Now in its 99th year, the Richland County Fair & Rodeo offers food, fun, and everything in between, including popular events from years past.
Fair opens Wednesday, July 31, offering over 100 food and commercial vendors, and ag, 4-H and school exhibits daily. The week’s packed entertainment schedule begins with the return of wrestling duals in the Old Commercial Building at 5:30 p.m. Team Germany will return stateside to wrestle against Team Sidney. Also returning is the Wednesday evening concert, headlined this year by Two Way Crossing, a Nashville-based, high energy country band. The performance is free, and starts in the Grandstands at 7:30 p.m. The Beer Gardens will be available, and following the show will be DJ Nick’s Music Entertainment.
New to the fairgrounds will be 12 recycling containers to collect plastic bottles throughout the fair. A cooperative effort between the Fair staff, the Active Richland County action group, and Richland Opportunities, Inc., fairgoers are encouraged to drop empty plastic bottles in the blue labeled containers.
Free entertainment is provided throughout the fairgrounds daily. After a 14-year hiatus from the Richland County Fair & Rodeo, hypnotist Michael Mezmer will bring both a comedy show and “Danger Magik”, a magic phenomenon show. “Mezmer brings people on stage to assist him. I think it’ll be a big draw-he does a really great job,” said Jamie Larson of the performer. Also returning is Jeremy the Balloon Guy, who will again build a balloon sculpture over the four days of fair, to be given out to lucky fairgoers on Saturday. Eric E. will share both songs and laughter in his interactive musical act, and Mr. Blank Slate, a strolling, living interactive art display will be found around the fairgrounds.
Thursday is Co-op Day, with free ice cream push-ups at noon and free root beer floats at 4 p.m. The Brookman Rodeo, LLC presents the PRCA Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. in the Grandstands on Thursday. Thursday is Military Appreciation Night. Local cover band Valley Cash will provide the beer gardens entertainment on Thursday, offering covers of hit songs from the 1980s to today.
Sidney Health Center will be offering free pink lemonade to fairgoers on Friday, and invites the public to witness Charley Butler, a two-time cancer survivor, attempt to pull a fire truck 140 feet on Friday at 6 p.m. The attempt will be recorded and replayed at the Friday evening PRCA rodeo. The rodeo is “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night, part of a nationwide event to raise funds for local cancer care. A donation will be made to the Cancer Coalition Aid Fund for every rodeo attendee wearing pink. “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” is sponsored by Duane and Sherry Mitchell, Sidney Health Center Cancer Care, Mike’s Hard Lemonade and Prairie Electric. Central Montana-based band Kyle Shobe & the Walk ‘Em Boys will provide the beer gardens entertainment, playing a combination of original and popular cover songs, appealing to people of all ages.
Oneok will provide free watermelon on Saturday, and the evening brings country stars Randy Houser and Sara Evans live in concert at 7:30 p.m. in the Grandstands. Tickets are still available, and can be purchased online at http://www.richlandcountyfairandrodeo.org or at the Fair Office. The Walk ‘Em Boys return to entertain in the beer gardens following the show.
The pre-sale ticket package, which includes one concert ticket, Thursday and Friday rodeo ticket, and one gate admission button for $75, is available only until July 26. Single concert tickets are $55 for reserved and $50 for festival seating until July 26, when prices raise by $5. Admission buttons, allowing access to the fair all four days, are $5 until July 26, and $8 after. Pre-sale North Star Amusements ride passes are $20 until the start of the fair. Fair information can be viewed at http://www.richlandcountyfairandrodeo.org.
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