Amador County – The Amador County Fair returns Thursday with its standard fare of eclectic entertainment.
Taste fine award-winning wines with the Amador Winegrowers Friday night, or microbrew tasting on the weekend.
Fair CEO Troy Bowers said: “We have to keep things fresh and exciting for our Fair visitors. But we need to keep our traditions alive as well. The Fairgrounds is a living history museum that we don’t want to abandon.”
Permanent exhibits include a turn of the century steam-powered sawmill cutting massive logs, watch as ore is stamped at Pokerville Gold Mine, or see Kit Carson Mountain Men reenact an old saloon fight. Alongside the whirling, twirling neon of the carnival, the daily antique tractor parade chugs along.
Bands include young country western talent from El Dorado County, Whiskey Dawn at Picnic Hill Thursday night. Nashville Billboard Country recording artist, Katie Armiger on Sunday night sings, with her hits “Kiss Me Now” and “The Best Song Ever”.
Arrest My Sister, of Los Angeles brings twisted time-warp sound, of rock, reggae, pop, folk, psychedelic and symphony. Saturday night, Clean Slate brings the big sound from Tower of Power to Picnic Hill.
Kids get free admission on Thursday until 6 p.m. Shows at the Puppets & Players Theatre will keep them mesmerized, and activities await in the 49er Kids Town. They can learn about Amador County’s Miwok culture under the willow-branch-covered round lodge, where they can make and take home a craft project. At the Gold Mine they can pan for gold.
Grandstands has Truck Pulls Friday night, Rodeo on Saturday and the Destruction Derby on Sunday. Buying reserved seat in advance is a good idea. Thursday night the arena will host the Mutton Bustin’ preliminary round with finalists going on to compete during the rodeo. There’s no charge on Thursday night.
Probably the most unexpected star to drop into the Amador County Fair is one of the Captains of the Bering Sea crabber vessel the Wizard. The “Deadliest Catch” Relief Captain and First Mate Monty Colburn is a descendant of Harold Colburn, one of the founders of the Amador County Fair. Captain Monty and crew members Lynn Guitard and Lenny Lekanoff will start the day at the Kids Parade on Thursday, enjoy the Fair then tell tales of the sea, answer questions, and sign autographs Thursday night.
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