YOUR AD HERE »

Garfield County fair lining up the talent

John ColsonPost Independent staffGlenwood Springs, CO Colorado

A mix of regional rock, bluegrass and country bands are being booked for the 2011 Garfield County Fair, scheduled for Aug. 2-6 at the county fairgrounds in Rifle.Meanwhile, the deadline for crafters, bakers and merchants to sign up for a vendor booth has been extended.”People have been late in getting their booth registration paperwork in, so we’re just keeping it open until we get to 50,” said fair organizer Krista Kaufman.The schedule of fair events includes professional bull riding, a demolition derby, live music, 4-H livestock shows and traditional “open class” exhibits of cake decorating, home canning, wood carving and baking.The open class events provide a chance for county residents and others to show off their abilities and win a ribbon.There also will be activities for kids, such as bungee jumping, a mechanical bull, a climbing walk and a Bounce Dragon.The entertainment schedule is still in flux since one popular band, The Branders, backed out last week and a headliner for Friday night has yet to be signed up, Kaufman said.All shows will be at a new venue called the Backstage, which is a free-standing concert stage behind the grandstand, in the southwest corner of the parking lot, close to the indoor arena.There will be shade tents, tables and chairs and an open space for dancing, all fairly close to the beer garden and the food vendors.”We’re focusing on local and regional entertainment,” Kaufman said. “We encourage people to come down and cruise through the Vendor Village, drink a beer and come listen to the music.”The list of performers starts with the free kickoff show at 7 p.m. on Aug. 3 by Katie Arminger, a 19-year-old Texan and a newcomer to the music business described on the fair’s website as comparable “to the likes of seasoned country artists like Sara Evans and Martina McBride.”Other artists signed up for the Backstage shows include The Sharla Jackson Band on Aug. 3, James & The Devil, playing “Colorado Rocky Mountain Rebel Rock” on Aug. 5, and the Western Slope band Derringer and 80s rock band Dr. MD on Aug. 6To reserve a booth in the Vendor Village, contact Kaufman at 984-7144 or 309-6214.For information on open class competition, e-mail Mary Jane Hangs at mjhangs@sopris.net or call 876-2271.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around Glenwood Springs and Garfield County make the Post Independent’s work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Each donation will be used exclusively for the development and creation of increased news coverage.