Rockford will be home to a parade, Cow Chip Bingo
Southeast Spokane County Fair turns 69
It’s that time of year again. Time for a parade, Cow Chip Bingo and lots and lots of animals – all at the 69th annual Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford.
The fair opens at 11 a.m. Friday at the fairgrounds on First Street and runs until 6 p.m. Sunday. The exhibit buildings will be open until 8 p.m. Friday and again from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. The carnival will open at 3 p.m. Friday.
This year’s theme is All Roads Lead to the Fair, which is pretty much true in the small town of Rockford. The weekend is packed with special events. There is a Lions Club pancake breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. Saturday at the fire station, the Harvest Hustle 5k Fun Run that starts at Dave’s Auto Body at 7:45 a.m. Saturday and a children’s parade at 10:15 a.m. A grand parade will follow at 10:30 a.m.
The annual Harvest Hoops 3-on-3 basketball tournament for ages 10 and older will run from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
You can buy a ticket at the fair or at Rockford businesses for Cow Chip Bingo that starts at 2 p.m. Saturday and lasts until at least four cows have, well, plopped. You can buy your piece of real estate for $5, betting on where the cows will do their business. There are cash prizes.
The live entertainment during the fair includes the band Sunday’s Mail, magician Dick Frost, the Coeur d’Alene Marimba Band, the Angus Scott Pipe Band, the Glory Band and the Pine Ridge Fiddlers.
Visitors can also check out the pie-eating contest at 3 p.m. Saturday and the horse show at the ballpark south of town at 9 a.m. Sunday. A full schedule of events is available at sespokanecountyfair.org. To reach Rockford, head south from Spokane Valley on Highway 27. To reach the fairgrounds, turn left on Emma Street and right on First Street.
Drivers heading to Worley should take note: Highway 278 (also known as Emma and First) will be closed for the parades from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. Your best bet if you are heading south is to turn left on Elder Road about two miles south of Freeman to connect to Highway 95. Northbound drivers should also plan to use Elder Road.