One of the biggest draws to the Ravalli County Fair is the food.
Food Row at the fairgrounds features local nonprofits and commercial food vendors who prepare some of the traditional meals and treats that keep bringing people back.
According to Fair Director Melissa Saville, 4-H has been the longest-running food booth. Kiwanis is in the number two spot, with Moose Creek BBQ at number three, Bitterroot Swim Team at number four, the Bitterroot Health Foundation, previously Marcus Daly, at number five and the Bitterroot Celtic Society at number six.
Over time, commercial vendors have also been added to the spots on the Food Row.
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“We’ve got a very long-standing practice of partnering with nonprofits,” Saville said. “But then I think what a lot of people don’t understand is nonprofits age out and they don’t have people coming up and joining.”
She said it is generational as most people her age are working full-time jobs and volunteer less.
“So, we have had to, and it started well before me, but they had to bring in commercial vendors,” Saville said. “One of the things that we do that I have not seen another fair ever do, and we do a lot of fair tours throughout the year, I don’t see that any one of them makes their commercial vendors’ partner with a local nonprofit. But here, if you are a commercial business, you have to partner with a local nonprofit to be eligible to come to the fair.”
Another big draw to the fair is the annual bike giveaway. The bike giveaway occurs every night at 5:30 p.m. Saville asks for bike donations every year and is aiming for 50 bikes this year.
“Public Health donates a helmet to go with every single bike which is very cool because we’re all about safety for the kids,” Saville said. “They’re completely free, so every day 10 to 15 kids are going to be walking away with a free bike courtesy of local sponsors. It’s such a small way for this sponsor to be able to participate and get some branding. There’s a lot of people that think it’s so expensive to participate in fair and I’m trying to think of ways to show them it’s not.”
Many fairgoers appreciate the entertainment options. For traditional fair entertainment, the Tractor Club will be doing threshing in their area at 2 p.m. on Thursday and tractor pulling at 2 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.
Big draws in the main arena of the fair include mutton bustin’, Ravalli County Royalty crowning, a free kiddie rodeo and the Rockin’ RC Rodeo nightly at 7 p.m. In addition, chariot and wagon driving featuring horses, mules and donkeys will be featured from 11:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. on Thursday and Friday.
On that same note, the 4-H and FFA livestock shows and auctions are on the schedule. A Small Animal Auction featuring rabbits, ducks, chickens, geese and will be held on Saturday.
One of the stage acts will be Misty and the Sandman. This duo does a combined standup comedy and hypnosis performance. According to their website, the act has been seen at such various venues as county fairs and large corporate events. It all comes complete with a steampunk-decorated Model T Ford and matching trailer.
Adam the Great, a magician and showman with 25 years of experience, will be performing on another stage.
His website states, “His act is described as a mixture of improvisation, skits and, of course, some magic. The show is driven by the reaction of audience members and a connection with people to elicit a positive reaction. His performances consist of stage shows as well as times he will roam and perform tricks on the spot.”
In addition to these acts, Pippi the Clown will be performing magical tricks, balloon sculptures, face painting and, of course, clowning around.
North Star Amusements is the official Carnival of the Ravalli County Fair. Enjoy the rides!
