BANGOR – The Bangor State Fair got off to an informal start Thursday, with community and media members allowed onto the fairgrounds to get a sneak peek at the new attractions at this year’s festivities.

One new part of the fair is the “Close Encounters of the Exotic Kind” lion and tiger show. Vincent von Duke, a sixth-generation animal handler, takes his seven tigers and five lions on tour across the country, accompanied by his wife, Pom Pom.

“My family came over from Germany in 1923,” von Duke said. “They brought elephants and lions with them. They were circus performers.”

During Thursday’s visit, von Duke would not allow the big cats out for reporters to view until sawdust had been spread over the gravel to protect the animals’ paws.

The von Dukes stood outside the large metal cage holding two tigers, one orange, the other white, and two lions, sometimes playfully leaping over one another. Mostly, however, they lolled about in the summer sun.

“They’re basically like big house cats,” the trainer said.

The couple and their cats spend winters in Sarasota, Fla., and much of the rest of the year on the road. Von Duke said he spends about 20 weeks showing his cats at public and private events.

The cats will give three performances a day, at 2:30, 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.

Elsewhere this year, fair-goers will find a brand-new ride called the “Freak Out,” a big, colorful ride, with a light display bound to brighten Bangor’s nighttime sky.

“Basically, it swings back and forth like a pendulum, and then the carts inside spin around,” Derek Mitchell, communications director for the fair, said during the preview. “You can’t just do one thing with rides anymore – you have to do many things at once.”

The “Freak Out” is one of the pricier rides at the fair, requiring five tickets to ride. Most rides are three to four tickets, with 20 tickets going for $18. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday of next week, however, bracelets will be available for $15 for adults and $12 for kiddie rides only, after paid admission.

Fair food also was on hand, with the traditional doughboys, cotton candy, corn dogs, French fries and other fattening but oh-so-tasty goodies available a day early.

Also new this year are two extreme sports exhibitions – the “MD Extreme Freestyle Motocross” show, featuring daredevil motorcycle riders. They’ll be at the fair today only, performing four times.

The “Maximum Velocity” show featuring skateboarders, in-line skaters and BMX bike riders will show off their stuff every day of the fair.