Rockford Fair Is This Weekend

Thu., Sept. 21, 2000

By Trinity Hartman trinityh@spokesman.com

Barnyard animals, belly dancing and bingo await this weekend in Rockford.

Friday marks the beginning of the 56th annual Southeast Spokane County Fair. The event runs through Sunday.

And this year, there will be no admission fees.

The only admission charged in the past was a modest $1.50 to enter the main exhibit building.

“We thought it was kind of dumb to charge for one building and not another,” said fair trustee Gail Kopp. “A lot of people didn’t go in because they had to pay separate.”

In place of the charge, there will be a box for donations.

A committee meets year-round to plan the fair, which draws thousands to the small town. This summer, Fairfield residents worked long hours putting a new asphalt floor in the main fair building.

The fair will have all the usual entertainment acts, carnival rides, food stands, fair exhibits and a basketball tournament.

“We have most of the attractions of a big fair but a small town atmosphere,” Kopp said.

The biggest event Saturday will be the annual parade. This year it will be presided over by fair queen Kristina Lundy, a senior at Freeman High School, and fair princesses Mary Bareither a Liberty High School senior and Kristi Larson, a senior at Freeman High School. The Liberty and Freeman high school bands will also march in the parade.

Southeast Spokane County Fair

Friday

9 a.m.: Fair opens with livestock judging, fitting and showing.

Noon: Flag Raising Ceremony

5:30 p.m.: Magician Dick Frost

8:30: Karaoke

Saturday

7-10 a.m.: Fireman/Lions Club pancake breakfast

7:30: Harvest Hustle Fun Run

9: Fair opens

10:15: Kiddie Parade

10:30: Grand Parade

Noon: Kids games and races and Harvest 3-on-3 basketball tournament

12:30 p.m.: Presentation of fair queen and court

12:45: Parade awards

1:30: Lilac City Cloggers

2: Michael Farrow Entertainment

3: Palmer and Friends play accordian music

4: Sweet Adelines sing barbershop

5: Roecks’ Players play honky tonk

6-8: Karaoke contest (ages 12 and older)

All day: Lions Club bingo

Sunday

9 a.m.: Harvest 3-on-3 basketball tournament continues

10:30: Worship service and horseshoe tournament

11: Fair opens

12:30 p.m.: Belly dancing demonstration

1: Bemer fiddlers

2: Magician Dick Frost

3: Jones Kids and friends

3:45: Karaoke contest winners announced

4:30: Fashion show

5: Presentation of awards

6: remove exhibit

All day: Lions Club bingo

This sidebar appeared with story: ALL WEEKEND

The Southeast Spokane County Fair takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Rockford.

To get there from the Spokane Valley, follow Highway 27 south approximately 18 miles to Rockford and follow the signs for the fair. For more information call 291-FAIR.

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