The Kansas State Fair is preparing for its 100th opening day.

The annual fair starts Friday and runs through Sept. 15 on the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson. Organizers have big birthday celebrations planned. There will be throwback events that include an old-time bingo game and a mincemeat pie competition.

Several birthday-themed activities also are planned, including free birthday cake at the opening ceremonies and a birthday cake completion in the Domestic Arts building. There also will be food vendors frying up birthday cake-flavored funnel cakes and deep fried birthday cake.

The fair’s general manager Denny Stoecklein says that although the fair has evolved over the years, some things have stayed the same. He says livestock and agriculture remain “at the root of it.”