Summertime is county fair time
By JoAn Bjarko
North Forty News
Although the Larimer County Fair and Rodeo officially starts Aug. 4, there's
much to do in advance.
First of all, fairgoers can take advantage of discounts on admission fees
by purchasing tickets early. They can catch the parade in late July and
enjoy pre-fair rodeo and roping events for youth and adults.
A six-day pass for Fair Days, Aug. 4 through 9, costs $15. A Lucky 13 pass
for $13 includes one-day admission and an all-rides wristband for the carnival
that day only. Either discount pass must be purchased by July 15. Order
forms are available online at http://larimercountyfair.org/special_offers_form.pdf.
These offers may also be purchased at the Mercantile, 3720 Draft Horse
Drive, near the fairgrounds.
Without a discount pass, daily admission to the fair is $5 for adults,
$3 for children ages 6 to 12 and free to children 5 and under. Purchase
of a concert ticket or rodeo ticket also serves as admission to the fair
the day of that event. Parking at the fairgrounds is free.
County fair excitement kicks off with the annual Saturday morning parade.
"There's Magic in the Fair" is the theme of this year's parade, which starts
at 9:30 a.m. July 30 near the old fairgrounds in Loveland.
The Larimer County Sheriff's Posse hosts the Junior Rodeo July 30 and 31
at the new fairgrounds (The Ranch at Interstate 25 and Crossroads Boulevard)
in the Ranch-Way Feeds Indoor Arena. Events are scheduled from 1 to 8:30
p.m. on July 30 and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on July 31.
Junior Rodeo competition, for ages 7 to 18, includes mutton busting, goat
tying, break-away roping, barrel racing, junior bull riding and several
other traditional events. All participants must turn in their applications
at the Ranch-Way Feeds Indoor Arena Office on either July 18 or 19 between
5 and 7 p.m. To find out more, visit http://larimercountyfair.org/jr_rodeo.cfm,
or call Deputy Gene Olson, junior rodeo coordinator, at 223-6637.
Team ropers and barrel racers compete on Aug. 1 and 2, also at the Indoor
Arena, beginning at 7 p.m.
Sneak Peek Day, with free admission, is Aug. 3, starting at 5 p.m. The
Bill Hames Carnival and commercial exhibits open at the same time. Exhibits
by 4-H members and livestock shows take place throughout the week.
Country superstar Randy Travis performs at the Budweiser Events Center
on Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m. His musical achievements consist of three Grammys,
five CMA awards, eight Academy of County Music Awards, 10 American Music
Awards, and 11 albums. Ticket prices are $25 and $35. Tickets are available
by calling 877-544-8499, online at ComcastTix.com or at the Budweiser Events
Center Box Office.
The draft horse and mule show is set for Aug. 6 starting at 9 a.m. in the
Events Center.
PRCA rodeo takes place Aug. 7, 8 and 9 in the Events Center. Tickets are
priced at $15 and can be purchased as the same locations as concert tickets.
The PRCA rodeo features a series of seven action-packed events each evening:
calf roping, bull riding, bareback bronc, saddle bronc, team roping, steer
wrestling and women's barrel racing. The county fair rodeo queen will be
crowned at the rodeo performance on Aug. 9.
Lots of entertainment takes place around the fairgrounds throughout the
week. There's a motorcycle spectacular, the Kent Family Magic Show and
ongoing entertainment at the community stage near the center of the grounds.
A variety of food concessions are also available.
Two-For-Tuesday on Aug. 9 will offer fairgoers $2 admission and $2 per
ride at the carnival.
The county fair always wraps up with the Junior Livestock Sale, scheduled
this year for Aug. 10 starting at 4 p.m. in the Indoor Arena. The Junior
Livestock Sale offers 4-H youths enrolled in market projects to sell wholesome
meat products which they have raised. The money received from the auction
is put back into the member's project or used toward their education.
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