WINNEMUCCA — The Tri-County Fair & Stampede has seen lots of great changes over the years but one of the biggest — and most important — changes has come in the way the event is set up.
“Once again this year, we will use the Winnemucca Event Center to give everyone more room, keep everyone cooler and give our fair-goers more and better restroom facilities,” said Agricultural District No. 3 Director Kim Petersen.
Petersen said he got the idea to use the Winnemucca Event Center facilities during the night after he had been contemplating how to make the three-day event — planned this year for Friday, September 1, through Sunday, September 3 — more attractive to local residents.
“It makes the fair weekend better all the way around — for every single event, vendor and participant.”
Once again this year, the event center will house the fair exhibits, a dining area and some indoor vendors.
More vendors for food and other items will be outside the building’s front doors and in front of the event center parking lot along with the Antique Engine & Tractor Show.
Other events this year will stay at the Main Arena Outside, including the 102nd annual Labor Day Rodeo and the Great Basin Challenge.
Fair-goers may park in lots on both sides of Fairgrounds Road, while the smaller parking lot between the Exhibit Hall and the livestock stalls will be reserved for spectators at the Rodeo and Great Basin Challenge events; ample handicap parking will be available throughout the weekend.
For safety reasons, the portion of Fairgrounds Road between the Exhibit Hall and the Winnemucca Event Center will be closed during the three-day event as it has in the past.
Petersen agreed the setup has presented some significant changes for both organizers and participants, “but in the end, it’s been a much better set-up and much better experience for everyone involved.”