Cool County Fairs in Colorado
Rousing pro rodeos, extraordinary exhibits, handsome farm animals and steaming delights on a stick are staples at Colorado’s show-stopping summer fairs. Nearly 60 county fairs take place annually — here are just a few of our favorites.
Rousing pro rodeos, extraordinary exhibits, handsome farm animals and steaming delights on a stick are staples at Colorado’s show-stopping summer fairs. Nearly 60 county fairs take place annually — here are just a few of our favorites.
Logan County Fair & Rodeo
July–Aug.
Sterling
Established in 1888 — with exhibits like 2,000-year-old corn — the event now boasts a lineup of fun with a rodeo, mutton bustin', carnival, live music, a demo derby and so much more.
El Paso County Fair
July
Calhan
Watch tractor pulls and auto races; greet some of south-central Colorado’s farm-animal celebrities and kick your heels up in the dance tent.
Montrose County Fair & Rodeo
July
Montrose
This more than 130-year-old bash boasts rodeos, livestock and horse shows, a Bacon Day with a bacon-donut breakfast and pig painting, and a variety of competitions, including bacon-, watermelon- and Jell-O-eating contests.
Mesa County Fair
July
Grand Junction
This Western Slope tradition has dazzled spectators with demolition derbies, pro bull riding and wine-making competitions for more than 120 years.
Archuleta County Fair
August
Pagosa Springs
A traditional ranch rodeo, free live music, bares/broncs/bulls, laser tag, livestock auction, chuckwagon dinner, pie-eating, exhibits, petting zoo and Saturday-night dance all keep fair-goers busy.
Douglas County Fair & Rodeo
July–August
Castle Rock
This event celebrated its 100th year anniversary in 2018, and is livelier than ever. The Douglas County Fair & Rodeo has a Vintage Marketplace with handmade, artisan and vintage items, dancing-horse performances, a stick-horse rodeo, mutton bustin' and more.
Larimer County Fair
August
Loveland
Highlights include the Colorado Craft Beer Cave, PRCA Rodeo, Kids Pedal Tractor Pulls and Moo U, a guided livestock tour that offers city folk insight into the complexities of the livestock industry.
Boulder County Fair
August
Longmont
The spirit of Colorado’s Front Range shines at this affair, with a farm-to-table dinner, Boulder Craft Distiller Festival and crowd-pleasing shows featuring stunt dogs and ballet on horses.
San Luis Valley Fair
August
Monte Vista
This southern Colorado delight serves up all of a fair’s usual subjects, including fetching farm critters, a truck-and-tractor pull and team-roping competitions. One unique addition to the event is cow-pie bingo, where cows roam a giant bingo board and the square that receives the first cow pie (read: cow dropping) determines the game’s winner.
Jeffco Fair & Festival
July–August
Golden
Rodeos, pro wrestling and homebrewing competitions, a celebrity livestock show and oodles of 4-H exhibits keep locals and visitors amused all weekend long.
Colorado State Fair
August–September
Pueblo
Intrepid cowboys and cowgirls greet thunderous applause at Budweiser Rodeo Area, while a daytime and late-night carnival supplies classic Americana fun. Don’t miss sampling Pueblo’s famed chiles; we recommend the green-chile sloppers, cheeseburger patties smothered in fiery deliciousness.
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