Curry County Fair gearing up

CLOVIS - Entering its 99th year, the 2019 Curry County Fair promises "Starry Nights and Midway Lights" for a week of carnival fun, daredevils, livestock contests and live music.

The fair runs Tuesday-Saturday, with Monday designated for accepting entries to the exhibits and contests the rest of the week.

New to this year's fair are the "Distinguished Daredevils," scheduled for multiple showcases during the evenings of Tuesday through Friday and on Saturday afternoon. Also new this year is the Tejano concert on Saturday night and country music concert on Thursday, a reversal of the normal billing.

Daily ticket prices are $7 for adults, and there's an active duty military appreciation dinner set for 4 p.m. Wednesday at the "Oldest House in Curry County."

The carnival runs 5 p.m. to midnight from Tuesday, with discounts on various theme nights the first three days of that stretch. Wristbands to the carnival are normally $30 each, but on Tuesday's Food Bank Night they're $5 off with two cans of food. On Wednesday it's dollar ride night, and on Thursday wristbands are available at four for $80 with advance purchase from the Curry County Events Center website.

CCEC General Manager Jeff Blake said organizers are "planning for a record turnout" and was glad on Friday for the rain, hoping it means a promise of great weather in the week ahead.

"I'm sure there's going to be people here from coast to coast," Blake told The News. "This is special because the community really supports the fair. The community has ownership of the fair."

There will be more ticket vendors this year, and for the first time they will accept credit cards. The fair may be an old annual event but it's open to the occasional innovation, after all.

Blake said his long-term idea with switching the historic sequence of country and Tejano music nights at the fair was to have them alternate each of the coming years. In either case, he said he was "pretty excited about all of the entertainment."

The CCEC concert Thursday is set for 8 p.m. and features Stoney LaRue & Micky and the Motorcars. On Saturday it's 8pm at CCEC and featuring Los Palominos, Grupo Mezcal and Rick Fuentes and Brown Express. Child, senior and adult tickets range from $15-19 for each concert night.

Blake said Monica Romero, Miss New Mexico Latina 2019, will make a special appearance Saturday evening to sign autographs and say hello.

Plenty of the old favorites and fair staples will return as expected. Look for the antique showcase and agriculture, home arts and commercial exhibits from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and all day Saturday. Lamb, cattle, swine, goat, rabbit, salsa and dog costume contests and judging are scheduled throughout the week, and Saturday morning features the ever-thrilling turtle race.

See a detailed schedule and get advance tickets at curryeventscenter.com.