*** CONTEST CLOSED! AND THE WINNER IS…TOYA SCARAFIOTTI! CONGRATULATIONS! ***
The first annual Denver County Fair debuts July 28 – 31, 2011 at the National Western Complex in Denver. Step right up to win 6 passes, count them 6, free passes for your family to experience the first ever Denver County Fair!
Doesn’t Denver already have a county fair? Yeah, I was surprised too! The idea for a fair started way back in the late 1800’s but it took about 150 years or so for the idea to become reality.
July 28, we can all be the first attendees at the first ever Denver County Fair. Your kids can tell their grandchildren that they were there when it all started!<!–more–>
A traditional county fair this will not be! A weekend of fantastic family fun this will surely be!
Stroll through all 10 pavilions in the comfort of air-conditioning – blessed cool air at the end of July, oh my!
Each pavilion will feature the creative talent of the good people of Colorado as they compete for the coveted county fair blue ribbon and endless bragging rights!
Sustainability is the overall theme of the DCF. This is the first fair in the country to award a green ribbon for achievement in sustainability.
Each pavilion will also feature local vendors, sponsors, and entertainment based on the pavilion theme:
• Welcome Pavilion – get your fair map and see artwork by Kenny Be, cartoonist for The Westword
• Farm & Garden Pavilion – see entry’s for best celebrity look-a-like produce, best compost sculpture – only in Denver! Watch how-to-demos on urban foraging and permiculture.
• Kitchen Pavilion – fairs are all about the food and you’ll see food on display and food for the eating! Celebrity Chef Charles Phoenix will host demos and contests. Be sure to see entry’s for the best molded gelatin competition – yes, molded gelatin is seeing a resurgence; these displays may help us understand why.
• Green Pavilion – visit the cell phone recycling station, take part in “green” science fair activities, see entries in aquaponics, hydroponics, xeriscaping, and green energies.
• Craft Pavilion – it’s a craft fair within the fair! View entries for quilting, scrapbooking, sewing then turn around and purchase supplies and finished products right there in one pavilion. Marvel at the speed knitting and crocheting competitions – yes, only in Denver!
• Arts Pavilion – a juried art show will be on display and will most certainly redefine the idea of fair art. Competition categories will be judged by curatorial staff from the Denver Art Museum. Vintage Children’s Book Illustrations and the original poster for the First Denver County Fair will be on display.
• Fashion Pavilion – featuring frequent runway fashion shows including fashions from 1860-1890 presented by the Littleton Historical Museum, makeover demonstrations and fashion workshops. All fair traditions will be broken with the Miss Denver County Fair Drag Queen competition – yes, only in Denver!
• Holistic Pavilion – the first ever holistic pavilion at a county fair will be, you guessed it, only at the Denver County Fair. Have your tarot cards read, your aura photographed and your muscles relaxed with a massage or acupuncture treatment. See a belly dance demonstration and view handmade soaps and candles, potions and wands all vying for the coveted blue ribbon.
• Animal Pavilion – There will be no cows nor any horses on display but you will see plenty of chickens, performing pigs goats, bunnies and bees! We love our pets in Denver so check out the dog and cat competitions with enough pizazz to straighten the fur of any Westminster prize-winning poodle.
• Youth Pavilion – the requisite fair-loving 4-H – Denver style. Robots and robotics along with urban agriculture will take center stage along with a Human Hamster Ball. For a small fee you can get in a giant plastic ball and run around like a hamster – do bring your camera for photographic evidence and hours of laughter at the next family reunion.
For those now duly inspired to get their craft on and show it off to all of Colorado, there is still time to enter the competitions to win ribbons and cash prizes. The deadline to enter is July 18 and walk-in entry’s will be accepted the day of the fair. Visit the competitions section of the website for more details.
“The Denver County Fair is a celebration of how clever and creative the people of Denver are,” says Tracey Weil, Marketing and Community Director for the Denver County Fair. “We’re showcasing the accomplishments and the talents of everyone in Denver – all ages, all walks of life, all types of people.”
“We’re encouraging everyone to ‘bring out their best,’ says Weil. “County Fairs are all about neighbors sharing and engaging in fun competitions. It’s all about the blue ribbons! So, for everyone who’s ever thought they make the best cherry pie, or the coolest hand-knit scarves, here is their chance to prove it.”
There will also be walk-up entry to competitions throughout the fair including body art and tattooing and, of course, speed texting. The current record was set in August 2010 at 26 words in 26 seconds. Are your thumbs ready for the challenge?
Carnival
What is a county fair without a carnival and midway? Carousel, bumper cars, roller coasters! Tickets for the carnival ride are sold separately from the fair admission.
Freak Show
Witness the rarities and oddities of a multitude of species all arranged by Freak Wrangler, Mystica Von Griffin. Witness Colorado’s own Mike the Headless Chicken and his friends Colorado Big Foot, and mutant specimens gathered from Rocky Flats preserved for our entertainment. Step right up, folks – if you dare!
Food Vendors
From deep fried everything to healthy Colorado home grown fare there will be food vendors everywhere. Note: The cheeseburger eating competition will take place in the Kitchen Pavilion at 8:00pm on Thursday, July 28, walk-in entry’s welcome.
Live Music
Live music will be featured the entire weekend on different pavilion stages throughout the complex with a major concert event on Saturday night. Devo will inaugurate the first Denver County Fair in their own unique style. Devo was the first choice for fair owners and organizers Dana Cane and Tracey Wiel. The band speaks to the character of the fair and will put a new name on fair entertainment. Tickets for the all-ages Devo show are sold separately.
Astoundingly there is even more to the fair than the lengthy list provided. Get all the details at www.DenverCountyFair.org. Better yet, mark your calendar for July 28 – 31 and see for yourself, first-hand how Denver can shine and put on a show!
The Denver County Fair takes place July 28 – 31, indoors (except the Carnival) at the National Western Complex. Thursday 4 – 10pm; Friday 10am-10pm; Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-4pm. At-door admission starts at $10 for adults and $5 for kids, Free under 5. VIP tickets, weekend passes and group discounts are also available.
You may be the lucky winner of SIX FREE PASSES to the first ever, first annual Denver County Fair! CLICK HERE TO ENTER. The winner will be announced July 22. Good luck and see you at the Denver County Fair!
Author: Heather Ruch
