Reporting by Justin Reutter, Pueblo Chieftain
From a strongman show and a chile cookoff to free live music, the upcoming Colorado State Fair is set to offer families more than a quarter-million dollars’ worth of entertainment for just the price of admission.
This year’s fair, which begins Aug. 28 and goes through Sept. 7, will feature a “diverse lineup of experiences,” according to a Colorado Department of Agriculture news release.
“The state fair is all about creating memories, and we want fairgoers to be able to do that without breaking the bank,” Andrea Wiesenmeyer, general manager of the Colorado State Fair, said in the release. “Your general admission tickets unlock more than $250,000 in non-stop entertainment over the 11 days of the fair.”
Free music at the fair includes some well-known Pueblo artists
This year’s free music lineup “features several artists who would typically require separate tickets elsewhere,” Wiesenmeyer said in the release. “We’ve built a diverse lineup that promises a memorable end to the summer for everyone who attends.”
On “one-price Wednesday,” Sept. 2, guests receive $15 admission to the fair and the Big R Arena, and a chance to catch Hairball in concert on the American Furniture Warehouse Amphitheater stage.
“This nationally touring act brings the best of 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s rock to life and has entertained audiences for more than 25 years,” fair officials said in the release. Meanwhile, The Mountain States Ranch Rodeo will “feature a 5-Man Hybrid Scramble with Open Ranch Bronc Riding.”
Throughout the week, the PB&T Bank Pavilion and the American Furniture Warehouse Amphitheater will also host free concerts throughout, including Double Wide, Uptown Jam, Lies or Lullabies (a tribute to John Mellencamp, Bryan Adams, and Bruce Springsteen), The Outlaw Mariachi, Dead Floyd (a tribute to the Grateful Dead and Pink Floyd), and local Pueblo acts such as The Martini Shot and Triple Nickel.
Pueblo native and country artist Cody Cozz will close out the free concert lineup on Sept. 7.
Local dance troupes, singers, and high school marching bands will also perform at the fair during the 11 days of the event.
Strongman, sand sculpture and ‘Agri-Golf’ among fair’s miscellaneous entertainment
Along with musical performances, the fair will also include miscellaneous acts with a range of different experiences.
The Pepsi stage will feature Mighty Mike, showcasing feats of strength such as juggling bowling balls and sledgehammers, as well as bending solid metal.
A 150-ton sand sculpture, a “perennial fan favorite,” will also return to the fair. This year, the sculpture will be built by Team Sandtastic, which will be coming to the Colorado State Fair for the first time to bring the sculpture to life. The artists work on the sculpture throughout the fair, with the piece completed on the second weekend.
The fair also offers Agri-Golf, a mini-golf course where each hole highlights a different aspect of Colorado’s agricultural industry.
“This new attraction combines hands-on learning with fairtime fun,” state fair officials said in the release.
Guests can also root for and interact with their favorite duck in the “Great American Duck Race.”
“As visitors take in the sights and sounds of the fair, roaming performers from the Stilt Circuswill bring entertainment to the skies above, while The Bubblerreturns to Main Street, delighting guests with bubbles of all shapes and sizes,” the release states. “Families can also enjoy the return of ‘Ag-Venture Land,’ a dedicated area featuring hands-on, family-friendly agricultural activities.”
New green chile cookoff lets aspiring chefs show off
The Great Colorado Pork Green Chile showdown will “pit family traditions, secret ingredients, and local pride against each other to determine who makes the best bowl of one of the state’s most iconic dishes,” according to the fair.
The winner will take home the $1,000 grand prize and a “Big Green Egg prize package,” second place will take home $750 along with an assorted pork gift package, and third place will win $500.
A full schedule of free concerts at this year’s State Fair is available on the state fair website.
Justin Reutter covers public safety, county government, and business news for the Pueblo Chieftain. Contact Justin at jreutterma@gannett.com or follow him on X @jayreutter1. Support local news; subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain.
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