Yeehaw! Two metro Denver area county fairs on tap this weekend

Saddle up partner, two Colorado county fairs are set to begin this weekend.

From carnival attractions, irresistible fair food, concerts, rodeos and competitions — Douglas and Arapahoe County's fairs offer everything attendees could expect.

Douglas County Fair & Rodeo

Roughly 30 miles south of Denver, off Interstate 25 and Plum Creek Road in Castle Rock, the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo delivers a variety of fun and tasty options for residents and visitors.

That includes the famous cattle drive through downtown Castle Rock at 6 p.m. Friday.

The fair kicks off at the Douglas County Fairgrounds on Friday, and runs everyday until Sunday, Aug. 4.

At a cost of $11 to enter, the fairgrounds offer carnival rides, a marketplace, unique food vendors, petting zoos and livestock sales. Pay-to-enter events include professional rodeos, concerts, mutton busting and other various competitions.

The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo Parade will kick off the festivities with a cattle drive through downtown Castle Rock on Friday and free grounds admission. The downtown parade is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Saturday.

Fairground openings vary each day. Check out the Douglas County Fair & Rodeo calendar for more details.

“There’s a whole lineup of exciting events for everyone, including ProRodeos, live entertainment, 4-H exhibits, a carnival, mouth-watering food and so much more,” Douglas County officials said in a statement. “It’s the perfect place to embrace the heart and soul of our community while creating lasting memories with friends and family.”

Arapahoe County Fair

Returning for its 118th year, the Arapahoe County fair kicks off Thursday in Aurora.

Located at 25690 E. Quincy Ave, the fair will last four days until Sunday.

Arapahoe County Fair, known as a community tradition among locals, highlights the county’s agricultural and western heritage through programs, educational activities and “lots of entertainment,” county officials said in a news release.

South Harvest Road is closed in both directions from July 25-28, to address safety and traffic management during the Fair, according to the county.

The fair is $25 to enter, which includes unlimited carnival rides, CPRA rodeos, fireworks, live entertainment such as tractor pulls, dog stunt shows, mutton busting, public competitions, pig racing, and more.

Children under 36 inches enter for free. The fair begins at 4 p.m. on Thursday, and opens at 11 a.m. Friday to Sunday. More pricing and scheduling information can be found on the Arapahoe County Fair website.

Pours on the Plains, the county fair’s special ticketed craft brew festival or ages 21 and over, will take place on Friday, July 26 from 6:30-9:30 p.m. This event features over 15 local breweries and a live band.

“We are so excited to continue the tradition of the Arapahoe County Fair dating back to 1906,” Commissioner Carrie Warren-Gully said in a statement. “We’ve added new attractions and events that are sure to be a hit with everyone in the family. The Fair is the best deal in town for wholesome family fun.”