“A little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll”
That’s the idea behind the theme for the 2011 El Dorado County Fair coming to the fairgrounds in Placerville for four days over Fathers Day weekend, June 16-19. There’s nothing “little” about the event in store, though, says the Fair’s CEO Jody Gray, as El Dorado County marks its 152nd year of celebrating the people, agriculture, art, music, natural resources and industries that make the county unique and special.
From the rockin’ sounds of Ricky & the Redstreaks to a Hollywood Stunt Show, from homemade jams to hand-crafted quilts, from pigs in pens to wild monkeys, the El Dorado County Fair brings livestock, live music, arts and crafts, wholesome family fun, and so much more to center stage.
“We really think we have something for everyone,” says Gray. “And, there’s so many different things to do, you couldn’t possibly do them all…whether it’s showing off Grandma’s special recipe for apple pie, proving your might in the popular Clifton & Warren Hay Bucking contest, rockin’ out to a wide variety of music, riding ALL of the carnival rides, or simply sampling the fair food and beverages from hot dogs and beer to turkey legs and cotton candy.”
Fairgoers can expect all their favorite and traditional activities, such as cooking demonstrations, Clifton & Warren’s Kids Corral games and shows, wine tasting, wheel-barrel racing, and team penning, plus a full schedule of music ranging from classic rock to blues, country to soul, and 70s rock to the music of the 1950s Rat Pack.
Featured on Friday evening are The Train and Ricky & the Redstreaks. The Train got its start at the El Dorado County Fair in the late 1960s and is reuniting to play the Fair this summer. Ricky & the Redstreaks is a wildly popular band that evolved from the Train and has gone on to become the biggest entertainment draw on the Pro Rodeo Circuit, including the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas.
Plus, on Saturday evening, fairgoers can enjoy a full five-and-a-half hours of music featuring the Eagles, Lynyrd Skynyrd and Led Zeppelin tribute bands—all included with the price of admission.
Featured special events at the Grandstands this year include the Sacramento Wrestling Federation’s Hangtown Showdown and the Monster Truck Pull and Moto X Spectacular. These events carry an additional charge, which includes admission to the Fair. Fairgoers who plan to attend the 2pm Monster Truck Pull on Saturday are invited to arrive early for FREE rides on the Monster Truck from 1 to 2pm. Truck rides are also available after the 2pm show and before and after the 7pm show for $5.
Of course, no fair would be complete without animals. Traditional livestock competitions and exhibits, including the Mother Lode Fair Circuit Ranch Horse Show and the Junior Livestock Auction, take place throughout the fair’s four-day run. Or, if you have something more exotic in mind, check out Wild About Monkeys—the only traveling animal exhibition featuring trained baboons.
Humpz and Hornz Bull Riding, Mutton Bustin’, train rides on the Rawhide Express and Susan Rosen Mistress of Mesmerism, plus contests galore from photography to wine making and the Battle of the Bands to a Father-Child Look Alike contest, all help to round out a full schedule of wholesome family fun.
Visit www.eldoradocountyfair.org for guidelines on how to enter the many contests and other events at the Fair, as well as to view a full schedule of activities.
Calendar Listing
2011 El Dorado County Fair
100 Placerville Drive, Placerville, CA
June 16-20, Thursday-Sunday
Tickets
Presale by June 15
$8 for ages 13 & over
$6 for Juniors (ages 7-12) and Seniors (ages 60 & over)
During Fair, June 16-19
$9 for ages 13 & over
$7 for Juniors (ages 7-12) and Seniors (ages 60 & over)
