The Bandera County Fair will return to Mansfield Park Oct. 8-10, bringing three days of carnival rides, livestock, exhibits, competitions, rodeo, live music, food and family activities to Bandera.
This year’s fair carries the theme “Tradition Runs Deep,” with organizers highlighting the event’s focus on community, agriculture, entertainment and local tradition.
The fair opens Thursday, Oct. 8, with gates opening at 5 p.m. and an opening ceremony and ribbon cutting at 6 p.m. The carnival will operate from 5-11 p.m., with games, activities, vendors and live music throughout the evening.
Friday and Saturday will feature a full schedule of fair activities. The fairgrounds and carnival open at 11 a.m. both days, with games, animals, exhibits, vendors and live music continuing throughout the day.
A rodeo is scheduled from 7-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, followed by a concert and dance at 8 p.m. both nights.
The fair also will feature a variety of competitive events and community contests.
Adult competitive-event check-in is scheduled for 8-10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 9, while youth competitive- event check-in will take place from 8-10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 10.
Among the livestock events is a lamb and goat prospect show hosted by the Bandera FFA Booster Club on Saturday. Check-in is from 9-10 a.m., with the show beginning at 10:30 a.m. Lambs will follow the goat showmanship competition. Entry is $30, with $5 showmanship entries available at the gate. Banners, cash and prizes will be awarded.
The fair also will host an open horse show Saturday at Mansfield Park Arena. Classes include leadline, green rider equitation and pleasure, hunter under saddle, English equitation, trail, western pleasure, western horsemanship and reining. Junior classes are for riders 14 and younger, while senior classes are for those 15 and older.
Pre-registration for the horse show is $10 per class or $50 per day, while Saturday registration is $12 per class or $60 per day. The show is being coordinated through Bandera County 4-H Horse.
Horse owners are reminded that horses must have proof of a negative Coggins test under Texas law, and all horses will be checked upon arrival.
The fair’s Ranch Rodeo will feature a qualifier on Friday, Oct. 9, with the top six teams advancing to the finals Saturday. Events include steer tying, calf branding, trailer loading and Pony Express, with ranch bronc included Saturday for the final teams. The event has a $100 entry fee and $500 in added money, with a maximum of 10 entries.
A separate 42 tournament is scheduled in conjunction with the fair Friday and Saturday. Friday’s games begin at 7 p.m., with a $40-per-team entry fee. Saturday’s games begin at 10 a.m., with a $60-perteam entry fee. The tournament will be held at Mansfield Park.
The fair also is seeking community entries for its exhibits and contests. Categories include woodworking, welding, photography, painting and drawing, wreaths, floral centerpieces, mixed media, crafts, quilting, baking, cakes, pies, cupcakes and canning. Entries are open to artists, makers and craftsmen of all ages, with a Sept. 30 deadline listed for submissions.
A quilt show also is planned, with a limit of 60 entries and a Sept. 30 deadline. The entry fee is $5.
Younger fairgoers can participate in a cupcake contest, with children ages 8 and younger invited to submit their sweetest creations. The contest also includes a special cupcake category featuring Santa-themed designs.
The carnival will offer visitors a choice between unlimited-access wristbands and individual ride tickets. Unlimited carnival wristbands are advertised at $25, while individual ride tickets also will be available.
The fair’s third annual Bandera County Fair Pageant will take place Saturday, Oct. 3, at Bandera Middle School, ahead of the fair. Judge interviews are scheduled from 9-11 a.m., followed by the pageant at 6 p.m.
The pageant includes four youth divisions: Little Miss Bandera for ages 6-9, Jr. Miss Bandera for ages 10-12, Teen Miss Bandera for ages 13-15 and Queen Miss Bandera for ages 1618. Awards, scholarships and other prizes will be presented. Applications are currently open.
The Bandera County Fair will be held at Mansfield Park, 2886 State Highway 16 in Bandera. For more information, visit banderacountyfair.com or contact the fair at [email protected] or (281) 899-8817.
Bandera County Fair schedule Thursday, Oct. 8
• 5 p.m. — Gates open
• 6 p.m. — Opening ceremony and ribbon cutting
• 5-11 p.m. — Carnival
• Evening — Games, activities, vendors and live music
Friday, Oct. 9 • 8-10 a.m. — Adult competitive- event check-in • 11 a.m. — Fairgrounds and carnival open
• All day — Games, activities, animals, exhibits, vendors and live music
• 7-9 p.m. — Rodeo
• 8 p.m. — Concert and dance Saturday, Oct. 10 • 8-10 a.m. — Youth competitive- event check-in • 11 a.m. — Fairgrounds and carnival open
• All day — Games, activities, animals, exhibits, vendors and live music
• 7-9 p.m. — Rodeo
• 8 p.m. — Concert and dance
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