Finding things to do for free are about as a rare as a Colorado Rockies playoff appearance. But they still exist.
After recording historic attendance last year, the Boulder County Fair will return to Longmont on Wednesday for its 157th year. As the oldest county fair in Colorado, it’s continuing to honor its past and maintain traditions while keeping an eye on evolution.
“I think a lot of fairs do the same things over and over again…but this one feels dynamic,” Zachary Thayer, the fair’s marketing manager, said.
2026 Attractions:
The fair offers free admission and free parking, as well as…
The classics: carnival rides, rodeo events, demolition derby, tractor pull, 4-H projects, and more.
The lesser known: Mexican rodeo fiesta, dairy bar, and goat yoga with mimosas. Not to mention, over 20 live music bands will be gracing the stage at the fair garden…
“Our fair manager, Brian [Mulligan], does a great job of finding talent that is quite honestly out of the league of the budget that we have for these bands,” Thayer said.
Officially, a record-150,000 people visited the fair last year. But Thayer said two independent reports showed that number could’ve been as high as 300,000. That type of traffic demanded some changes.
What’s new?
The Backyard: This is a low-stimulus, fenced-in green space on the southwest corner of the fairground where adults can kick back and kids can play.
It includes food trucks, shade, a petting zoo, and equipment displays.
Off-site parking with free shuttle service Thursday - Saturday from 3 p.m. - close. Parking is at Twin Peaks Classical Academy.
NOCO Party Bus and Twin Peaks Charter Academy vehicles will be used for the roughly-two-minute drive, all free of charge.
Kids Corral: Parents can drop off their toddlers in this section of the Exhibit Building where there’s a soft-play area and kids’ construction activities, all for free.
Parents can take advantage of the opportunity as well — Next to this area, Habitat for Humanity will be hosting home maintenance seminars.
X-factor:
The Boulder County Fair is about far more than entertainment and thrills. Perhaps the most valuable aspect is the connections between visitors.
“The environment here screams interaction,” Fair Board President Chase Walstad said. “There are a lot of people that walk out of this place having a conversation that they never even came close to anticipating walking in.”
Thayer spoke about once seeing a 90-year-old rancher laughing it up with a Gen-Z individual.
“Where else is that happening?” Thayer said.
The fair takes place August 5 - 9