Delaware’s Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control has 10 days of activities planned for this year’s Delaware State Fair.

Among the highlights will be the return of a large touch tank in which visitors can get an up-close experience with native aquatic life in the air-conditioned DNREC building.

Each day, the Division of Fish and Wildlife will have its archery trailer and vehicle display set up in the nearby machine lot from noon until 5 p.m..

Other highlights for each day:

Thursday

10 a.m.-8 p.m. – Darrell O’Connor and Andy West will be back to create a multi-ton sand sculpture.

11 a.m.-8 p.m. – The Delaware Mobile Surf Fishermen will be featured at the Partner Booth.
Friday

11 a.m.-3:15 p.m. – DNREC Energy Programs will be featured in the Partner Booth. Learn about grants and rebates and energy efficiency.

3:30-8 p.m. – The Division of Air Quality will be featured in the Partner Booth. Learn how DNREC monitors and protects the air that you breathe.

Saturday

10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. – The Delaware State Duck and Goose Calling Championship will take place in Hertrich Plaza. Registration for junior and senior levels opens at 8:30 a.m.

Monday

11 a.m.-3:15 p.m. – The Partnership for the Delaware Estuary will be featured in the Partner Booth.
Tuesday (Kids’ Day)

Noon-2 p.m. – There will be kids’ activities on the porch. Kids are welcome to come and make bluebird boxes they can take home to paint.

2-4 p.m. – Staff from Delaware’s First State Heritage Park will play colonial games with kids.

3-6 p.m. – Find hints of Delaware’s past while exploring fossils with Division of Water staff.

Wednesday, July 26

11 a.m.-8 p.m. – The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary will be featured in the Partner Booth.
Thursday, July 27

11 a.m.-8 p.m. – Staff with the Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances will be in the Partner Booth to talk about recycling.

Noon-2 p.m. – There will be kids’ activities, including building bluebird boxes.

1-1:30 p.m. – Join a Governor’s Day tour of the DNREC building and stay for the annual DNREC Awards in the nearby Mann-Tharp Pavillion.

Friday, July 28

Noon-8 p.m. – The Delaware Center for the Inland Bays will be featured in the Partner Booth. Learn about the state’s unique ecosystems and ways that we can help preserve, protect and restore them.