Carson City Fair needs sponsors, volunteers and parking

The Carson City Fair needs help.

A team of local organizers have worked for a year putting together the weeklong, free admission event to be held at Fuji Park, July 24-30.

Most of the details are done, but the event still needs sponsors, volunteers and parking, said Lindsay Chichester, extension educator, University of Nevada Cooperative Extension, who has led the effort.

“It really is a community event put on by the community,” she said.

Chichester said the fair should cost about $55,000 to host and, so far, less than $2,000 has come in from sponsors.

“We sent out letters to 1,300 local businesses to see if they’re interested,” said Chichester.

The organizers are looking for donations large and small. Levels of sponsorship range from $100 or less up to $5,000 and include varying perks, from a listing in the fair guide to full-page ads and logos on fair material as well as recognition during the opening ceremony.

Sponsorship can also be done through any of the 10 local 4-H clubs in Carson City and Storey County, which retain a portion of the funds raised for the club.

The event may also receive $10,000 from the city after the Board of Supervisors vote at next week’s meeting on a recommendation from the Redevelopment Authority Citizens Committee.

The other big need, said Chichester, is parking. Carson City is providing free fare on its Jump Around Carson (JAC) bus, which goes to Fuji Park, so the organizers are looking for parking anywhere along the city’s JAC routes.

Otherwise, parking is first come, first serve at Fuji Park and along the street. Parking in front of the exhibit hall may be reserved for handicap parking.

And the event needs volunteers. Beforehand, volunteers are needed to proofread the guide and other office tasks and during the fair to help with judging, assembling the livestock pens, and tearing it down on the Monday following the event.

The fair opens July 24 at 3 p.m. with an opening ceremony with Mayor Bob Crowell and the Board of Supervisors, Archie the Reno Aces mascot, an antique tractor parade and the announcement of winners of the upcoming coloring contest posted in the Nevada Appeal for the event.

Also, exhibits, which will be judged in categories and class by expert judges, can be checked in on July 24 with judging taking place July 25. The work, featuring woodworking, sewing and other traditional fair exhibits, will be on display in the exhibit hall for the remainder of the event.

A fair guide outlining the exhibit classes and categories will be published June 12.

A dog show featuring showmanship, obedience, rally and agility events will take place July 24 and 25.

The carnival, organized by the Retired & Senior Volunteer Program or RSVP, which puts on the annual Mother’s Day and Nevada Day events, starts at 6 p.m. July 26 and runs through the weekend.

Livestock entered by 4-H, Future Farmers of America and independent contestants arrives on July 26, too, and judging takes place July 27-28.

The livestock will include beef and dairy cattle, sheep, meat and dairy goats, swine, rabbits and poultry.

The weekend features a full schedule of events, including a swap meet, tractor pulls, and antique cars and trucks, as well as evening entertainment, which will likely be a rodeo with bareback and saddle bronc riding inside the arena.

The evening entertainment will require a ticket.

To sponsor, volunteer or provide parking, contact the Cooperative Extension office at 887-2252 or email Chichester at chichesterl@unce.unr.edu.