What the Garfield County Fair and Rodeo Is
The Garfield County Fair and Rodeo is the county's biggest summer week, held at the Garfield County Fairgrounds in Rifle. The 2026 fair was the 88th annual, with the theme "Red, White and Blue - A Fair for You!" It also marked 110 years of 4-H, Colorado's 150th anniversary and the nation's 250th birthday. The fairgrounds were built in the late 1930s as a Works Progress Administration project.
The Week (2026)
| Day | What happens |
|---|---|
| Sat, Aug 1 | Kickoff parade on Railroad Ave., 10 a.m. to noon; Summer of Thunder Car Show, noon to 4 p.m. |
| Mon, Aug 3 | Poultry show, 8 a.m. |
| Tue, Aug 4 | Rabbit show 8 a.m.; sponsor BBQ 5:30 p.m.; Family and Kidz Rodeo 6:30 p.m. |
| Wed, Aug 5 | Swine show 8 a.m.; midway opens 3 p.m.; PRCA/WPRA ProRodeo 7 p.m. |
| Thu, Aug 6 | Sheep show 9 a.m.; goat show 1 p.m.; beef showmanship 5 p.m.; PRCA Xtreme Bulls 7 p.m. |
| Fri, Aug 7 | Beef show 9 a.m.; round robin showmanship 2 p.m.; concert with Sawyer Brown and Casey Donahew, 7 p.m. |
| Sat, Aug 8 | Buyer's BBQ 11 a.m.; livestock awards 12:30 p.m.; Junior Livestock Sale 1 p.m.; Demolition Derby 7 p.m. |
| Sun, Aug 9 | Check-out for livestock, 4-H and Open Class exhibits |
4-H competitions and shooting sports contests run from July 10 through August 3, ahead of fair week.
Rodeo and Entertainment
- Family and Kidz Rodeo (Aug 4, outdoor arena): free to watch. Registration is 4 to 5:30 p.m. with line-up at 6 p.m. Entry is $15 for mutton bustin', steer riding, breakaway roping, junior breakaway, barrel racing, junior barrel racing and pole bending; mixed team roping is $25 per team.
- PRCA/WPRA ProRodeo (Aug 5): 7 p.m., gates at 6 p.m. Bareback, saddle bronc, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping and barrel racing. Wednesday is "Tough Enough to Wear Pink" night.
- PRCA Xtreme Bulls (Aug 6): 7 p.m., gates at 6 p.m., with Veterans' Night. Fans are asked to wear red, white and blue.
- Concert (Aug 7): 7 p.m., gates at 6 p.m. Lawn chairs and coolers are not allowed; accessible seating is available on request.
- Demolition Derby (Aug 8): 7 p.m. Tickets often sell out early. Vehicles need seat belts, rollover bars and interior cages. Entry forms and rules come from Trent at 970-776-0369.
Tickets are sold at garfieldcountyfair.com.
Entry Rules and Deadlines
- Open Class: exhibit drop-off runs Aug 1 to 3, with Aug 3 the registration cutoff. Artwork and photography must be entered by Sunday, Aug 2. Judging is Aug 4.
- Commissioners' Cookie Jar Contest: entries due Aug 6 by 11 a.m. Jars must hold at least a half-gallon with three varieties of cookies, at least a dozen of each. Prizes are $40, $20 and $15.
- Apple Pie Contest: entries due Aug 6 by 11 a.m. in disposable tins, six classes. Prizes are $25, $15 and $10.
- Car show: $25 for a booth or table before July 24, $30 on show day.
- Parade: register through coloradorivervalleychamber.com or call 970-625-2085.
Open Class premiums are paid Sunday, Aug 9, from 7 to 11 a.m.; unclaimed premiums are forfeited.
The Junior Livestock Sale
The sale starts Saturday, August 8 at 1 p.m. at the fairgrounds and is conducted by Loma Livestock Sale Barn. Beef and swine sell by the pound; sheep, goat, poultry and rabbit sell by the head or entry. Payment is due at the end of the sale by check or credit card, with processing fees; cash is not accepted. Buyers may split purchases or use the buyback option, and add-on contributions run from the Monday before the sale through the Wednesday after.
Where and Who to Call
Garfield County Fairgrounds, 1001 Railroad Ave., Rifle, CO 81650. Garfield County CSU Extension Office (livestock sale questions): 970-625-3969.
Official Links
Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Washington's fair season runs from spring youth fairs to the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima, September 25 to October 4 in 2026, per a fair calendar. The Washington State Fair in Puyallup ran September 4 to 27.
Who can show
The state 4-H handbook requires members to be eight by October 1 to compete in livestock shows or sales. Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, cannot compete.
Rules to know
Animals sold at a junior livestock auction cannot be leased. Market steers must be polled or dehorned. Washington 4-H recommends YQCA training. Ownership dates vary: San Juan County's 2026 auction guide lists beef by April 15 and swine, lamb and goat by June 14.
Next steps
Ask your county WSU Extension office for your fair book. Dates, weights and sale rules change, so confirm with the organizer.
Read the full guide: Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Garfield County Rodeo
Rodeo held with the Garfield County Fair at the Pomeroy fairgrounds on Fairgrounds Road. Held each year; the most recent dates were Sept. 18-20, 2026.
99 Fairgrounds Road, Pomeroy, WA 99347 Official event details - Washington Cattlemen and Cattlewomen Annual Convention and Tradeshow
Held each year; the most recent dates verified were November 12-14, 2025, the 100th convention, at the Wenatchee Convention Center.
Wenatchee, WA | Organizer: Washington Cattlemen's Association Official event details - Kittitas Beef Pre-Show, Weigh-In and Judging Contest
Spring day where 4-H, FFA and Grange members weigh and tag fair steers (1,150 lb minimum), compete in a beef judging contest and show heifers. Most recent date: March 21, 2026.
Ellensburg, WA | Organizer: Kittitas County 4-H Official event details - Washington State Spring Fair
Held each year in Puyallup over two spring weekends; the most recent dates were April 9-12 and April 16-19, 2026.
Puyallup, WA Official event details - Whatcom County Youth Fair
Held each year in Lynden on the Northwest Washington Fair grounds; the most recent dates were April 10-11, 2026.
Lynden, WA Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.