Crabbing! Pulling! Bucking! and Crashing at the Amador County Fair

Discount and Events tickets are available on line at Amador County Fair.

Where else, but the Amador County Fair can you meet a Captain of the Bering Sea, a wheelwright who traveled the United States by covered wagon, or a trendy young band from LA with a name like “Arrest My Sister”? You can taste fine award-winning wines with the Amador Winegrowers on Friday night, or hoist a microbrew at the Brew Tastings on the weekend.

The bands coming in for the Fair provide a broad spectrum as well. Young country western talent from neighboring El Dorado County, Whiskey Dawn, is making waves as they look for their big break, and will kick off the Picnic Hill Concert Series on Thursday night, while Nashville Billboard Country recording artist, Katie Armiger, takes the stage on Sunday night to wrap things up with her hits “Kiss Me Now” and “The Best Song Ever”.

As usual there are hours of fun things for kids to do that don’t cost parents a nickel, including free admission on Thursday until 6:00 pm. The shows at the Puppets & Players Theatre will keep them mesmerized, all kinds of fun activities await in the 49er Kids Town, and they can learn about Amador County’s Miwok culture under the willow-branch-covered round lodge, where they can make and take home a craft project. At the Gold Mine they can pan for gold, though they probably won’t end up rich!

There’s a charge for entertainment in the Grandstands Friday through Sunday, but that won’t stop capacity crowds at the Truck Pulls on Friday night, the Rodeo on Saturday and the packed Destruction Derby on Sunday. Buying your reserved seat in advance is a good idea. Thursday night the arena will host the Mutton Bustin’ preliminary round with the finalists going on to compete during the rodeo. There’s no charge on Thursday night.

Probably the most unexpected star to drop into the Amador County Fair is one of the Captains of the Bering Sea crabber vessel the Wizard. The blockbuster TV show “Deadliest Catch” seen on Discovery Channel has made a celebrity of Relief Captain and First Mate Monty Colburn and his brother Captain Keith Colburn. The two are descendants of Harold Colburn, one of the founders of the Amador County Fair, and son of Gary Colburn, well-known resident of the County. Captain Monty and crew members Lynn Guitard and Lenny Lekanoff will start the day at the Kids Parade on Thursday, enjoy the Fair then tell tales of the sea, answer questions, and sign autographs in the evening.