FOUR STATES FAIR & RODEO ROLLS INTO TOWN NEXT WEEK,
As summer simmers down and September arrives, locals look forward to the Four States Fair & Rodeo, an annual rite of passage for more than seven decades.
This year’s Four States Fair & Rodeo, which runs Sept. 8-17, starts a week from today at the Four States Fairgrounds, with the first weekend’s highlight being the 27th annual Demolition Derby starting at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 9. That same day, the fair parade downtown is another time-honored part of the fair at 10 a.m.
The midway opens at 4 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays with Wrights Amusements once again supplying the fun rides and games that capture the fairgoer’s fancy and imagination.
Brent Talley, CEO at the Four States Fair, says everything’s coming together for this 73rd annual event. Changes this year include opening a bit earlier on the weekends. He’s hoping the cooler weather holds until the fair starts. One addition is the Mexican Rodeo, to be held at 5 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 17.
“We also during that same time will be doing our livestock shows,” Talley said about another traditional aspect of the fair. They’ve gained popularity here in recent years, as they have nationally, he says. They’ll kick off that first Friday with the junior beef cattle judging.
“The livestock shows are just growing leaps and bounds. As a matter of fact, it looks like we’re going to possibly break another record this year for the size of those livestock shows,” Talley said.
Sunday, Sept. 10, is also Senior Citizens Day with seniors receiving free admission. A KKYR Starz Youth Talent Contest will be held on the outdoor stage the next day, while Tuesday, Sept. 12, provides a $2 Taste the Fair opportunity with $2 rides on the midway, too.
“One of the big things about the fair is the fair food,” Talley said. On Tuesday, fairgoers have a chance to sample vendor’s tasty treats for $2. Expect the Ag Learning Center, too, to be in full swing with educational fun during the fair with a Moogician.
“Each night we have live music on the amphitheater stage,” Talley said.
On Wednesday, Sept. 13, see wild rides in the Entertainment Center with the PRCA XTreme Bull Riding starting at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 14, through Saturday, Sept. 16, same time, is the Ram PRCA Rodeo produced by Pete Carr’s Classic Pro Rodeo. Kids Night at the Rodeo is that Thursday.
“That’s always a big event that’s well attended with people from
across the region,” Talley said.
On Sunday, Sept. 17, the Four States Fair & Rodeo welcomes something different with an event geared to connect to the local Hispanic community. That’s a Mexican Rodeo.
Expect only one bucking shoot with a bull for this rodeo, said the fairgrounds CEO.
It also includes south-of-the-border music.
“They’ll put a bull in the shoot and a guy will ride it. Then the bands will play for a little while. It’s a totally different environment,” Talley said. The fairgrounds has hosted a Mexican rodeo before, and it was a fun, positive event, he said.
“We’re excited about being able to add something new to our fair week,” Talley said.
Ticket promotions include Texarkana Emergency Center Weekend Sept. 8-10, Road Runner Day on Sept. 14 and Farmers Bank Weekend Sept. 15-17.
Bands scheduled to play include locals like Relentless and the ADC Cummins Prison Band, who’ve performed at the fair in the past. Fairgoers will be able to enjoy some of the longtime food vendors that everyone asks about, plus some new ones this year.
“As far as the food vendors and stuff, that’s always a big hit for the fair,” Talley said.
(Fair gate admission is $7 for adults and $5 for children 6-12 years old. Fun passes are on sale for $75. That gives unlimited gate admission and rides for all 10 days; this year it’s a booklet of tickets, not a photo pass. All event tickets include fair admission. Demolition Derby tickets are $15 for adult, $10 for children. Ram PRCA Rodeo tickets are $20 for box seats, $15 for adults, $10 for children. Mexican Rodeo tickets are $35-$45. More info and event tickets: FourStatesFair.com, the fairgrounds box office or 870-773-2941.)