El Paso County Fair: 'A lot like coming home for Christmas'

Long before its current lineup of rough-stock rodeos, demolition derbies and bloodless bull fighting, the El Paso County Fair was just a big potato bake, remembers 87-year-old Calhan resident John Lewis “Nap” Pieper.  

Everyone would gather on a hill west of town to eat baked potatoes and watch locals participate in horse and wagon races, he said.

Though the baked potatoes have been phased out since Pieper’s childhood days, the fair still provides a sense of community and social atmosphere, he said.  

“A lot of people who had kids would normally be gone but the fair brings them all together again,” he said. “It’s a lot a lot like coming home for Christmas.”

The fair will kick off its 105th year Saturday. Organizers have put together a mix of new and old events at the week-long fair in Calhan.  

Along with perennial events such as the livestock shows, extreme truck racing and wrangler concerts, there are three new shows in this year’s lineup, said event organizer Suzan Link.

The Great Cat Adventures showcases the great cats of the world, Pets Overboard is a pirate show with dogs, cats and rats and Bob “Circus Boy” Hunt’s comedy act includes fire eating and mouth juggling.  

The annual demolition derby and a concert by The McRae band will round out the week’s festivities.  

The events are more fantastical and elaborate than those in the fair’s early years, said Pieper, who grew up in Peyton and moved to Calhan after serving in World War II.  

Some of the most exciting moments he recalled were contests where kids would try to catch chickens and greased pigs that were set loose in an arena, as well as a baseball game that would attract teams from nearby towns.   

Meanwhile, the discount admission specials this year, including $1 admission on Wednesday, can’t compare to the 5-cent Ferris wheel rides Pieper paid for 80 years ago.  

Brenna Harfert, this year’s El Paso County Fair Queen, said the constant entertainment the fair provides makes it quite a bargain, though.    

“The fair is an inexpensive way to have family time,” she said. “It costs less than a movie but it lasts longer than two hours.”

105th EL PASO COUNTY FAIR: DETAILS

Web site: www.elpasocountyfair.com

Admission: $7 for adult, $5 for seniors (55+ yrs) $3 for children (3-12 yrs)

Schedule

Saturday: Military Appreciation Day (families of active duty members get in for free), ZIV concert, auto races

Sunday: Western Heritage Day (a dollar off general admission for everyone who wears a bandana around their neck), ranch rodeo, wranglers concert and line dancing lessons

Monday: Furry Friend Day (pet owners can participate in the pet show), pet show, open gymkhana horse show

Tuesday, July 27: Youth Day (youth get $1 off the price of general admission), movie night

Wednesday, July 28: Dollar Day (everyone gets in for $1), talent show

Thursday, July 29: Fiesta Day, bloodless bullfighting and rough stock rodeo

Saturday, July 30: Senior Day (seniors get in for $3), extreme truck racing and mud drag, Latigo concert

Sunday, July 31: American Heroes Day (all military, police and firefighters get $1 off admission for each member of their party), demolition derby and tug of war, The McRae concert

Directions

East on U.S. Highway 24, turn right on North Calhan Highway.  Fairgrounds are on the right, free parking is in the south lot.

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Contact the writer at 636-0187.