Fair Tickets: Buy Early and Save; Extended Hours

July 31, 2015 |

Tickets for the Nevada County Fair are on sale now. Purchase your admission, carnival tickets, and arena event tickets before the Fair begins and save money! The Fair Office is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and will be open specifically for ticket sales on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9 from 10 am to 5 pm on both days. You can also save time by purchasing your Fair tickets online at NevadaCountyFair.com.

Buy your admission tickets before August 11 at 5 pm and get an admission ticket for $6. Or, purchase a “Be a Kid Again” adult admission ticket for Thursday of the Fair for only $4. You can also take advantage of other pre-sale offers, including a five-day Fair pass with unlimited entry for $30; an event parking pass for $25; or a carnival ride bracelet, good for unlimited rides for any one day, for $23.

Now is the time to also purchase your arena event tickets – including tickets to this year’s Destruction Derby, hosted by Nevada County’s Rotary Clubs! Tickets are now on sale for the Flying U Extreme Rodeo on Wednesday and Thursday night; Monster Trucks and Tuff Trucks on Friday and Saturday night; and Rotary’s Destruction Derby on Sunday night.

There are several ways to get your Fair tickets early. Purchase them on-line or stop by the Fair Office on McCourtney Road by Tuesday, August 11, at 5 pm. Or you can call the Fair Office at (530) 273-6217 by August 10 at 5 pm. The Fair Office at Gate 1 is open Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm, and will also be open on Saturday, August 8, and Sunday, August 9, from 10 am to 5 pm on both days.

After August 11, admission for the Fair is $9 for adults, $6 for seniors, $4 for children 6-12, and free to children under the age of 5.

Categories: Announcements and Nevada County Fair.
Tags: 2015 Nevada County Fair, extended hours, fair, Nevada County Fair, Nevada County Fairgrounds, ticket sales, and tickets.

Nevada County Fair: Let’s Go!

July 29, 2015 |

The Nevada County Fairgrounds confirmed today that the Nevada County Fair will continue as planned on August 12 – 16.

While the Fairgrounds are currently being used for a command post and fire camp, the Fair team is busy behind the scenes preparing for its biggest event of the year – the Nevada County Fair.

“There have been rumors of the Fair’s cancellation, but that was never part of our plan,” said Rea Callender, CEO of the Fairgrounds. “While we are happy to be able to assist our community and provide a place of rest for our heroic firefighters, we are still busy preparing for this year’s Fair, which opens in less than two weeks.”

To date, the Fair has received more than 7,000 entries for community exhibits, discounted tickets are being sold, and entries for special contests are being accepted.

Additionally, the Fair confirmed that Community Involvement Day – a day to donate items to non-profit organizations, while also receiving free tickets to the Fair – will take place in the Gate 1 parking lot on Monday, August 3. This year, the Nevada County Fairgrounds is teaming up with the Food Bank of Nevada County, Foothill Lions, Story Club, Nevada County 2-1-1, Sierra Harvest, NEO, and BloodSource for Community Involvement Day. These organizations will be set-up at the Fairgrounds Gate 1 parking lot on Monday, August 3, from 1 – 6 pm, to receive donations of items.

“The fire camp will still be on the grounds during Community Involvement Day, but we’re ready to host the event, which will cause little disruption to the fire camp,” said Callender.

While the Fair will take place as planned in two weeks, the grounds are currently closed to pedestrians and bicyclists; and RV camping is limited. The Fairgrounds will notify the community when these services are open again to the public.

The Main Office will continue to sell advanced sale Fair tickets, and continues to be open during normal business hours of Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm.

“On August 12, we will be ready to open our gates to the community and welcome them to the 2015 Nevada County Fair,” said Callender. “At that time, we’ll also take the time to celebrate our community and thank our firefighters for their efforts in keeping us all safe.”

For information about the Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16, call 530-273-6217 or visit NevadaCountyFair.com.

Categories: Announcements and Nevada County Fair.
Tags: "Catch the Fair Bug", 2015 Nevada County Fair, August, carnival, community involvement day, exhibits, Grass Valley, Nevada City, Nevada County, Nevada County Fair, and Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Family of the Year: Garcia-McDonald Family

July 28, 2015 |

Eddie and Nancy Garcia, as well as daughter Barbara and son-in-law Larry McDonald, have been named the 2015 Family of the Year by the Nevada County Fair’s Board of Directors. The Board chose the Garcia-McDonald Family for their volunteer efforts, their vision for the Foundation Station, and their ongoing support of the Nevada County Fairgrounds.

The Garcia-McDonald family moved to Nevada County in 2008, and, in 2009, Eddie was asked by his high school friend, George Woods, to be part of the ring crew for the Draft Horse Classic. Eddie continued to volunteer at the Draft Horse Classic each year and two years ago Larry joined him on the crew. Additionally, Barbara and Larry’s horse boarding business, La Vida Buena Ranch, have been sponsors of the Draft Horse Classic; and, in 2013, Barbara began volunteering at the Halter Classes during the Classic.

The Garcia-McDonald family are also active in the Fairgrounds Foundation. Eddie joined the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation in 2011 as a director, followed by Barbara in 2013, and Larry in 2014. She now serves as Treasurer, and she and Larry operate the Foundation Station that opened in 2014.

“The Fair has such a sense of tradition and is the focal point of summer fun and community,” says Barbara. “The Nevada County Fairgrounds are so unique and beautiful and the Fair is such an integral part of our community. Having been to other fairs, we see how special the Nevada County Fair is and we want to make sure that the Fair continues to provide that feeling for generations to come.”

Nancy and Eddie Garcia met in high school, and have been married 54 years this year. They lived briefly in Barcelona where Barbara was born and then moved back to California where they started a furniture business. Barbara joined the family business after she graduated from Santa Clara University. Larry grew up in San Leandro and followed his father into the trucking business. Barbara and Larry married in 2004; and they have a daughter, Shayna, who attends Sierra College and works at Echo Valley Ranch in Auburn. Today, Barbara is the Chief Workshop Manager at Build A Bear Workshop at the Galleria at Roseville, while Larry owns a trucking company.

“The Garcias and the McDonalds are great supporters of the Fair,” said Sandy Woods, former CEO of the Nevada County Fairgrounds. “Their passion for the Fair developed as soon as they moved to Nevada County, and it was through their vision that the new beer booth, Foundation Station, was designed and built in 2014. Because of their eye for operational detail and their public relation skills, the success of the Foundation Station continues. It is an honor to recognize both families for their generosity and volunteer efforts.”

The Garcia-McDonald Family will be honored at the Fair’s opening ceremonies. They will receive a Fair package, as well as a family portrait by Shaffers Originals of Grass Valley.

Photo by Shaffers Originals.

Garcia-McDonald family (Family of the Year)

Categories: Announcements and Nevada County Fair.
Tags: "Catch the Fair Bug", 2015 Nevada County Fair, Fair Foundation, family of the year, Garcia-McDonald Family, Nevada County Fair, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Shaffers Originals.

Thank you, Firefighters

July 28, 2015 |
From Rea Callender, CEO of the Nevada County Fairgrounds: Our grounds are busy, our buildings are full, our community support is huge, and our firefighters are amazing! We at the Nevada County Fairgrounds are so impressed as we watch Cal Fire and assisting agencies set up a “city” at the Fairgrounds overnight, volunteers set up an animal evacuation center, and fire fighters from across the state… fight a fire in our own county. While we pride ourselves on providing a place of celebration, we also pride ourselves on providing a safe haven in times of need. Thank you, Nevada County, for your support of our Fairgrounds so that we can continue to provide for our community – in times of celebration and in times of need. And, thank you, Cal Fire, all fire agencies, and all the heroic firefighters for all that you are doing to keep us safe.
Base camp (2015)
Categories: Announcements.
Tags: Cal Fire, Lowell Fire, Nevada County, and Nevada County Fairgrounds.

Treat Street: What’s Your Favorite?

July 27, 2015 |

Treat Street, oh how we love you!! So many choices! What’s your favorite treat from Treat Street? Leave a comment on our Facebook page and we’ll randomly choose a few names for a free admission ticket.

Treat Street collage (2015)

Categories: Announcements and Nevada County Fair.
Tags: 2015 Nevada County Fair, baked potatoes, cinnamon rolls, corn dogs, hamburgers, Nevada County Fair, Nevada County Fairgrounds, non-profit organizations, pasties, rice bowls, and Treat Street.

Fairgrounds Serves as Command Post and Fire Camp for Cal Fire

July 26, 2015 |

Due to the Lowell Fire, currently burning in Nevada and Placer counties, Cal Fire and assisting agencies have set up a command post and fire camp at the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Additionally, the Nevada County Veterinary Disaster Response Team has set up an evacuation center at the Fairgrounds for large and small animals.

Due to the large number of resources utilizing the fire camp, the Fairgrounds will be closed to walkers and bicyclists until further notice.

During the duration that the camp is set up, Gate 1 will be open to Fair employees and Fair business (those visiting the Fairgrounds’ administration office) only, Gate 4 will be open to campers, Gate 8 will be open for animal evacuation, and all other gates will be closed to the public and restricted to authorized fire personnel only.

These closures and restrictions do not affect the Main Office, which is open during its normal business hours of Monday through Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. Additionally, limited RV camping will be available by contacting the Main Office.

During this time, the Nevada County Fairgrounds is also being used as an evacuation center for small and large animals. The Fairgrounds are open and equipped to handle large and small animals brought to the Fairgrounds. Several animals are already on the grounds, and the Fairgrounds will continue to receive and house animals as needed. Those with animals impacted by the fire, or those who need to remove animals to a safer location, are encouraged to use the Fairgrounds. If you need information or have questions regarding animal evacuations, contact Pat, Nevada County Veterinary Disaster Response Team (Animal Evac), at (530) 913-6506.

According to Mike Mohler, Public Information Officer with Cal Fire Incident Management Team 1, the fire camp, which was established on July 25, currently houses more than 700 individuals, as well as large equipment required to fight the fires.

For updated fire information and evacuation updates, contact the Cal Fire information line at (530) 823-4083 or visit Cal Fire’s website at www.fire.ca.gov.

Categories: Announcements.
Tags: Animal Evac, animal evacuations, base camp, Cal Fire, command center, Lowell Fire, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and Nevada County Veterinary Disaster Response Team.

Animal Evacuation Center at the Nevada County Fairgrounds

July 26, 2015 |

Due to the Lowell Fire burning in Nevada and Placer counties, the Nevada County Fairgrounds is being used as an evacuation center for small and large animals. We already have several animals on the grounds, and we will continue to receive and house animals as needed. Those with animals impacted by the fire, or need to remove animals to a safer location, are encouraged to use the Fairgrounds. If you need information regarding the animal evacuation process or have questions, contact Pat of the Nevada County Veterinary Disaster Response Team (Animal Evac) at (530) 913-6506.  *This is Big John, who has been evacuated from his home, but is safe at the Fairgrounds!

Big John

 

Categories: Announcements.
Tags: animal evacuation, Grass Valley, Lowell Fire, Nevada County, Nevada County Fairgrounds, and placer county.