The Park County Fair marks its 111th year this week, and this year’s fair will be outstanding, according to one of its new organizers. 

“I’m excited about it. Out of all the fairs I’ve been to, Park County is only second to the state fair as far as fairs I’ve been associated with,” said recently appointed Events Manager William Wood.

With the exception of the cancellation of the annual pig wrestling event and the relocation of the  beer garden, the Park County Fair will remain unchanged under the new leadership, offering a variety of entertainment and activities for fair goers to enjoy. 

The Pepsi free stage will host free entertainment every day all week from noon until 9 p.m. The beer garden opens at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and at noon on Friday and Saturday.  Live music at the beer garden begins at 10 p.m. on Thursday and 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. 

The carnival will come alive at 6 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. on Tuesday, but it will run from noon until midnight on Wednesday through Saturday. 

From 6:30 a.m. until 8 a.m. every day throughout the week, the 4-H breakfast and food trailer will be serving up some grub to kick off the day. The trailer will be near the livestock facilities.

The exhibit hall will be open to the public at 11 a.m and close at 10:30 p.m. every day, and the livestock barn – as well as the carnival – will be open to the public every day beginning at noon. 

In addition to the fair’s daily activities, reduced admission prices and special events are offered each day during the week.

Tuesday has been dubbed Family Fun Fair Day. Admission is free all day.  

Wednesday, which has been dubbed Park County Day, will also feature free admission until 1 p.m. Seniors and military are charged only $3 for admission after 1 p.m. 

Visitors can purchase an admission pass for the entire week for $16.  A week’s parking pass is also available for  the same price.  

On Wednesday, Youth Bred and Fed shows (judging of market steers and heifers) start at 9 a.m. 

The Outlaw Rodeo, the grandstand event for Wednesday,  is “an exciting display with a few twists,” according to the Park County Fair website.  The event features motorized vehicle racing rather than standard rodeo events.  Gates open at 6 p.m., and the event begins at 7 p.m.

Thursday, also known as Community Spirit Day, will be the final chance for the community to get free admission until 1 p.m.  The day will end with a Chancey Williams concert, featuring special guest Cale Moon. Gates will open at 6 p.m. and the concert will start at 7 p.m. Tickets, which can be purchased online or at the box office, are $15 for grandstand seats, $20 for box seats and $30 for the standing pit in front of the stage.

Friday, which is Local and Loving It Day, will feature horseshoe pitching at 5 p.m. and a motocross race in the main arena organized by local nonprofit Race 4 Recovery at 6 p.m., with gates opening at 5 p.m.  Donations from the event will go to Macey Bernstein, a local mother of four children who is recovering from a surgery to combat a condition where brain tissue extends into the spinal canal. 

The fair wraps up on Saturday with the Park County Fair parade, which begins on Bent Street, starting at 10 a.m. It is sponsored by Dano Youth Camp.

 At 1 p.m., the junior livestock sale will take place, followed by the demolition derby at 6 p.m. with gates opening at 5 p.m. Tickets are $20 for grandstand seating and $25 for box seating.                                                              

To purchase tickets or for more information, visit parkcountyeventsandfair.com/park-county-fair/schedule.

The fair will not have social distancing restrictions, but hand sanitizing stations will be available to the public.