COUNTY FAIR

Wonderbound season begins Oct. 19

Schneider wanted to highlight the horseshoe tournament set for Friday, Aug. 4, with proceeds from the tournament bene ting the shooting sports programs. Schneider also mentioned this is the rst year the fair has showcased musicians as part of its lineup. After the Junior Market Sale and the Bulls, Broncs, & Buckaroos Rodeo on Saturday, Aug. 5, musician Matt Stell was set to perform in the

For the youngest cowboys and girls, the fair o ered a Kiddie Corral, which includes a petting zoo, bouncy house and face painting, on its nal weekend. e weekend also included the ever-popular e Elbert County Fair Parade was set for Sunday, Aug. 6, beginning at the Elbert County Courthouse in Kiowa and ending in the e Elbert County Fair has been a huge draw for the community for decades. Joe Martell of the Elbert County Historical Society & Museum shared some of the fair’s background: “An early version of the Elbert County Fair sporadically took place in the late 1800s … it wasn’t until 1904 that the fair was consistently held annually. .. the single-day fair was held at Elbert with most of the activities taking place east of town along the ats

“Discounted train fares on the Colorado & Southern Railroad brought folks from Denver and Colorado Springs out to Elbert for the day, where they could picnic, view locally grown agricultural exhibits, watch horse racing or catch a baseball game played against

“Later in the 1930s, the Elbert County Fair was reorganized and moved to Kiowa, where it has been e Elbert County Fair Book is is year, the Town of Elizabeth is turning 133 and everyone’s invited to celebrate with a movie night at Running Creek Park. e Elizabeth Birthday Bash is set for Friday, Aug. 25 at 6:30 p.m. Bring the family, blankets and chairs and watch “Despicable Me” on the big screen. Snacks will be available for purchase, but the event itself is free.

If you are looking for something active, consider the rst annual Historic Elizabeth Main Street 5k and Family Color Run on Sept. 23. e race begins at 9 a.m. and all participants will receive a T-shirt, nisher’s medal, pancake breakfast and one drink ticket. You can register through townofelizabeth.org either for the 5k distance for $35 or the Family Color Run for $15. All participants begin at the intersection of Main Street and Elm. e 5k course is an out and back, while the Color Run course turns into Running Creek Park for two laps around its perimeter. Of course, you don’t need a scheduled event to nd some fun. Just load up the car and head to Evans Park. With activities like disc golf, the skate park, shing, the playground and the splashpad, you and the family can make a day of it. e Prickly Pines Disc Golf course at Evans Park boasts 18 holes. e rst is located right near the parking area for the pond and a set of discs can be rented at the park o ce for just $5. ( e park o ce is located at 34201 CR 17 and is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) ursday: 1-2 p.m. in Elizabeth (651 Beverly St.) www.RMofCO.com

Typical hours of the Evans Park splashpad are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily until Labor Day, but of course weather can change that so please keep an eye on the forecast. Dragon y Pond, which is located inside Evans Park, is stocked annually with trout by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and provides a peaceful setting and hopefully a sh or two.

When you’re ready for a break from the heat, head to your local library for Story Time. Each one includes a read-aloud, songs and a craft or hands-on activity and is fun for kids of all ages.

Monday: 10-11 a.m. in Elizabeth (651 Beverly St.)

Tuesday: 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Simla (504 Washington Ave.)

Friday: 10-11 a.m. in Kiowa (331 Comanche St.)