Friday Accent: Four States Fair getting ready to roll,
Four States Fair & Rodeo gets ready to roll
TEXARKANA, Ark. — With a new April time slot, the Four States Fair & Rodeo will soon fill the midway with springtime fun, starting with the carnival rides and a monster truck show on Friday, April 2.
This year’s event was moved from last September to this spring because of the coronavirus pandemic, but old favorites will return to the fair, which runs through April 11. Also featured are the 30th annual Demolition Derby on Saturday, April 3, and the Four States Rodeo running April 8-10, Thursday through Saturday.
Plans call for the fair events and rodeo to be held in April from now on.
Wagner Carnival rides and traditional fair food will make the midway the happening place to enjoy tasty treats and thrills. Brent Talley, the fair’s CEO and president, is excited about continuing this longtime Texarkana tradition.
“We’re kicking off Friday night, April 2, with Monster Mash. That’s going to be the monster trucks event,” Talley said. There’s a 7:30 p.m. start with a 5 p.m. open for the pit party. “That in the past has been a standalone event in April, so we’ve combined that in with the fair now to kick us off for our 76th fair.”
The Saturday night demolition derby marks three decades of demolishing things. “That is always a crowd favorite and so we’re looking forward to having that,” Talley said.
Doors open at 6 p.m. for a 7:30 p.m. start. Box seats are $25 for the demolition derby with adult bleacher seats $20 and children’s seats $12 (ages 4 to 12). The AMMP Motorsports Monster Mash tickets also range between $25 and $12, as do rodeo tickets.
“Sunday is Easter, and so we’re doing a special for our kids, the kids coming in on Sunday. We’ve got a gift basket for them and some special folks that are going to be welcoming them,” Talley said. “The first 2,000 kids are going to get in free on Sunday afternoon from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.”
On Monday night, the Four States Fair & Rodeo presents its Road Runner Day at the fair.
“That’s where if you come in with your sticker from the Road Runner that you pick up from one of the Road Runner stores here in Texarkana, rides will be $1 that night on Monday night,” Talley said.
On Tuesday, April 6, the fair will be closed to the general public. Back open Wednesday night, the fair continues with a full array of activities. Thursday starts the rodeo, which also begins at 7:30 p.m. nightly.
“We do have some special guests coming in that will be on the grounds for the rodeo and also then out for the public, and that’s the Express Clydesdale horses,” Talley said. “They’ll be taking part in the rodeo then also be out for the public to get to see those, as well. Some beautiful animals, and we’re thankful to have them on the grounds this year as well for that last weekend.”
There’s no livestock show this time, but it will return in September.
The plan going forward is to hold the carnival, rodeo and all those associated events in April. That will be what’s traditionally thought of as the Four States Fair & Rodeo, Talley said, noting they’re looking at keeping it in April if all goes well.
As for COVID-19, Arkansas has moved to guidelines from directives but they’ll have the same guidelines going in the Entertainment Center since last June with 66% capacity, Talley said. Tickets are being arranged for social distancing and every-other-row seating.
Although the Arkansas governor may change COVID recommendations at the end of the month, the current plan is to maintain these social distancing measures.
Talley said the carnival will do additional, rotating sanitation of the rides and on the midway. “Then we’re working on getting a special sanitation crew that’s working the grounds for us throughout the whole fair,” Talley said. That extra cleaning will include high-touch areas such as the restrooms and Entertainment Center.
“Making sure that we’re doing all we can to keep everyone having as good a time as possible,” Talley said. The Fun Pass won’t be available this year because of COVID, but daily specials on the carnival will be available.
“Wagner’s back as our carnival. That’s the great carnival we had last year,” Talley said. “Wagner was here for our 75th and was such a community favorite that we’re pleased to be able to bring Wagner Carnival back to the midway this year. Some of the same great rides that families enjoyed last year. Looking forward to having the community out for a great fair.”
(Gate admission tickets are $7 for adults, $5 for children 6-12 years old. The fair opens at 5 p.m. weekdays, 10 a.m. Saturdays and 1 p.m. Sundays. For more information and tickets, visit fourstatesfair.com or call 870-773-2941. Tickets are also available at the will call window.)