It’s July and the excitement of the Red River Valley Fair is once again upon us. The sweet smell of caramel apples, cotton candy, cheese curds, and a variety of other old-time favorites are a wonderful thing to think about.

First off, I would like to give you this year’s price list on gate admission, parking, and the different pass choices for rides and grandstand entertainment. Before giving you my opinion, you can decide for yourself if this yearly attraction remains an affordable option for your family.

Daily Ride Passes:

Unlimited carnival rides each day

• $25.00 if purchased in advance at area Stop-N-Go stores.
• $30.00 if purchased at the fairgrounds
• Daily ride passes do not include gate admission
• Games Galore, Bounceland is included in your daily ride pass

Season Pass Only $40.00

This includes the following:

• Admission into all grandstand events for ALL nine days
• Free gate admission for ALL nine days
• Adults (12 and older) $40.00
• Junior (6-11) $20.00
• Kids (5 & Under) FREE

Mega Pass Only $60.00 (If purchased before July 9^th)

This includes the following:

• Unlimited carnival rides for ALL nine days
• Admission into grandstand events for ALL nine days
• Friday, July 17^th & Saturday, July 18^th seating is limited to the first 8,400 people
• Free gate admission for ALL nine days
• Pricing goes up to $70.00 beginning July 10^th
• Games Galore, Bounceland is included in your Mega Pass

How Does It Work?

• Purchase your Mega Pass Voucher at area Stop-N-Go stores.
• After June 1^st, bring your voucher to the Red River Valley Fair office to redeem it for a bar-coded Picture ID card – or redeem your voucher the first day of the fair, July 10^th at the main gate for Picture ID (Expect long lines)
• The Mega Pass will allow you FREE gate admission through the Main Gate ONLY (located on the East side of the grounds)
• Go to the designated Mega Pass booth to scan your card to receive your daily wrist band.

Gate Admission Pricing:

Adults (12 and older) $7.00

Juniors (6-11) $3.00

Kids (5 & under) Free

• Monday through Friday between 11 am and 1 pm gate admission is free.
• VIP parking is $3.00 daily

Grandstand Entertainment:

Friday, July 10^th – Julianne Hough & Zac Brown Band

Saturday, July 11^th – Survivor

Sunday, July 12^th – Joe Diffie & Joey and Rory

Monday, July 13^th – Gloriana & Trailer Choir

Tuesday, July 14^th – 38 Special

Wednesday, July 15^th Diamond Rio

Thursday, July 16^th – HairBall

Friday, July 17^th – Auto Racing (LIMITED TO THE FIRST 8400 FANS)

Saturday, July 18^th – Demo Derby (LIMITED TO THE FIRST 8400 FANS)

Beer Garden:

*** Nightly entertainment for the over 21 crowd. Opens daily at 2 pm.

Friday, July 10^th – Thunder Ridge

Saturday, July 11^th – Carbon Copy and Carmen the Cactus

Sunday, July 12^th – Memphis

Kids Day – Monday, July 13^th, 2009

• Free admission from 11:00-1:00
• Free parking all day

10:00 Exhibit Buildings Open

11:00 Petting Zoo Opens

11:00-7:00 Budweiser Clydesdales, Acme Building

11:00-7:00 Kidz jam, North side of Commercial Building

11:00-2:00 Special needs children can ride carnival rides for free

12:00 Homemade soap bubbles, playdoh, and fingerpaint projects, Harvest Hall

12:00-6:00 Danno’s Karaoke, Free stage

1:00-2:00 Penny and Pals, Commercial Building

2:00-3:00 Area Mascots

4H Exhibits include

• Free ice cream
• Coloring Contest
• Balloon Giveaway
• Concessions on the grounds
• Sack lunches allowed
• No pets allowed on grounds

Senior Day – Tuesday, July 14^th, 2009

• Coffee & Cookies
• H & V Melodies
• F-M Golden Notes New Horizons Band
• Lunch on your own
• Bingo
• Gift Certificates and More!
• Free gate admission from 11:00-1:00

Please let me know where you stand on the affordability of the Red River Valley Fair.  My husband and I have been taking my two kids and nephews to the fair for roughly eight years. For many of those years, we were able to afford this fun event due to the $10-$15 wristband pricing, which was offered daily from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.  The Red River Valley Fair has seen many personnel changes in the past five years. With that in mind, I believe they are trying to find ways to keep this event in the black. However, with the new Mega Pass and Season Pass making its debut this year, I am finding it harder and harder to justify this cost for what has become a yearly family outing.  How about you?

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