Mark Your Calendar!

Mark your calendar with these fun events at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in 2010:

Nevada County Fair
August 11 - 16, 2010

Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair
September 23 - 26, 2010

Country Christmas Faire
November 26 - 28, 2010

Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information!

Win $250 in Logo Design Contest

The Nevada County Fairgrounds is sponsoring a contest to find the best logo to illustrate the 2010 Nevada County Fair slogan – “Rooted in Tree-dition” – featuring trees, one of our counties top ten agricultural products. If you’re a talented artist, and you’d like $250, then this is the contest to enter!

The contest, which is open to Nevada County residents only, takes place now through Friday, January 15. If you submit the winning design, you will win $250 and a 2010 Nevada County Fair package that includes admission tickets, parking and carnival coupons. Additionally, the winning artwork will be used on various Fair promotional pieces, print ads, buttons, t-shirts, banners, posters, and flyers.

Interested artists may use any medium and can submit up to three entries, which must be on 8-1/2 by 11-inch paper. Entries can be delivered to the Fairgrounds Office at 11228 McCourtney Road or mailed to the Fair Office at PO Box 2687, Grass Valley, CA 95945. A complete set of rules can be found on the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com, or by calling the Fair Office at 530-273-6217.

Hollie Grimaldi Flores of Grass Valley submitted the winning slogan, “Rooted in Tree-dition,” for the five day Fair, August 11 – 15, 2010.

Donate a Can of Food and Receive $1 off Sunday's Admission to the Country Christmas Faire

The Nevada County Fairgrounds and HOPE (Help Other People Eat) in Nevada County are teaming up to help feed those in need in Nevada County.

Bring a can of food (or two or three) to the Country Christmas Faire on Sunday, November 29, and the Fairgrounds will give you a coupon for $1 off general admission to the Christmas Faire on that day. Volunteers from HOPE will collect the cans at the food collection bins at the Fairgrounds from 10 am – 4 pm at Gates 1, 3 and 5, which is also where you’ll receive your coupon.

With the help of HOPE, all food collected at the Fairgrounds on Sunday will be used to help feed those in need in Nevada County. HOPE in Nevada County is a program established through the Grass Valley Elks. Through this program, the Grass Valley Elks partner with the Food Bank of Nevada County to feed those in need, as well as working with the organization on a school snack program. HOPE distributes food once a month to anyone in the county in need of food.

The Country Christmas Faire is happening Thanksgiving weekend, November 27 – 29, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Hours are 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday, and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday. Cost is $4, and free to children under 12. Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for more information.

Preparing for the Country Christmas Faire

Students from Tall Pines Nursery School sing Christmas carols and decorate the tree in Santa's Village at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. The festivities are in preparation for the Country Christmas Faire next weekend at the Fairgrounds. The students made the ornaments, then visited the village to decorate the tree and enjoy some candy canes.

The Country Christmas Faire is November 27 - 29 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for more information.

Free Childcare Provided at Country Christmas Faire

The Northern Mines Girl Scouts will offer free babysitting services at this year’s Country Christmas Faire, held November 27 – 29 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. This benefit is provided by this youth service organization so that parents can drop off their children while they enjoy holiday shopping. Free babysitting will be provided in the Community Center at the Fairgrounds; hours for babysitting are the same as the Faire – Friday and Saturday from 10 am – 5 pm; and Sunday from 10 am – 4 pm.

Errand elves will be available to assist Faire-goers throughout the event. The Errand Elves, provided by students from Clear Creek School, are available to carry packages for shoppers or patrons may use their “Will Call” service and leave their packages in the elves’ care as they continue shopping. Clear Creek students will also be offering mistletoe to Faire-goers. All donations received for the elves and the mistletoe will go towards these young students who are trying to earn money for an outdoor science education camp.

Additionally, the Nevada City Explorer Scouts will coordinate the free parking in the fairgrounds parking lot; Nevada County 4-H clubs will provide volunteers to serve as the trash clean-up crew for the Faire; Will and Paulette Snyders of Empire Horse & Carriage Company and Randall and Trish Gross of Grass Valley’s Rock-n-Horse Ranch will provide wagon rides around the grounds; and Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be on hand to greet children. A photographer will be available to capture the special moment with Santa.

The 25th annual Country Christmas Faire begins Friday, November 27, and runs through Sunday, November 29. Admission is $4 for adults, and children 12 and under are free. Parking is also free.

Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

Create a Gingerbread House and Win!!

Now is the time for holiday bakers to think about the creation of a magical Gingerbread House to enter into the 7th annual Gingerbread House Competition at the Country Christmas Faire, held November 27 – 29 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Competitors may enter any of the 12 categories, including children, teens, adults, families, groups and businesses. New this year is a category for children under 8 years of age who want to enter a house made by a kit.

First through third place winners will receive award money with the Best of Show winning $100. A special gift basket from Tess’ Kitchen Store will be awarded to the Best of Show winner and the People’s Choice Award.

Entry forms must be received at the Fairgrounds by Friday, November 20; the actual gingerbread house entry must be delivered to the Fairgrounds on Tuesday, November 24. All Gingerbread House exhibitors will receive two free passes to the Country Christmas Faire.

Entry forms and a complete list of rules can be picked up at the Fairgrounds office on McCourtney Road, or downloaded from the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Country Christmas Faire - November 27, 28, 29

Mark your calendar for the 25th annual Country Christmas Faire at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley on November 27, 28 and 29.

Rated as one of the top handcrafted shows in Northern California, this year’s Country Christmas Faire will feature unique gifts and crafts from more than 100 top artisans.
Five exhibit buildings will be filled over the Thanksgiving weekend, giving shoppers a chance to start their Christmas shopping with quality hand-made gifts.

Visitors to the Faire will enjoy strolling live entertainment, festival foods, the magical Gingerbread House exhibit, and a community bon-fire. Wagon rides around the Fairgrounds will be offered; and Victorian singers, the bell ringing RiverBells, and the Sierra Symphony quartet will perform throughout the event. Additionally, Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus will be in The Chapel to greet children and listen to their Christmas wishes. A photographer will be available to capture the special moment with Santa.

Back by popular demand, the Northern Mines Girl Scouts will offer free babysitting so parents can drop off their children while they enjoy holiday shopping. Errand elves will also be available to assist you throughout the event.

New this year, the Nevada County Fairgrounds will partner with the Food Bank of Nevada County and HOPE (Help Other People Eat) for a canned Food Drive. Bring a can of food on Sunday, November 29, from 10 am to 4 pm, and get $1 off Sunday’s admission price. All food donated will help feed those in need in Nevada County.

The Country Christmas Faire begins Friday, November 27, and runs through Sunday,
November 29. The hours are 10 am – 5 pm on Friday and Saturday; and 10 am – 4 pm on Sunday. Admission is $4 for adults and free for children 12 and under. Parking is also free. A coupon for $1 off Sunday’s admission price is available on-line at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Contests, Costumes a Cupcake Walk

The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation is hosting a carved pumpkin contest and a scarecrow contest at its Barn Raising Celebration on Saturday, October 31, from 2 – 5 pm at the Whitney Pavilion at the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

If you’re interested in entering the contests, your carved pumpkins and scarecrows should be dropped off at the Fairgrounds, at the Barns near Gate 5, after 10 am on October 31. Winners will be announced at 4 pm. Additionally, a costume parade and contest will take place at 3 pm.

There will be games and treats for kids and even a cupcake walk! A live and silent auction will be happening throughout the day. We’ll be serving hamburgers and hot dogs and there will be toe-tapping live entertainment for all to enjoy.

It’s all happening, rain or shine, on Saturday, October 31 from 2 – 5 pm at the new Whitney Pavilion at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. The cost is only $5 per person and includes food, treats and entertainment! Parking is free. Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, at all Citizen’s Bank branches, at the Book Seller in Grass Valley, or on the day of the event.

Call 530-273-6217, or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Fairgrounds Foundation to Host Barn Raising Celebration, Halloween Event

Bring your family and friends and come enjoy the festivities at the Nevada County Fairgrounds on Halloween day. Rain or shine, in costume or in street clothes, you’ll enjoy the many events planned inside the new livestock pavilion at the Fairgrounds. We’ll be serving hamburgers and hot dogs, and there will be live entertainment, treats for the kids, a pie auction, and special projects from the Ag Mechanics from our local high schools. You don’t want to miss the costume and scarecrow contests!

Hosted by the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation, this Barn Raising celebration and Halloween event is Saturday, October 31, from 2 – 5 pm at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. This event is in celebration of the completion of the Fairgrounds’ new livestock pavilion, the Whitney Pavilion, as well as a fundraising event for the new building.

The cost is only $5 per person and includes food, treats and entertainment! Tickets can be purchased in advance at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, at all Citizen’s Bank branches, or at the Book Seller in Grass Valley. Tickets can also be purchased on the day of the event at the Fairgrounds. Call 530-273-6217, or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for information.

Submit a Slogan for the 2010 Fair and You Could Win $100

Trees and timber will be the theme of the 2010 Nevada County Fair and the Fairgrounds is hosting a slogan contest in preparation for the event. Do you have a catchy or fun slogan that you think would be perfect for the 2010 Nevada County Fair?

Visit the Fair’s website at www.NevadaCountyFair.com and submit a slogan about trees or timber and the Fair. If the slogan you submit is selected, you win. The winner will receive $100, as well as a 2010 Nevada County Fair package that includes two free admission tickets for each day of the Fair, a 5-day parking pass for the Fair, and ride coupons.

The contest is open to Nevada County residents only. Slogan ideas must be five words or less and no trade-marked slogans will be considered. The contest runs now through October 31. For those without access to the Internet, entry forms are available at the Nevada County Fairgrounds office, or information can be mailed to the Fairgrounds at P.O. Box 2687, Grass Valley, CA 95945. No phone entries will be accepted.

The 2010 Nevada County Fair is scheduled for August 11 – 15, 2010. For a complete list of contest rules or information, visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

World Class Lumberjacks to Perform at Draft Horse Classic

Visitors to next weekend’s Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair can get up close and personal with world class wood-chopping lumberjacks, axe throwers, tree climbers, and wielders of mighty chain saws – free of charge.

The 23rd annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair starts Thursday, September 24 and runs Sunday, September 27 at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley. While there is a charge for Draft Horse performance tickets, admission to the Fairgrounds is free for the Harvest Fair activities. Lumberjack shows will start at 2:30 and 5 pm on Saturday and at 2:00 pm on Sunday on The Green, just as you enter the Fairgrounds at Gate 1. World champions will be performing in each category.

In 20 to 25 seconds a lumberjack will chop through a 13 inch thick log, while standing on the log. Double hand bucking contests will feature two loggers using a crosscut saw to rip through a 15 inch log in six seconds. The Jack and Jill hand bucking event features a man and woman team. Contestants will also compete in log rolling, on dry land not water, and speed tree climbers will also compete.

Live entertainment at the Pine Tree Stage, a world class art show, Treat Street goodies, vendors with western wear and items, a clogging jamboree, a live shoeing competition, community exhibits, and visits to the barns to see the magnificent Gentle Giant Draft Horses are all part of the Harvest Fair line-up.

In addition to the Harvest Fair activities, the Draft Horse Classic features six stunning performances of Draft Horses in the arena. Tickets to the performances are on sale now, as well as the day of the event, and may be purchased by calling the Fair office at 530-273-6217. Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for additional information.

Draft Horse Classic Tickets on Sale Now!!

Majestic Draft Horse performances, breath-taking competitions, seeing a Draft Horse “up-close,” a clogging jamboree, and a world class lumberjack show are all part of the festivities at the 23rd annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair, September 24 – 27, at the Nevada County Fairgrounds in Grass Valley.

Tickets for this must-see annual event are on sale now. Purchase your tickets early and save! If you purchase your performance tickets before the Draft Horse Classic begins, you will receive $3 off the ticket price you’d pay on the day of the event. There are six performances featuring the magnificent Draft Horses – Thursday and Friday at 6:30 pm, Saturday at 10 am & 6:30 pm, and Sunday at 10 am & 4 pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling, faxing or visiting the Fair Office by Wednesday, September 23, at 5 pm.

Although there is a charge for the Draft Horse performances in the arena, admission to the Fairgrounds is free so all can enjoy the many activities of the Harvest Fair. The grounds are alive with western music, Harvest Fair agricultural competitions, world-class lumberjacks performing for the crowds, a live shoeing competition, crowds enjoying Treat Street goodies, and a world-class art show. Plus, you don’t want to miss the opportunity to visit the barns and meet the famous Draft Horses up-close.

On Saturday, enjoy the Fall-like weather underneath the tall pine trees for “A Taste of the Gold Country,” featuring food from an abundance of local restaurants and wineries. For tickets and information, call the Grass Valley Downtown Association at (530) 272-8315, or visit www.HistoricGrassValley.com.

Call (530) 273-6217 or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for more information.

A Successful Nevada County Fair

Beautiful weather, a successful canned food drive, more than $400,000 raised for Nevada County youth, several charity benefits, and an increase in overall attendance made the 2009 Nevada County Fair a huge success. Below are some fun Fair facts.

• At Sunday’s canned food drive, 1,240 pounds of food were collected for the
Food Bank of Nevada County. This is enough to feed 550 – 600 families.

• Two hundred and sixty animals were auctioned at this year’s Junior Livestock Auction, raising more than $360,000 for the youth of Nevada County. Funds raised from the auction go directly to these students and many use the money for college education or vocational training.

• This year’s Ag Mechanics Auction, featuring 58 custom projects handmade by FFA students from Bear River and Nevada Union high schools, raised more than $43,000 for these students.

• Many of the non-profit organizations that sell food on Treat Street reported an increase in sales this year. Treat Street consists solely of local non-profit organizations, so proceeds from Fair sales allow these organizations to provide vital services to our community.

• The Fair featured more than 10,000 community exhibits. A complete list of exhibit winners will be posted on the Fair's website by month's end.

• Wednesday evening’s Idol Competition was won by Katie Howard, who received $575 for her charity of choice – Sierra Services for the Blind.

• Saturday’s Locks of Love event had 22 individuals donate hair to help provide a hairpiece to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. VJ’s Salon assisted with the hair donation process, and cut and styled hair for free.

• Sunday evening’s VIP Derby winner was won by Mark Andreus, who received $1,000 for his charity of choice – Christian Encounter Ministries.

• Almost 90,000 Fairgoers visited this year’s Fair. This is a 4% increase from the 2008 attendance. Additionally, carnival sales increased by 2%.

• The Fairgrounds Foundation raised approximately $28,000 through its Heritage Steer program. This money will be used to help pay off the debt on the newly-built Whitney Pavilion, which was built to house livestock, as well as to provide a new show and sale ring for the Junior Livestock Auction.

Nevada County Fair - August 12 - 16

The Nevada County Fair starts tomorrow. We're busy setting up and getting ready for you! Come see us - August 12 -16. We have such a fun Fair planned! Our website has all the details: www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

Entertainment Abounds: Arena Events, Live Bands, Magic Tricks, and Karaoke

Entertainment abounds at this year’s Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16. This year’s Fair will feature five stages of ongoing entertainment. Providing a little something for everyone, there will be everything from Japanese style drumming, to Country music and a hypnotist, to Blues music and old-fashioned Rock and Roll.

Tyzen: Master of Suggestion will be performing on Friday at 3:30 and 6 pm and Saturday at 2 and 6 pm. Tyzen is one of the world’s most remarkable and dynamic stage hypnotists. His hilarious comedic antics have audiences rolling in the aisles with laughter.

Steel Breeze makes their appearance at the Fair on Friday at 8:15 and 9:30. Mogollon, a crowd favorite, known for their guitar wizardry and dueling fiddles, will perform on Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights at 8 and 9:30 pm; CoolHeat, playing smooth jazz, will be at the Pine Tree Stage on Friday at 11, 12:30 and 2 pm; and Solid Air will perform original Americana Folk music on Wednesday at 5 and 6:30 pm. New this year, Nevada Hazzurd, playing country and rock, will perform on Thursday at 4:30 and 6 pm at the Budweiser True Music Stage; and Cuesta Drive will play rock and soul on Thursday at 8 and 9:30 pm on the Pine Tree Stage.

Some of Nevada County’s local bands featured this year will be Stepping Stone, a young rock band, on Thursday at 2:30 pm; Nevada County Regulators, providing original and classic rock on Sunday at 5 and 6:15 pm; Grass Valley Taiko, performing Japanese-style drumming on Thursday at 4 and 5:30 pm; and No Taboo, Northern California’s travelin’ party band, will perform on Thursday at 8 and 9:30 pm.

For old-fashioned Rock and Roll, visit the Budweiser Music Stage on Saturday evening at 4 and 5:30 pm to see Highway 49 perform a mixture of Rock and Roll, Blues, and funkadelic Rock. Or, check out Dr. Bach and the Jazz Practitioners, on Sunday at 1:30 and 3 pm on the Pine Tree Stage for some Dixieland, Swing, Dance, Blues and Gospel.

Also, featured on Friday and Saturday nights from 6:30 – 10:30 on the Tumbleweed Stage in the Magic Forest area will be teen bands from the Coalition for a Drug Free Nevada County’s Youth Sector “NEO.” The diverse groups range from Rock, Alternative, Electro, Ska, Metal, Pop Punk, and Indie. Friday will feature Creative Chaos at 6:30 pm; Blue Tuesday at 7:30; Sensual Saint at 8:30; and Electric Shock at 9:30. Saturday evening will feature The Legend of the Sunburst Bandits at 6:30 pm; General Cause at 7:30 pm; Virgin Limbs at 8:30 pm; and 2Hot 3Fast at 9:30.

For something out of the ordinary, check out the Haute Trash Fashion Show, the outrageous fashion show using recycled trash, on Friday at 5:30 pm at the Pine Tree Stage. Or, Spike the Juggler on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at 1:30 pm. The Idol Competition will be on Wednesday at 8 pm at the Pine Tree Stage. There’s also nightly karaoke from 8 – 11 pm in the Special Events Tent, and KVMR will be at the Silver Stage, where they will broadcast live during the Fair.

Each night of the Fair will also feature action-packed events in the Arena. On Wednesday – Professional Bull Riding; Thursday – the Rodeo; Friday - Tuff Truck Racing & Monster Trucks; Saturday – Free Style Moto X Riders & Monster Trucks; and Sunday – the Demolition Derby. All arena events begin at 7 pm nightly.

Visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com for a schedule of events.

Exciting Contests Happening Each Day of the Fair

At this year’s Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16, there are exciting contests and activities going on each day! Here are just a few of the fun contests planned for this year’s Fair.

VJ's Salon and Day Spa is sponsoring a Locks of Love event on Saturday, August 15, from noon – 3 pm. Donate your hair to help provide a hairpiece to financially disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss. VJ’s will have stylists available to assist with the hair donation process, as well as to cut and style your hair for free.

Do you think you can text faster than anyone? If so, a Text Messaging Speed Contest will be held on Friday, August 14, from 4 – 6 pm. This is for children and adults alike.

Join us for a Gift Wrapping Contest at 2 pm on Wednesday, August 12. You’ll have 30 minutes to create a gift wrapped box out of a variety of supplies. There’s also the “Just Call Me Martha” contest which allows participants 30 minutes to create something special from a variety of supplies. This contest is also on Wednesday from 4 – 6 pm.

New this year is the Diaper Derby! How fast can your baby crawl? Join us on Sunday, August 16, at 4 pm to find out. There are two categories: 6-9 months (must crawl 8 feet) and 10-12 months (start on knees and crawl or walk 10 feet). This contest is limited to the first 20 contestants in each age category.

So you think you want to be a rock star? The place to be is the Special Events Tent from 4 – 6 pm on Saturday, August 15, for Rock Band 2. Show off your rock start talents for the audience to enjoy. Great prizes for all who participate.
For all those magicians-to-be, join us for a Magic Show Contest on Thursday, August 13, from 4 – 6 pm. Kids can perform their magic tricks for the crowd or learn some new magic tricks. All skill and age levels are welcome.

Attach wheels to the fastest squash or carrot from your garden and enter in the Haretrigger Squash or Carrot Mobile Races. Check in at the “Haretrigger” Speedway at noon on Friday, August 14.

There are no entry forms or fees for these events. Just show up ½ hour before the event at the Special Events Tent and get ready to play. Lots of fun and lots of great prizes!

Also, for your viewing pleasure, each day in the Special Events tent will feature special food contests. Join us to see the judging and meet some of the talented cooks in our community. Special food contests for children, happening each day at 3 pm, include a chocolate treat on Wednesday; carrot cake on Thursday; dipping sauce on Friday; salsa on Saturday; and berry pie on Sunday. Special food contests for adults, happening each day at 6 pm, include cheesecake on Wednesday; pies on Thursday; salsa on Friday, chocolate on Saturday, and carrot cake on Sunday.

Carnival Ride from Michael Jackson's Neverland Ranch Featured at the Nevada County Fair

The Nevada County Fair, which opens on Wednesday, will feature a ride purchased from Michael Jackson's infamous Neverland Ranch amusement park. The ride, Balloon Samba, was previously owned by Michael Jackson, operated at the Neverland Ranch and was purchased in the fall of 2008 by California-based carnival company, Butler Amusements.

The ride is designed to look like a hot-air balloon and features hot air balloon carriages. The Balloon Samba seats 32 children in six air balloons. The ride will be part of the carnival area during Nevada County’s five-day Fair.

Butler Amusements purchased the ride, along with five others from Michael Jackson’s Neverland Ranch, last September. One ride is currently travelling with the Butler Amusements Oregon/ Washington carnival unit, one is operating at Coney Island, one is at the Stanislaus County Fair and the others are being refurbished at Butler’s winter quarters in Santa Nella, CA.

Balloon Samba will be open to the public at the Nevada County Fair beginning on Wednesday. This year’s Fair runs August 12 – 16.

July's Winner!

Congratulations, Debbie! Because you posted a comment on the Nevada County Fair blog, you have been chosen as the monthly winner for two free tickets to the Fair-sponsored event of your choice. Please email us at reply@nevadacountyfair.com to let us know if you would like tickets to the Nevada County Fair, the Draft Horse Classic or the Country Christmas Faire. You could be next month's winner. Simply post a comment on our blog and we'll randomly choose a name at the end of August.

Buy Your Fair Tickets Early and Save!

Tickets for the Nevada County Fair are on sale now. Purchase your admission, entertainment, and arena event tickets before the Fair begins and save money!

Buy your admission tickets before August 11, and get admission for only $5. Or, take advantage of other pre-sale offers before August 11 – a 5-day Fair pass with unlimited entry for $20; a season parking pass for $25; a carnival ride bracelet, good for unlimited rides for any one day for $23; purchase 30 carnival ride coupons for $20; or purchase any ticket to an arena event and receive admission to the Fair for only $5.

There are several ways to get your tickets early. Pre-sale and discounted tickets may be purchased by calling, faxing, or visiting the Fair Office by Tuesday, August 11 at 5 pm.

Pre-sale tickets can be ordered and picked up at the Fair Office or they can be put in “Will Call” in the Fair's Office, open Monday through Friday from 8 am – 5 pm. To save time, it is recommended that tickets in Will Call be picked up before opening day of the Fair. Beginning August 6 until August 11, pre-sale tickets will be available at the Gate 1 cashiers' booth.

The Fair’s Office is located on McCourtney Road in Grass Valley. The phone number is (530) 273-6217 and the FAX number is (530) 273-1146. Visit www.nevadacountyfair.com for more information.

Body Art Competition at this year's Fair

New to this year’s Nevada County Fair is “Ink Fusion,” a Body Art Competition. Do you have a unique tattoo? How about a tattoo of a portrait of someone special? The place to be is the Body Art Competition on Sunday, August 16, from noon – 2 pm at the Nevada County Fair.

It’s easy to enter, it’s free, and there are some great prizes. Simply stop by the Fair Office or visit www.NevadaCountyFair.com, fill out a registration form, choose one of the five categories (traditional, portrait, unusual or full body male/female), and be prepared to have some fun! The contest is hosted by Old School Tattoo Parlor in Colfax, and tattoo artists from all over Northern California will be judging the contest. There is a limit of 20 people per category.

The Body Art Competition is one part of the new Extreme Zone, located at Gate 5. This area will feature the Cap City BMX Stunt Team performing Wednesday through Friday; World Style Arm Wrestling Competition on Saturday at 1 pm; as well as the Fire Prevention Mobile Education Trailer, a spider tower for climbing and crawling, and water wars using water balloons – all available during the five days of the Fair.

World Famous Budweiser Clydesdales to Visit the Nevada County Fair

The world famous Budweiser Clydesdales will be at this year’s Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16. This magnificent team of horses will be available in the livestock area for viewing each day of the Fair, during regular Fair hours. Stop on by - it's definitely worth the visit.

Meet the 2009 Fair Mascot - Scarlett O'Hare

Congratulations to Greg Lopin of Nevada City for submitting the winning name in the Name the Mascot contest. Greg is the recipient of two free admission tickets for each day of the Fair, a 5-day parking pass and ride coupons.

Congratulations also to the following individuals who submitted the same or similar name. If your name is listed below, you are the lucky winner of two free admission tickets to the Fair.

• Miss Thorne of Citrus Heights
• Pam Hodson-Ralli of Grass Valley
• Emily Kapul of Grass Valley
• Sandy James of Grass Valley
• Ruby Totten of Nevada City
• Terri Murray of Sparks, Nevada
• Carli Siegfried of Grass Valley
• Tammy Veralrud of Grass Valley
• Emily Holcomb of Citrus Heights
• Holly Durham of Discovery Bay
• Marian Devincenzi of Grass Valley
• Beth Demster of Grass Valley
• Melba Brown of Grass Valley

Please send a note to reply@nevadacountyfair.com for details on how to claim your prizes.

Thank you to all who participated; we had more than 640 names submitted. What a creative group of Fair-goers we have! We’ll see you at the Fair.

Sponsor and Drive A Car in the Demolition Derby and You Could Win $1,000 for Charity

For the second year, the Nevada County Fair is providing organizations and businesses the opportunity to sponsor and drive a car in the Fair’s popular Demolition Derby, while at the same time raising money for a favorite charity or service organization.

Organizations and businesses can purchase a car for $500 and the Fair will provide a Derby car to use in the Demolition Derby. The organization can choose to provide its own driver or the Fair will provide a driver for the car. Additionally, the car can be picked up on August 7 to customize the car or it can be left at the Fair, where it will have a number painted on it.

The sponsored Derby cars will participate in their own event at the Demolition Derby, held on Sunday, August 16, at 7 pm in the Arena. The last of the sponsored cars moving will receive $1,000 towards the charity or service organization of their choice.

There are only a limited number of cars available, so call the Fair Office at
(530) 273-6217 to reserve your car.

Do You Love to Sing? Idol Competition at the Fair!

Do you love to sing? If so, the Nevada County Fair is looking for talented vocalists to sing in the Nevada County Fair’s Idol Competition at this year’s Fair.

Nevada County residents between the ages of 16 and 28 are invited to participate in this crowd favorite on Wednesday, August 12, at 8 pm on the Pine Tree Stage at the Fairgrounds. The grand prize is $100, as well as a paid entry fee of $250 into the State Fair’s “Talent Star Search” competition in Sacramento.

Singers will be judged by a panel of local celebrities, who will narrow it down to three finalists. Audience members will then vote with quarters for the grand prize winner. The quarters will be weighed on stage and the winner will be announced that night. All quarters collected will be donated to the non-profit of the winner’s choice.

The entry fee is only $5, and entries close on Friday, August 7 at 5 pm. All contestants will receive a free admission pass to the Fair on Wednesday, and 2nd and 3rd place winners will receive Fair packages that include Fair admission, parking and arena tickets. A complete list of rules and a registration form can be obtained from the Fair’s website at www.nevadacountyfair.com, by calling the Fair Office at 273-6217, or sending an e-mail to Debby at debby@nevadacountyfair.com.

June's Blog Winner

Congratulations, Kimala DeSena! Because you posted a comment on the Nevada County Fair blog, you have been chosen as the monthly winner for two free tickets to the Fair-sponsored event of your choice. Please email us at info@nevadacountyfair.com to let us know if you would like tickets to the Nevada County Fair, the Draft Horse Classic or the Country Christmas Faire.

You could be next month's winner. Simply post a comment on our blog and we'll randomly choose a name at the end of July. Actually, we might do a few drawings throughout the month of July. :-)

Name the Nevada County Fair's Mascot ....and WIN!

This year’s Nevada County Fair mascot is busy preparing for the annual Fair, “A Hare’s Magical A-Fair,” August 12 – 16. However, she needs a name, and we want to know what you think her name should be.

Visit the Fair’s website at www.nevadacountyfair.com and submit a name for the rabbit. If the name you submit is selected, you win. The lucky winner will receive a Nevada County Fair package that includes two free admission tickets for each day of the Fair, a 5-day parking pass for the Fair, and ride coupons. The contest runs now through July 15.

For a complete list of contest rules or information about the contest, visit www.nevadacountyfair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

Nevada County Fair Competition Handbook Now Available

The complete guide to all the exhibit categories open for entries at this year’s Nevada County Fair is now available. The Fair’s popular Competition Handbook is filled with hundreds of categories and specialty contests for adults and children of all ages, and contains complete information on how to enter exhibit categories, as well as the day to deliver each category’s actual exhibits to the Fairgrounds. The handbook also contains information on ways to attend the Fair for free, discount days, and details about daily contests at the Fair.

New this year, the Nevada County Fair will be awarding a Fair prize package to an individual and a family with the most still exhibits entered in this year’s Fair. Each package includes admission tickets, a parking pass, carnival ride coupons, and arena event tickets for Wednesday or Thursday night.

Copies of the free handbook are available at the Grass Valley and Nevada City Chamber of Commerce offices, county libraries, business sponsors, at the Fairgrounds office, or on-line at www.nevadacountyfair.com.

Entry forms begin being accepted on June 1. The deadline for submitting paper entry forms is July 11 at 1 pm. The deadline for on-line entry forms is July 17 at 5 pm. There is no entry fee if you choose to enter your still exhibit on-line.

Pre-sale tickets for this year’s Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16, also go on sale today. For more information, visit www.nevadacountyfair.com or call (530) 273-6217.

May's Blog Winner

Congratulations, Vaquerogirl! Because you posted a comment on the Nevada County Fair blog, you have been chosen as the monthly winner for two free tickets to the Fair-sponsored event of your choice. Please email us at info@nevadacountyfair.com to let us know if you would like tickets to the Nevada County Fair, the Draft Horse Classic or the Country Christmas Faire; and if you would like the tickets mailed to you or if you’d prefer to pick them up in person at the Nevada County Fair Office in Grass Valley. If you’d like the tickets mailed to you, we need a name and a mailing address. Thank you so much for your posting.

You could be next month's winner. Simply post a comment on our blog and we'll randomly choose a name at the end of June.

Want to Enter Something in the Fair?

Want to enter something in the Fair? You know you do!! The Competition Handbook will be available June 1. Find it on-line at our website; at the Fairgrounds Office; or around town at the libraries, chamber of commerce locations, or business sponsors.

We're Hiring!

Want to work for the Fair during Fair Season? The Nevada County Fairgrounds is hiring! We're hosting a job fair on Wednesday, May 20, from 10 am to 2 pm. Applications will be available and interviews will take place on-site. Lots of jobs available. Visit our website at www.nevadacountyfair.com for details!

Post a Comment and You Could Win Free Tickets!

Congratulations to April's blog post winner - Wizard. Just for posting a comment on the Nevada County Fair blog, he will receive two tickets to the Fair-sponsored event of his choice.

Want to be next month's winner? Simply post a comment to our blog, and at the end of the month, we'll randomly choose a name to win two free tickets to a Fairgrounds event - the Nevada County Fair, the Draft Horse Classic, or the Country Christmas Faire.

Win Free Tickets to a Fairgrounds' Event

Here’s your chance to win free tickets to a Fairground's Event of your choice! Simply post a comment on this blog and let us know what you think about the Nevada County Fairgrounds - what you love, favorite memory, ideas, suggestions, questions, or a general comment about the Fair and its events. Just for posting a comment, you could win two free tickets to the Nevada County Fair, the Draft Horse Classic, or the Country Christmas Faire. You get to choose the free tickets for the event that you’d like to attend. Each month, we’ll randomly choose a name from the blog for FREE tickets – so let us know what you think.

Terms and Conditions: At the end of each month, we will randomly choose a name from the blog postings to win two free tickets. If your name is chosen, we will notify you through the blog and you may choose to have the tickets of your choice either mailed to you or to pick them up in person at the Nevada County Fairground’s Office in Grass Valley. Anonymous postings are not eligible for the drawing and postings using inappropriate language or slander will also be excluded from the contest.