Butte County Fair Gets Ready to Entertain

GRIDLEY, CA (MPG) - The Butte County Fair has been a favorite event of Gridley and beyond, heralding the end of summer for our local communities.

With a new CEO at the helm, Matt Reed, the public can expect new additions to their fair experience, while still enjoying the traditional feel of the fair all have come to love.

Gates open Thursday, August 24^th at 4:00 pm. Opening day is also Senior and Kids Day, where both demographics can take advantage of free entry.

Many might want to make their way to the BCF Arena for the first new event of the four-day fair – GellyBall. For one night only, NorCal Gellyball will be providing fairgoers free entry to compete against other teams with GellyBall blasters – high-capacity guns comparable to air soft guns that shoot soft gel filled capsules at opponents. No stains, no pain, and no mess! For liability reasons, participants must be ages 5 and up.  Owner Carter Dishman says, “We are excited to be a part of the Butte County Fair. We have received a warm welcome and are excited to show of what we have to offer!”

Also new this year is Avie’s Place, which will be located near the main Gate 5 entrance into the Fairgrounds. This activity area is brought to fairgoers by the Father’s House Church. Avie’s Place celebrates the memory of a young member of the congregation that was lost to a terminal disease. Avie’s Place will offer all day fun to children for a daily entrance fee of $10 per person. Fun includes jump houses, water jump/slides, obstacles courses and more.

The freshly added Kids Zone attraction will be located north of Expo Hall. With the support of gracious community sponsors, the Kids Zone is completely free for youth, from “tiny to tween” and will provide a schedule of activities, crafts, games and more.

As tradition dictates, the Miss Butte County Scholarship Program will crown their Missette, Teen, and Miss Queens opening night.

Friday night, things get down and dirty with Extreme Truck Madness brought to the public by Williams Enterprises LLC. As a precursor to the racing, jumps, and crashing vehicles that will tear around the arena, little drivers will have a chance to get into the action with the Tuff Truck Power Wheels competition. Gates open at 6pm, show starts at 7 pm.

Saturday, the chaos will continue with Williams Enterprises LLC’s Extreme Destruction. As always, the destruction derby never disappoints with flying mud, smoke, crunching metal and more. Back again is RV class! Gates open at 6pm, and the show starts at 7 pm.

Dia De La Familia will wrap up the fair’s grandstand shows on Sunday, August 27^th. Doors open early at 4:00pm and us free with gate admission. An evening of Latin music featuring multiple bands will get fairgoers moving and shaking!

Don’t forget to cruise through the stills departments and see the hard work of those entering homemade goods or the livestock barns to support the multiple youth groups showing animals. New food vendors and more will be available for the enjoyment of attendees.

For a full schedule of fair events and entertainment, please see the fair schedule located on the back page of the paper.  For presale admission and tickets to grandstand events, please visit https://buttecountyfair.ticketspice.com/butte-county-fair-2023.