Park County Fair gets underway

Posted 7/23/19

This week’s Park County Fair promises fun for the whole family, from spinning carnival rides to smashing cars to a pair of country music stars.

The annual fair, with a theme of “More …

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Park County Fair gets underway

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This week’s Park County Fair promises fun for the whole family, from spinning carnival rides to smashing cars to a pair of country music stars.

The annual fair, with a theme of “More than you imagined,” celebrates the area’s agricultural heritage, pride and local traditions.

Country musician Ned LeDoux, a Kaycee native and the son of Wyoming legend Chris LeDoux, is set to perform on Thursday. Plus, one of Wyoming’s other country music standouts — Chancey Williams and the Younger Brothers Band — will open the 7 p.m. show.

“A couple Wyoming boys, some Wyoming talent. ... I think people will enjoy that,” Park County Buildings and Grounds Superintendent Mike Garza said of the headliners.

Pig mud wrestling will kick off the lineup of grandstand entertainment tonight (Tuesday). Admission is free for the 7 p.m. event. It features four-person teams scrambling in wet bentonite in an attempt to get a pig into a barrel as fast as possible.

At 5 p.m. Wednesday, the ranch rodeo will return to the horse arenas just west of the grandstands for a third straight year. A new addition is mutton busting — where young cowboys and cowgirls will attempt to hang on to wild and wooly sheep. Wednesday is Park County Day at the fair and will feature a variety of special activities, from a watermelon-eating contest to kids’ races to an ice cream social. The day’s Bred & Fed Contest will feature a competition between animals born and raised in Park County.

The Knights of Valour, which last performed at the fair several years ago, will bring their jousting performance back before local crowds at 7 p.m. Friday.

Closing out the fair on Saturday will be the ever-popular demolition derby beginning at 6 p.m., which is always a top draw. Also on Saturday, the annual fair parade will roll through downtown at 10 a.m., while the Junior Livestock Sale follows at 1 p.m.

With just their ticket for admission, fair-goers can also enjoy a variety of free entertainment throughout the week.

This year’s line-up on the free stage includes musicians The Rewinders, Steve Lebruska, Foreign Figures and Bri Ray and magicians Ole Doc EZee and Disgo. Local cloggers also will perform throughout the week.

Kids of all ages, meanwhile, can check out the Kids’ Zone for activities like laser tag, a big bubble show and horse show performances. Polestar Outdoors, based in Powell, will provide hands-on lessons in safe archery and shooting.

Like any good fair, the Park County event will also feature traditional 4-H and FFA contests revolving around swine, poultry, sheep, rabbits, goats, cattle and horses.

Fairgoers can also check out a host of exhibits: more than 6,200 had been submitted as of Friday and most will be featured at Heart Mountain Hall.

And of course, there will be a variety of food and other vendors. Beyond some familiar names, fairgoers will find new offerings, including a couple local stands selling donuts and hot dogs and an out-of-state vendor that offers “cheesecake in a cone.”

“That’s always something we try and do: ... Have the old favorites, but have something new,” said Park County Events Administrator Audra Jewell.

Admission is free all day on Tuesday and free until 1 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets are then $5 per day or $15 for the week; parking on the grounds is also $5 per day or $15 for the week.

In a change, the fair’s main walk-in gate on East Fifth Street will double as a box office this year, where people can pick up will call tickets. Meanwhile, the gates on Seventh Street (near the Assembly of God church) and Sixth Street will be open to both foot traffic and vehicles.

For a complete rundown of all the fair has to offer, check out the Park County Fair Edition inserted in today’s newspaper or visit www.parkcountyfair.com.

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