Celebrating its 150th anniversary, the King County Fair opens its gates Thursday morning.

The four-day event will operate from noon to 10 p.m. the first two days, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and from noon to 9 p.m. Sunday.

Billed as the longest-running fair west of the Mississippi River, the event offers a little bit of everything. Now operated by Universal Fairs of Cordova, Tenn., the fair will play host to plenty of live music, traditional carnival rides, food vendors and commercial booths, barns filled with livestock and plenty of other displays.

Special attractions include pig races four times daily and mutton bustin’ competition (small kids attempting to ride sheep) three times each day. Alex Zerbe will put on his family-friendly comedy show at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. all four days and ventriloquist Jerry Breeden, another family-friendly favorite, will perform at 2, 4 and 6 p.m daily. Children ages 4 to 12 will be able to compete for free in a pedal-tractor pull all four days.

This year’s fair is big on music, including a number of tribute acts who will perform songs made famous by classic artists. The tuneful lineup includes:

• Battle of the Bands, 6 p.m. Thursday.

• A Version of The Wheels, 7 p.m Thursday.

• Ragin River Band, 11 a.m. Friday and Saturday.

• Ted Vigil, tribute to John Denver, 3 p.m. Friday.

• Lovely Lovers, 5 p.m Friday.

• The Travelers, indie folk rock trio, 7 p.m. Friday.

• Kiss II, tribute to Kiss, 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

• Subject To Downfall, alternative rock, 1 p.m. Saturday.

• The Lush Tones, rock, 3 p.m. Saturday.

• Cottonwood Cutups, 5 p.m. Saturday.

• Mojo Overload, old classics to new originals, 7 p.m. Saturday.

• UC7, dance band performs songs of the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s, noon Sunday.

• Cherry Cherry Band, tribute to Neil Diamond, 2 p.m Sunday.

• Silver, Blue and Gold, tribute to Bad Company, 3 p.m. Sunday.

• Mainstreet Band, tribute to Bob Seger, 4 p.m. Sunday.

• Stevie Ray Guns, tribute to Stevie Ray Vaughn, 6:30 p.m. Sunday.

Admission will be $5 for everyone 5 and older; kids 4 and younger will be admitted free. Carnival ride tickets and daily wristbands ($21) are sold separately. Advance tickets are available at QFC stores.