Merced County Fair sets up rides
Activity at the Merced County Fairgrounds is heating up along with the weather this weekend as crews prepare for next week’s fair.
Butler Amusements set up its midway carnival rides on Friday. This year’s new offerings include the Kite Flyer, Mardi Gras, Funhouse, Wind Surfer and the Pirate Jet Ride. The last of those is an armada of six pirate ships that rotate around a central character, simulating a trip on the high seas, marketing manager Diane B. Conway said via email.
Just as popular as the carnival rides is the fair fare, and Conway said this year’s selections include Willamette Valley apple and berry pies, cobblers and turnovers, “which come highly recommended.”
The heart of any county fair is its competitions and exhibits. Along with the traditional show animals, quilts and jams, contests this year will include a backyard barbecue cook-off and, for the second time, a “farm junk” yard art contest.
Concerts range from Tower of Power to John Lee Hooker Jr. Those concerts are free with admission. Grandstand events such as the auto races and rodeo are an additional $5.
The fair opens its five-day run on Wednesday. According to forecasters, the weather should cooperate. Though temperatures are expected to close in on triple digits by Monday, the National Weather Service predicts that by midweek, the highs will be around 90.
Tickets are on sale, with discounts available through Tuesday.
Tickets are sold at www.MercedCountyFair.com, and at the Merced County Fair Office, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. They also will be sold Saturday at the Merced Flea & Farmers Market, 900 G St., and will be available at Rancho San Miguel Market, 1930 Yosemite Parkway, and 444 Winton Parkway, Livingston, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The theme of the fair is “5 Best Days of Summer.” For information, call the fair office at (209) 722-1507, email info@MercedCountyFair.com or go to www.MercedCountyFair.com.
This story was originally published June 5, 2015 at 3:37 PM with the headline "Merced County Fair sets up rides."