedway, and is offered free to the public.

Other animal competitions include the Lake County Fair dog show, which takes place on the Fiesta Lawn Sunday, Aug. 25, at 4 p.m. The dog show is also free to the public.

The Lake County Fair traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.

The 2013 fair dates are Thursday, Aug. 29, through Sunday, Sept. 1.

Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year.

The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows. This year's theme is “Find Great Treasures!”

Visit the fair online at www.lakecountyfair.com .