Blaine County Fair running this week

The Blaine County Fair is set to start this week at the Blaine County Fairgrounds in Chinook with a pile of activities, events, food, vendors and children’s activities.

“It looks like it’s all coming together,” fair manager Debbie Ramberg said Monday.

The fairgrounds arena is set with double events most nights, with the main events followed by concerts Thursday through Saturday.

The only evening without a musical show is Wednesday, when the Kids Rodeo starts at 5 p.m.

Thursday and Friday each have PRCA rodeo action in the arena starting at 7 p.m. each night, with a concert by the Wortman Sisters set for Thursday and one by Stolen Roan Friday.

The Showdown Demolition Derby starts at 6 p.m. Saturday, with check-in from 2-5 p.m.

A performance by Marshall Catch is set with the derby Saturday.

Montana Premiere Events also is bringing stunt jump activities, with one where people climb up a ladder and jump onto an airbag, and “Meltown,” where the players stand on a pedestal and have to jump over four arms that circle around.

Ramberg said a pile of rides are coming through Kids Fun Zone and Amusements out of Great Falls.

“The key thing is, all the rides are free,” she added.

Those include bouncy houses, a laser tag area, a mini ferris wheel, kiddy swing ride, “Tubs of Fun,” “Spider or King Parachute,” an airplane ride, an octopus ride, battle balls and a bungee trampoline.

The fair also features some performers and activities returning to the area with Pippi the Clown and Freckle Farm Petting Zoo, as well as a mechanical bull.

And the Commercial Building will have a full selection of vendors, ranging from clothing to informational booths.

Ramberg said a couple of food vendors from outside the area also are joining the regular food attractions at the fair, with Fort Benton’s Hungry Heifer and the Billings-based food truck Spudkis, whose owner is originally from Blaine County’s Big Flat, bringing a variety of baked potatoes with different toppings.

But many regular favorites also will be at the Blaine County Fair, such as the scones and sconitoes from Funshine Preschool, the Lions Club corn dogs, the VFW — “They’re famous for their fried onion rings and their good burgers,” Ramberg said — and the taco selections from the Eagles Club, as well as the offerings at the 4-H Chuckwagon.

“We’re just looking forward to the fair,” Ramberg said.

See more on the Blaine County Fair pages B4-B6.