May 1 Volunteer Work Day – ALL SHIFTS HAVE BEEN FILLED
May 1 Volunteer Work Day
THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR KINDNESS AND VOLUNTEER EFFORTS. ALL SHIFTS HAVE BEEN FILLED AND WE ARE NO LONGER ACCEPTING VOLUNTEER APPLICATIONS.
After more than a year without events, California’s Most Beautiful Fairgrounds needs some spring cleaning. An enthusiastic group of Nevada County Fairgrounds’ lovers is planning a May 1 work day. Individuals, families, service organizations, high school students and everyone willing to roll up their sleeves are invited to trim flowers and bushes, clean garden begs, spread compost, prep lawns for mowing, pressure wash and paint, whack weeds, rake pine needles, and pick up pine cones, sticks and trash.
2021 Nevada County Fair Poster
Introducing the 2021 Nevada County Fair poster, created by talented local artist Kial James. So. Much. Fun! We remain hopefully optimistic for this year’s Fair and continue to plan for August 11 – 15. 🙂
Thank You, Grass Valley Sportsmen’s Club

Fairgrounds Fundraiser: Drive Thru Italian Pasta Dinner
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
Contact: Sandy Woods, President, Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation
(530) 477-2097;
NEVADA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS FUNDRAISER: DRIVE THRU ITALIAN PASTA DINNER
The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation, in partnership with the Foothill Lions Club, is hosting a Drive Thru Italian Pasta Dinner as a fundraiser for the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Tickets are on sale now at NevadaCountyFair.com for a delicious Italian pasta dinner that feeds four people. Each family dinners includes spaghetti and sauce, four Italian sausages, four meatballs, green salad with Italian dressing, garlic bread and four cannoli for only $45.
All orders must be placed by April 9. Pick up is on Saturday, April 17 between 4-6 pm at the Nevada County Fairgrounds, Gate 2, Ponderosa Hall. This event is pre-sales only and there are no onsite sales, so order today.
Tickets are available online at NevadaCountyFair.com. All proceeds benefit the community’s Nevada County Fairgrounds, which has been severely financially impacted by the restrictions on mass gatherings caused by COVID-19.
For more information, visit NevadaCountyFair.com or call (530) 273-6217.
# # #
Higgins Diggins Lions Club Donates $1,000 and Challenges Other Service Clubs
Recently the Higgins Diggins Lions Club donated $1,000 to the Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation. In presenting the check, Higgins Diggins Lions Club President Laura Barhydt expressed the club’s passion and concern for the ongoing viability of the Nevada County Fairgrounds given the pandemic’s huge negative impact on the community’s Fairgrounds. President Barhydt, along with members of the club, is challenging other Nevada County non-profit service clubs to step up to matching Higgins Diggins’ donation to help the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
Higgins Diggins Lions Club has a long record of service in the community going back more than forty years. The Club’s major sources of revenue are the rental of the Higgins Lions Community Center, the annual Crab & Shrimp Feed, See’s candy sales during Christmas and Valentine’s day and, most recently, producing Drive Thru dinners. The club has a strong membership that give freely of their time and resources to provide for the betterment of the community.
The Nevada County Fairgrounds Foundation is focused upon building a better Nevada County Fairgrounds through fundraising and contributions to the Fairgrounds. Currently the major focus of the Foundation is to simply keep the Fairgrounds financially viable so that it will once again thrive as a great community asset. The directors of the Foundation expressed their sincere appreciation for Higgins Diggins generous donation and expressed hopes that other service clubs will take up President Barhydt and the Higgins Diggins Lions Club’s challenge.
Drive Thru Italian Pasta Dinner (Fairgrounds Fundraiser)
So excited to announce the next Drive Thru fundraising event for the Nevada County Fairgrounds. Get your tickets here for a delicious Italian Pasta Dinner. Each meal feeds four people and includes spaghetti pasta and sauce, 4 Italian sausages, 4 meatballs, salad with Italian dressing, garlic bread and 4 cannoli for only $45. Yum!! All orders must be placed by April 9. Pick up is on Saturday, April 17 between 4 – 6 pm. This event is pre-sales only and there are no onsite sales. Our last event sold out early, so order today!
Hosted by the Fairgrounds Foundation and the Foothill Lions Club with all proceeds benefit the Nevada County Fairgrounds.
2021 Fair Slogan: The Fair is Back in Town!
In hopeful anticipation of the 2021 Fair – and using the inspiration of optimism, resiliency, and coming together as a community – we’re happy to announce that the slogan for the 2021 Nevada County Fair is “The Fair is Back in Town!” Congratulations to Lisa Vaughan of Grass Valley for submitting the winning entry in the slogan contest that we ran at the end of 2020. We received almost 150 entries in the contest, so a big thank you to all who entered.
Photo Essay Book Features Draft Horse Classic
Good news, draft horse fans! Photographer Sandy Powell recently released a photo essay book – Cowboy Culture: Capturing the Spirit of the Old West in the Sierra Nevada – that includes 23 chapters of photos and stories of Wagon Trains, Mule-packing, Overland Mail Stagecoaches, Pony Express Re-Ride, Big Hitches, the 20 Mule Team, Bishop Mule Days, and much more. There’s even a chapter dedicated to the Draft Horse Classic! Copies of the book are available locally at The Book Seller or directly from Sandy at Sandy Powell Western Photography. Congratulations, Sandy, and thanks for including the Classic in this fun-filled book!
RV Dump Station Open: Every Friday from 9:30 am – 3:30 pm
Good news! Beginning Friday, the dump station at the Nevada County Fairgrounds will be open to the public every Friday from 9:30 am to 3:30 pm. Please go to the red A frame office at Gate 4 for assistance.
We’re also able to open to recreational travelers again (yippee!), so give us a call at (530) 273-6217 to make a reservation.