Canyon County Fair gets going in Caldwell

The Canyon County Fair returns to Caldwell this week for its 138th iteration.

As per usual, the fair will feature animals, concerts, rides, popular food items and family-friendly events all weekend long. Fair organizers expect about 60,000 attendees during the four-day event.

“At the Canyon County Fair, it is our mission to be an inclusive celebration for the community,” the fair said in a preview flier. “We are proud of the longstanding presence we’ve had since 1887, and encourage you to join us in celebrating our rich heritage.”

Festivities get underway on Thursday and run through Sunday at the Canyon County Fairgrounds. The fair and carnival open daily at noon and run through 11 p.m. The livestock area, located at the Fair Building and O’Connor Field House, is open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

General admission is $8 for adults, $6 for children and seniors, and children under 5 get in free.

There is also a $2 discounted gate admission for veterans with military ID.

Annual fair highlights include:

The Bi-MART Concert Series, which features live music every night on the stadium floor. This year’s shows are Chris Janson on Thursday, Gary Allan on Friday, Tesla on Saturday and Los 2 De La S on Sunday. Concerts are free with paid admission to the fair.4-H and FFA livestock shows. Animals include sheep, swine, beef cattle, dairy cattle, dairy goat, pygmy goat, meat goat, poultry and rabbit.Vendors selling an assortment of merchandise and food. Food options include Coned Pizza, Kettle Korn Factory, Maui Wowi, Meltz Extreme Grilled Cheese, MiniDohNuts, Smoke Point BBQ and Stella’s.And the fair carnival, with traditional family and kid-friendly rides running daily. The fair boasts that whether someone is looking for traditional rides, family and kid rides, or high-thrill experiences, the fair carnival offers it all.

Rebecca Coulter, assistant director for the fair, said organizers are also excited for Big Wheel Races at the rodeo entrance, mechanical bull rides offered between the rodeo arena and the Bi-Mart Concert Series Stage, and alpaca meet-and-greets.

Coulter also said there will be tent-covered cooling stations with sprinklers and misters to help combat the summer heat.

For the second straight year, there will also be The Center, a new exhibition hall located at the fair.

A ribbon cutting for the $7.6 million, 45,000-square-foot facility will be held on Thursday. It will host indoor exhibits, vendor booths, community activities and more.

A news release from the Canyon County Commissioners this week said the facility “will serve as a key venue for the Canyon County Fair, City of Caldwell events, the Caldwell Night Rodeo, Simplot Stadium events, and activities at the College of Idaho.”

Parking for the fair is free along Griffith’s Parkway, Blaine Street (in front of Simplot Stadium) and off 21st Street (north of the railroad tracks). Disabled and senior parking is available in front of The Center, located at 110 County Fair Avenue. The College of Idaho parking lots are available for public use during the fair.

Additionally, free shuttle service is available from noon to 11 p.m. at the following locations: The Center, Special Events Parking Lot at the College of Idaho and 21st Street (north of the railroad tracks).