Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford offers annual fun for everyone
The Southeast Spokane County Fair in Rockford has been going strong since 1943, and the animals, exhibits and activities that make the fair hum are back again this year with a few new additions to the schedule.
The star of the show this year is a free concert by The Olson Bros Band on Sunday at 2:30 p.m. The Olympia-based group have performed locally at the Spokane Interstate Fair and Pig Out in the Park and have performed with country music artists Sammy Kershaw, Keith Anderson and Montgomery Gentry.
“That’s bigger than we’ve ever had at the Southeast Spokane County Fair,” said marketing coordinator Taylar Franz.
The booking happened nearly by accident. “I randomly messaged them on Facebook about something else entirely, and it just developed into us hiring them,” she said. “It was lucky.”
Also new this year is a soap box derby at noon Sunday behind Banner Bank in Rockford. “We’re going to have time trials and side-by-side racing,” Franz said. “It will be fun to watch.”
Fair visitors can check out the soap box derby cars ahead of time at a Show and Shine event Saturday at noon at the local Napa Auto. “It’s going to be like a car show,” she said.
The opening ceremony for the fair is noon Friday at the fairgrounds, though the carnival opens at 3 p.m. today. Livestock judging, always a popular event, starts at 4 p.m. Friday.
The carnival will open at 3 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. Sunday. The exhibit buildings are open from noon to 8 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.
A pancake breakfast will be served at the fire station from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. Saturday. A grand parade will begin at Maple and Emma Street at 10:30 a.m. Saturday and end by the fairgrounds on First Street. A kiddie parade will precede it at 10:15 a.m.
Emma Street and First Street will be closed between 10 a.m. and noon Saturday for the parades. Traffic going to or from Worley, Idaho, is advised to detour to U.S. Highway 95 by taking Elder Road East from state Highway 27.
Saturday’s other highlights include the Harvest Hoops 3-on-3 basketball tournament and Lion’s Club bingo, both from noon to 6 p.m. A pie eating contest will be held on the main stage at 2 p.m.
Sunday features an equine gaming day at the ballpark beginning at 9 a.m., more basketball from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and more Lion’s Club bingo from noon to 3 p.m. A community worship service will be held on the main stage at 10 a.m.
Helicopter rides will be offered throughout the weekend, with flights departing from Emma and Pine streets. The rides have been featured on and off during the fair for several years because it can sometimes be hard to find available helicopters, Franz said.
The fair can be found on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. There will be random giveaways all weekend to people who follow the fair at @sespokanecounty on Snapchat.
Admission to the fair is free. Visit