Nevada County Fair Competition Handbook Now Available

The Nevada County Fair’s Competition Handbook, which includes all the information you need to enter exhibits in this year’s Fair, is now available. If you can make it, bake it, grow it or show it, there is a category for you!

There are hundreds of categories and specialty contests for adults and children. Try entering one of the traditional categories like baking cookies, entering a prized photo, creating a poster, showing something from your garden, or displaying a favorite collection. Or, enter one of the specialty categories like creating a miniature tree house, building a car for the solar-powered sprint car races, creating a produce character, or entering the “ugliest dang cake” contest.

Copies of the free handbook are available at the Chamber of Commerce offices, county libraries, at the Fairgrounds’ Office, or on-line at www.NevadaCountyFair.com. Area schools have also received a flyer with information about contests available to Nevada County youth.

The deadline for submitting paper entry forms is July 10 at 1 pm. The deadline for on-line entries is July 16 at 5 pm. There is no entry fee if you enter your still exhibit on-line.

This year’s Competition Handbook also contains information on discount days at the Fair, details about daily contests at the Fair, arena events, and advanced sale tickets.

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

The 24th annual Draft Horse Classic and Harvest Fair at the Nevada County Fairgrounds is happening this year beginning Thursday, September 23, and running through Sunday, September 26.

Six performances are planned throughout the event, where owners and their teams will compete for nearly $40,000 in prize money. In addition to the Draft Horse performances, the Fairgrounds are alive with music, Art at the Classic, lumberjack demonstrations, the Western Trade Show, horse shoeing competitions, and a clogging jamboree. Between performances, pick up your favorite goodie on Treat Street, then wander over to the Pine Tree Stage and enjoy the live entertainment. Or, go "backstage" and meet the horses up-close. Although there is a fee for the Draft Horse performances, admission to the Fairgrounds and Harvest Fair activities are free, so stop by anytime during the four-day event.

Take time on Saturday, September 25, to enjoy fine food and drink at “A Taste of the Gold,” which features some of the Gold Country’s finest restaurants, confectioners and wineries. Although Fairgrounds admission is free, tickets for this event must be purchased. Tickets include five food tastings, unlimited wine tasting, and a commemorative wine glass. To purchase tickets online, visit www.nswinecountry.com. For information or to purchase hard copy tickets, call the Grass Valley Downtown Association at (530) 272-8315 or visit www.historicgrassvalley.com.

Tickets are on sale now! Draft Horse Classic advanced tickets for reserved seating are $21 a person ($24 day of the event). General admission seats are first come, first seated, and are $18 in advance ($21 day of the event). RV camping is also available. Beginning on May 1, mail and fax ticket orders will be accepted; beginning June 1, phone and walk-in orders will be accepted. Ticket order forms are available at www.NevadaCountyFair.com.

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.

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.

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.