With the Denver County Fair just two months away, Coloradoans should be planning and plotting what to enter in the Blue Ribbon Competitions! With over 100 categories, and $50 cash accompanying each blue ribbon, the opportunities – and the stakes – are high.
To sweeten the pot this year, each competiton category has a designated non-profit charity beneficiary. For every $5 competition entry fee paid, $1 goes to the charity.“It’s a way to get more of our favorite local business and non-profits involved,” explains Fair co-owner and Community Director, Tracy Weil. “We get to help them out and bring attention to thier causes in a really targeted way. We’ve tried to select charities that fit with the themes of each Pavilon and its competitions.”
So, if you enter a tomato into our “Celebrity Look-a-like Produce” competition in the Backyard Farm and Garden Pavilon, $1.00 of your entry fee will go directly to GrowHaus, that pavilion’s charity partner.
Other pavilion charities include Maxfund (Animal Pavilion); Juvenile Diabetes Research Fund (Rocky Mountain Chapter) (Kids Pavilion);The Conflict Center - Anti-Bullying programs (Geek Pavilion);VSA/Access Gallery (Arts Pavilion); SafeHouse Denver (Craft Pavilion) and SameCafe (Kitchen Paviilion). Others are still being finalized. In addition to receiving the 20% competition entry donation, each charity will be involved in cross-promotions, and will have a complimentary booth in its sponsoring pavilion.
New Competition Categories for the Denver County Fair
What qualifies as a competition entry? Everything from pies to poems; from bhubarb to robots, from chickens to…chicken impressions ( Yes, there is a Human Chicken Competition, judged by the Colorado Poultry Association…) And if you don’t score the coveted Blue Ribbon, there’s always a chance you’ll take home the 2nd or 3rd place irbbons in each category.
The Denver County Fair is unique among the nation’s county fairs in its bounty of non-tradititional competition categories. And with two new themed Pavilions this year ( Kids Pavilion and Geek Pavilion), there are even more categories to enjoy.
“You can enter a homemade robot into our Critter Crunch Fighting Robots event on Saturday,” says Dana Cain, co-owner and Director of the Fair. “Lots of folks don’t realize that the Robot Wars phenomenon began here in Denver – at a local science fiction convention called MileHiCon. Those guys are running this event for us.”
The Geek Pavilion also includes categories for “Best Invention, ” Best Geeky Vintage Toy Collectible,” “Best Science Art,” ” Best Original Comic Book” and more. The new Kids Pavilion includes categories found throughout the fair, but with simplifications and age designations for entrants.
The full list of competition categories, along with guidelines and prize details, may be found online at http://www.denvercountyfair.org/competitions/ .
New Registration Software for Faster Check-In
This year’s online registration is handled with a new streamlined software package that will make it easier to register, and easier to drop off your entries at the fair. Says Denver County Fair Competition Director, Vikki Robertson, ” The new system will mean shorter lines and no filling out tags by hand. I think the entrants will really like it. We’ll be able to process more entries, faster.”
“We’re encouraging everyone to ‘bring out their best,’ says Weil. “County Fairs are all about neighbors sharing and engaging in fun competitions. It’s all about the blue ribbons! So, for everyone who’s ever thought they make the best cherry pie, or the coolest hand-knit scarves, here is their chance to prove it.”
“Last year, Denverites got their first taste of Blue Ribbon Fever,” says Cain. “It was all new to most of them. This year, the citizens of Denver are ready to BRING IT! We’re expecting to double or triple the number of competition entries. And that will be good for the fair, the folks who come to see the fair, the winners, and the charities. Really … everyone wins.”
Dates & Venue:
Denver County Fair
Friday – Sunday
August 10th-12th, 2012
Hours:
Friday and Saturday 10am – 10pm
Sunday 10am – 6pm – Viva Denver Day!
National Western Complex
4655 Humboldt St.
Denver, CO 80216
Expo Hall, Hall of Education, Stadium Hall & Stadium
Parking: ($10)
National Western Complex
We suggest carpooling, public transportation and riding your bike to the fair!
NO DOGS ALLOWED
(Unless entered in a Competition or Service Dog)
The Denver County Fair takes place August 10 – 12 at the National Western Complex, I-70 at Brighton Blvd., just east of I-25. The Fair will include nearly 300,000 sq ft of adjoining indoor areas, including the Animal Pavilion, Kitchen Pavilion, Holistic Pavilion, Arts Pavilion, Craft Pavilion, Kids Pavilion, Fashion Pavilion, Geek Pavilion, Backyard Farm and Garden Pavilion, 4-H Youth Pavilion, and more. An indoor Carnival, a 3D Haunted House and a 21st century Freak Show help round out the fun. All Colorado residents are encouraged to participate in the fair and enter to win blue ribbons and prizes in dozens of categories. Information, tickets and online competition entry forms are at www.denvercountyfair.org .
Denver County Fair hours, August 10 – 12, are Friday 10am-10pm; Saturday 10am-10pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. Early Bird Discount Tickets are for sale now, online at www.denvercountyfair.org. Adult tickets are $8/day and tickets for kids, seniors and military personnel are $4/day during May and June only. Weekend passes, Family 4-packs and group tickets are also available.
Source: Press Release
