The sun was blazing and the heat index soared over 100, but that didn't stop area residents from heading out to the 64th annual Mokane Fair sponsored by the Mokane Lions Club this weekend.
Event organizer Terry Howard said Saturday afternoon that even with the heat and the last-minute cancellation of the carnival due to illness, "we've had a pretty good turnout."
"We didn't have quite the crowd for the parade like usual, but it's going pretty good - people are still coming out to support us," Howard said. "The derby went really well last night - John Geldner ran it and he did a heck of a job for us - I think the food is doing good and we've got the fiddlers' contest tomorrow (Sunday) and that always draws a crowd."
He attributed the fair's success in large part to tradition.
"People come from all over to get together and socialize, families come back in - people come back from New York and California for this," Howard said. "It's been going on for 64 years and it's just a community tradition."
Family ties are what bring Terry Rehna of Portland back every year.
"I come every year because I get to see a lot of old friends," he said.
A graduate of South Callaway schools based in Mokane, this year Rehna brought the Mustang convertible that carried the grand marshals through the parade Saturday morning, displayed a 1956 Chevy pickup in the vintage car show and emceed the Kids Tractor Pull Saturday afternoon.