A couple of the McCoy sisters: Patience, 15, and Hope, 17, with Pythag and Morgan
MARIPOSA – Labor Day weekend brings about a wealth of traditions in the foothills, including the Mariposa County Fair,. It starts on Friday, Sept. 4 and runs through Monday, Sept. 7, at the Mariposa County Fairgrounds.
Click here for A Day In Pictures at the Mariposa County Fair.
This 77th edition of the fair, billed as “A Treasure Basket Full of Memories,” will include exciting carnival rides, fun food and drinks, livestock shows, great entertainment, displays, awards, destruction derby, authentic wild west rodeo action and more.
The big event affords some of the best good times the area has to offer, and you have four days to enjoy it.
“Since 1939 the Mariposa County Fair has been providing family fun to the people of Mariposa and other surrounding communities, with agricultural events, displays, demonstrations, entertainment, a carnival, a midway and more,” say organizers, providing “old-fashioned fun for the young and young-at-heart.”
Admission to the fair is $10 per person for ages 12 and up, with a season pass for $30. Children age 11 and under pay $5 per person per day, or $12 for the season pass. Children age 11 and under, as well as seniors age 65 and over, get in for free on Monday, Sept. 7. Carnival tickets, derby tickets and CCPRA Rodeo are sold seperately.
Click on schedule to enlarge.
FRIDAY
The Mariposa County Fair kicks off on Friday, Sept. 4, when the Grounds and buildings open at noon with a “People’s Choice” judging of exhibits sponsored by Yosemite Bank. Afternoon activities include the Arty Loon Magic Show at 2 p.m. on the Amigo Stage, and at 4 p.m. the California Carnival opens. Also at 4 p.m. and on until 7 p.m. is Charley’s Country band in the Beergarden.
Strolling acts performing throughout the afternoon include Sadie the Balloon Lady and Arty Loon Strolling Magic. Other events on Friday feature hypnotist Chris Mabrey on the Amigo Stage, and swine and sheep judging in the Show Ring, followed by another magic show on the Amigo Stage at 7 p.m. and another appearance by the hypnotist.
Dachsund races, stick horse races, ultimate cowboy and cowgirl contests, barnyard goat scramble and trashcan barrel race will all take place in the Goldbowl.
Tickets are also being sold for a demolition derby on Saturday and a CCPRA Rodeo on Sunday. The ticket prices for these events are sold seperately for $10 – $12 and may be sold out. All seats in the Grandstand are numbered.
SATURDAY
On Saturday, Sept. 5, Grounds open at 8 a.m. with a Stock Horse Show to include ranch cutting, non-pro reining, and more, all free with admission in the Goldbowl.
Judging starts at 9 a.m. for Junior Beef, Open Beef, Junior Poultry, Junior Goats, Junior Sheep and Open Sheep. Buildings open at 10 a.m., and the schedule continues with People’s Choice judging.
The California State Mineral and Mining Museum opens at 10:30 with a Kids Activity Booth. Museum closes at 5:30 p.m.
The Parade starts in town at 11 a.m. on Saturday, strolling acts continue, with magic and hypnotism on the stage, and the Carnival opens again at noon. Later in the day is Ranch Sorting, blacksmith shop demonstrations, and the Mariposa Country Band in the Beergarden at 3 p.m., followed by classic rock band The Fog at the Amigo Stage at 4 p.m.
The Destruction Derby goes down in the Goldbowl at 7 p.m. and gates open at 6 p.m. on Saturday, sponsored by Sierra Telephone. Don’t forget to take your derby ticket to the carnival for a free bumper ride.
The Cover Up Band goes on the Amigo Stage at 9 p.m. and the Fuse Box Band takes over at 9 p.m. Buildings close at 10 p.m. and Grounds close at 1 a.m.
SUNDAY
Sunday, Sept. 6 brings the Amigo de Oro Race at 7:30 a.m.: that’s a 5/10 mile race that begins and ends at the Fairgrounds, sanctioned by the AAAUUS.
Grounds open officially at 8 a.m. and Local Team Roping starts the day. Judging for dairy and boar goats is at 9 a.m., the Museum opens at 10 a.m., as does fCowboy Church, a nondenominational service, on the Amigo Dance Slab. The day continues with the blacksmith shop, strolling acts, magic shows, kids dummy roping, and the California Carnival opening at 12 p.m.
The Jr. Livestock Auction starts at 3 p.m., and there’s a Trycycle Race at 4 p.m. At 6 p.m. KUBB Country 96.3 will broadcase live and spin the Wheel of Winning for fab prizes.
CCPRA Rodeo action starts at 8 p.m. Enjoy rodeo staples like bull riding, calf roping, bareback riding, steer wrestling and more old fashioned western action. This year’s Grand Marshalls are longtime Mariposa County Fair supporters Merlin and Mimi Jones. After the action, rodeo-goers can take their rodeo ticket down to the fairgrounds for a free carnival ride.
At 9 p.m. on Sunday, Cripple Creek Band goes on stage, buildings close at 10 p.m. and the Grounds close at 1 a.m.
MONDAY
For the last day of the Mariposa County Fair, Monday, Sept. 1, the Grounds open at 8 a.m. followed by an alpaca show, calf branding contest, Round Robin Showmanship, a senior citizens’ program, before the junior livestock auction.
K.A. Country will be at the Beergarden at noon, and the Yosemite Dixieland Jazz Band will perform at 1 p.m., on the Amigo Stage.
Watch out for watermelon spitting and its contestants at 3:30, and an awards assembly at 3 p.m. for the 4-H, FFA and Senior Clean Barn Awards.
The evening closes with more magic and hypnotism, and a thank-you-very-much and goodnight at 6 p.m., when the grounds and Carnival close and everyone looks forward to next year.
The cost for parking is $5 per entry to the fair or a flat $30 season pass, which are limited in number and available at the Fairgrounds Office. Season Passes, as well as booklets of Carnival tickets can be purchased in advance from the Fairgrounds Office.
For more information visit the Mariposa County Fair online.
