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Arkansas Valley Fair - Rocky Ford, Colorado
For good, old-fashioned family fun, don't miss the Arkansas Valley
Fair, which is held each August in Rocky Ford. The fair has the
distinction of being the oldest annual fair in Colorado and offers a variety of activities
and entertainment for the whole family. Originally started in 1878, gate
admission has never been charged and, as it has since its' early
beginnings, Watermelon Day is celebrated, with each visitor to the fair
taking home a world famous Rocky Ford melon from the melon pile. Unlike
large state and county fairs the Arkansas Valley Fair is easy to
navigate and it is only a short stroll between the entertainment venues.
Throughout the week
fair visitors can enjoy the exhibit halls which are filled with
needlework and craft projects by local artisans, fine art displays and
displays from local vendors. The 4-H and FFA clubs present their
projects and bring in goats, sheep, rabbits and cows. There are
plenty of culinary favorites around to tempt your taste buds, with fair
favorites such as funnel cakes, cotton candy, fresh squeezed lemonade
and ice cream along the mid-way. To add some fun to
any afternoon, take a spin on one the carnival rides or try to win the
biggest stuffed animal at one of the game booths. Contests and
tournaments during the fair range from horseshoe pitching to pickle eating and watermelon seed spitting. Each night there is a
special nominal fee event at the Grandstand Arena. The events change
from year to year, but crowd favorites like the Demolition Derby, Ranch
Rodeo and the Truck and Tractor Pull are mainstays at the fair. Bingo is
played every day in the Bingo Building and musical
entertainment can be found daily in the Beer Garden and at the
Entertainment Tent.
The weekend brings the fair to a close, with a parade
through downtown Rocky Ford on Friday, beginning at 10:00
a.m. This is a large parade with entrants from around
the state participating. Saturday is Watermelon Day with
events and activities held from sun-up to sun-down, with
the melon give-away taking place at 11:00 a.m. Sunday is
the final day of the fair and your last chance to enjoy
a corn dog or conquer the climbing wall.
Visit Rocky Ford and
experience old-fashioned family fun at the Arkansas Valley Fair.
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