DENVER – If you’re up for a fair-ly weird adventure this weekend, we recommend you head out to the Denver County Fair at the National Western Complex.
A total of 35 attractions await those seeking the thrill of their life, including carnival and unicorn rides, games, bouncy houses, waterballs and more.
Did we forget to mention that goat yoga sessions are making a comeback this year? Not enough to pull you in? Buckle up because here’s everything you need to know about this year’s Denver County Fair, going through Sunday, July 15:
Is this like all the other county fairs?
Highly unlikely. At the Denver County Fair, you’ll get to experience a mullet 5k run, an alpaca obstacle course plus costume contest, roller derby, a drag queen pageant, extreme midget wrestling, and metalachi (the world's first and only Heavy Metal Mariachi Band, according to organizers). But that's just a fraction of what you'll see this year.
This year, the fair will also feature a freak show, a cake decorating contest, a bug-eating contest, 80s retro happy hour, a gardening Q&A, among many other things.
For a full list of this year's schedule, click here.
OK, I'm in! How much cash will I have to dish out?
Daily admission to the Denver County Fair is $10 for adults and $3 for kids 3 through 11 years of age. This does not include the carnival rides.
If you want to get on all the rides at the carnival plus see all the other things on the ground, your best bet will be to pay for the unlimited carnival experience. Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for kids under 12 years of age.
Oh! And there’s also a Beer and Wine Fest. Information about those tickets can be found here.
Interested in the mullet 5k? That'll cost you between $34-$37 until July 13. To register for the run, click here. The race starts and finishes on E. 47th Avenue & Humboldt St. on the east side of the complex. It starts at 8 a.m. on Saturday, July 14.
What about parking?
Luckily, the Denver County Fair is taking place at the National Western Complex and not in downtown Denver, so you are guaranteed to find parking within 10 minutes of arriving there.
You will need to pay for it, though. To view a map of the available parking spots, click here.
The Denver County Fair will take place Friday, July 13 from 12 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Saturday, July 14 from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday, July 15 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.