The Verde Valley Fair will be returning to Cottonwood from Wednesday to Sunday, May 1 to 5, at the Verde Valley Fairgrounds located at 800 E. Cherry St.
The first Verde Valley Fair took place in Cottonwood in 1965. The Verde Valley Fair Association and the fair itself are intended to promote youth development by providing an educational and entertaining event that allows FFA, 4-H and other youth groups to showcase their skills to the public.
The fair gates will open at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 1, and the carnival will open at 4 p.m. This year’s theme is “On With the Show,” with the production being the fair and the cast the visiting students.
Admission includes the rodeo, live music, livestock shows and various community exhibits. Children five and under are admitted free.
Wednesday will be senior day with free admission for those 60 and over. Thursday will be Buddy Day, which will allow attendees to purchase one wristband for regular price and another for half off from 2 to 7 p.m. It is also Armed Forces Day with free entry for those who show a military ID. Thursday night will be Hispanic Night and will feature Hispanic music at the main stage.
The livestock auction will take place on Saturday at 3 p.m. to support local youth projects. The Verde Valley Fair Youth Livestock Auction is the culminating project of the year, and most of the kids involved have been raising their animals for more than a year. Besides selling their livestock, they can win awards such as Grand Champion and Senior Showman.
The rodeo will take place on both Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. at the arena and will be followed by a rodeo dance. This year’s rodeo is put on by the Grand Canyon Professional Rodeo.
Sunday will be Sunday Fun Day, when fair entry and a ride wristband can be purchased at a combined discounted cost.
There will be a free shuttle from Riverfront Park to the fairgrounds on Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 4 p.m. to midnight.
Gate and carnival hours:
- Wednesday, May 1: Gate 1 to 10 p.m.; carnival 4 to 10:30 p.m.
- Thursday, May 2: Gate 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; carnival noon to 10:30 p.m.
- Friday, May 3: Gate 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; carnival 11 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Saturday, May 4: Gate 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.; carnival 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
- Sunday, May 5: Gate 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; carnival 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Show barn schedule, May 1:
- 3 p.m.: Public speaking
- 4 p.m.: Breeding sheep show
- 4:30 p.m.: Breeding goats show
- 5 p.m.: Pygmy goat show
- 6 p.m.: Dairy goat show
Gyberg Building schedule, May 1:
- 9 a.m.: Booster show
- 1 p.m.: Game bird show, rabbit show and cavy show
Show barn schedule, May 2:
- 8 a.m.: Market swine
- 11:30 a.m.: Market lamb
- 12:30 p.m.: Market goat
- 2 p.m.: Dairy cattle
- 6 p.m.: Beef show
Gyberg Building schedule, May 2:
- 8 a.m.: Waterfowl
- 9 a.m.: Turkey
- 11:30 a.m.: Pigeon show followed by poultry show
- 3 p.m.: Senior small stock round robin
- 3:30 p.m.: Intermediate small stock round robin
- 4:30 p.m.: Junior small stock round robin
For more information, visit vvfair.com.
