Garfield County Fair Celebrates 88th Anniversary with Concerts and Rodeo

The Garfield County Fair marks its 88th year with a week of events including a parade, PRCA rodeo, and concerts by Casey Donahew and Sawyer Brown.

Glenwood Springs —The dust still settles on the lot off Highway 82 every August. The air smells of diesel, fried dough, and wet hay. It is a familiar rhythm for locals who have watched the fairgrounds expand from a simple dirt track into a sprawling complex of concrete and steel. This year, the rhythm changes. The Garfield County Fair is marking time itself.

The 2026 event celebrates three distinct anniversaries. America turns 250. Colorado turns 150. The fair itself hits its 88th year. These are not just numbers on a banner. They are the foundation of the theme: “Red, White & Blue: A Fair for You.”

The parade kicks things off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 1. Floats will roll down the street. Classic vehicles will rumble past. Emergency vehicles will join the procession. The goal is to showcase the history and spirit of the community. It is a visual argument for why this valley matters.

But the real business happens after the parade. A car show runs from noon to 4 p.m. The Highway 82 Band plays from noon to 3 p.m. Locals can watch the cars and hear the music without paying a dime. That is the free stage in action.

Tuesday brings the rodeo registration. From 4 to 5:30 p.m., riders line up. Mutton busting. Steer riding. Mixed team roping. Breakaway roping. Junior breakaway roping. Barrel racing. Junior barrel racing. Pole bending. Each event costs $15 to enter. Mixed team roping runs $25. Line-up for the Family and Kidz Rodeo starts at 6 p.m.

Wednesday night shifts gears. The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Women’s Pro Rodeo Association (WPRA) take the field at 5 p.m. Attendees should wear pink. It is a nod to breast cancer awareness. Children three and under enter free. Kids four to twelve and seniors 65 and older pay $12. Adults pay $18. Tickets are available at blackcanyontickets.com/events/garfield_county_fair_rodeo_2026.

Thursday night honors veterans. The PRCA Xtreme Bulls event begins at 7 p.m. Red, white, and blue attire is encouraged. The bulls come out after the sun dips below the ridge.

Friday night brings the music. Casey Donahew opens. Sawyer Brown headlines. The concert starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 7. Tickets range from $10 to $175. Discounts apply for young children and seniors. VIP tickets and premium seating are available. Child and senior premium tickets are already sold out. You can buy them at blackcanyontickets.com/events/garfield_county_fair_concert.

Saturday night is chaos. The Demolition Derby starts at 7 p.m. on Aug. 8. Cars crash. Metal screams. Tickets are $15 for kids 4-12 and seniors 65+. Adults pay $25. Buy them at blackcanyontickets.com/events/garfield_county_fair_rodeo_2026.

Throughout the week, from Aug. 4 to 8, the fairground offers distractions. Mechanical bulls spin. Putt-putt mini golf runs. Accuracy games test your aim. Football kicking. Soccer ball goals. Cornhole. Fastball pitching. These are the small pleasures that keep families moving from one end of the lot to the other.

The free stage hosts more bands. Highway 82 Band. Desert Heartstrings. Tyler Rust Band. High Desert Sky Band. A Band Called Alexis. Times vary. Check garfieldcountyfair.com/free-stage/ for the schedule.

Open exhibits line the halls. Artwork. Photography. Quilting. Needlework. Crafting. This is the quiet side of the fair. It is where creativity meets community. It is where neighbors judge each other’s best work.

The short version? The fair is bigger this year. The stakes are higher. The milestones are real. If you want to see it, you need to buy tickets now. The premium seats are gone. The rest are waiting.