A Tradition You Can Count On

The Rogers County Fair is an annual tradition that has been around for nearly 100 years and will return September 15-17, 2011.

4-H boys who received awards at the Rogers County Fair in 2010.

It is a tradition almost as old as the county itself – for 97 years, the Rogers County Fair has helped usher in the autumn ­season, providing fun activities for area families to enjoy. This year the custom continues, but a new face has appeared at the Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau; Lisa Dennis was recently promoted from intern to marketing coordinator. Tanya Andrews, executive director of the Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau, anticipates new and exciting things to happen to enhance this already rich tradition.
    “It is a rare opportunity for a convention and visitors bureau in a small community to have an intern – especially an intern with Lisa’s extensive background in special events, sports management, and tourism,” Tanya states. “We were pleased to be able to offer her a position focusing on event coordination and promotion upon completion of her internship.”
    Lisa, who graduated from Western Illinois University and came to work for the bureau in January, enjoys living and working in Rogers County, and her commitment to her new home is evident by her desire to make the Rogers County Fair even better than it has ever been before. “We have been working to add more activities for the kids,” she says. “We are working to make it affordable for families to come out and have fun and not break the bank while they are doing it.”
    The fair will kick off Thursday, September 15 at 10a.m. with Justin Harrell Productions Goat Roping running until 5p.m., an event that will be featured all three days of the fair. “This is like team roping, but on foot and with goats,” Lisa explains. “It is a great activity for kids – something different for them to do. And you don’t have to be a roper to do it.” This event will feature jackpots and round robins.
    The Children’s Barnyard will also be open each day of the fair. Other fun outdoor activities for Saturday include a tailgating party at noon and a pedal tractor pull at 4 p.m. in front of the Claremore Expo Center.
    Kids will love the fun ­inflatables available during the fair. Wristbands for unlimited inflatable play are $10 for one night or $25 for the whole ­weekend. Individual tickets can also be purchased, six for $5. On Thursday, the fair will offer a ­special – buy four wristbands,
get one free. Inflatable hours are Thursday from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday from noon to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
    As always, 4-H will play a big role in the Rogers County Fair, with the marketplace and
4-H exhibits open in the Expo Center on Friday, September 16 and Saturday, September 17. In addition, the 4-H steak dinner fundraiser will be held on the grounds Friday evening. Another youth organization will benefit from the festivities, as the Rogers County Youth Services and United Way benefit breakfast will be held from 7 to 10 on Saturday morning.
    Friday and Saturday evenings, the Rogers County Fair is proud to host local musicians for open air concerts in the grassy area around the Chili Bowl beside the Expo Center. “People are welcome to bring blankets and lawn chairs so they can relax and enjoy the music,” says Tanya. Local musicians will provide the entertainment, with Tyler King, an 18-year-old from Bartlesville (tylerkingmusic.com) whose popularity is quickly rising, starting off Friday night
at 6, followed by another locally grown band, Raisin’ Kane. Saturday night will feature the Kristin Nicole Band at 6 p.m., and fair festivities will wrap up with the Oklahoma State versus Tulsa University football game broadcast at 9 p.m.
    To support this Rogers County tradition as it approaches its century mark, be sure to mark your calendars for September 15-17. For more information on the fair, visit www.rogerscountyfair.com.

For more information, contact

Claremore Convention & Visitors Bureau

(918) 341-8688