By Marie McCain
The Cincinnati Enquirer

BATAVIA - Let the fun begin.

Today is the first day of the Syrian Shrine Batavia Rodeo & Festival - an event the local Shriner group hopes to hold annually.

The rodeo, which will last through the weekend, kicks off tonight with a festival featuring rides, food, games, chances at cash prizes and a chance to win a 2003 Freelander-SE Land Rover, according to Jan Apro, a spokesman for the Syrian Shrine Center.

A parade will be held Friday along Batavia's Main Street, with fire departments and school groups from across Clermont County.

Rodeo shows will be held Friday and Saturday nights; the event will end Sunday.

Rodeo tickets can be purchased for $5.

Tickets for the Land Rover drawing are $50 each. The drawing is scheduled for August.

Only 2,000 tickets will be sold, officials added.

The rodeo and festival will be held on the grounds of the Red Barn Flea Market at Haskell Lane and Main Street in Batavia.

Festival times today and Friday are 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

On Saturday it will run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundaywill be 1 to 9 p.m.

For ticket information call 751-3800. For rodeo information, call (937) 392-0394.