It's all there at the fair
Carol Feineman
» More from Carol Feineman
7:17 a.m. PT Aug 7, 2003
This week's Nevada County Fair isn't only fun for the more than 100,000 anticipated fairgoers; it's also a blast for out-of-town entertainers formerly from Grass Valley, who return as fair performers.
Take Jeff McEntire of Sacramento's The Willknots. His pop punk band will play the Nevada County Fair at 6 and 7:15 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Outback (youth-oriented) area situated next to the carnival rides.
For the last three years, The Willknots have played throughout the West Coast, even opening for Blink 182 before crowds of a few thousand.
But the fair shows are just as important to McEntire.
"This show is a big deal to me personally because I grew up in Grass Valley. When I was growing up, I always looked forward to the fair," McEntire said Tuesday.
Mark Curran is another former Nevada County resident who is now in the Bay Area's modern rock band The Search, which performs at today's fair at noon and 2 p.m.
Curran, 29, was a Nevada Union High School football player and student government officer in the late '80s and early '90s. Besides playing acoustic guitar in The Search, Curran today is a San Jose high school history and psychology teacher and activities director.
Growing up in Nevada City, Curran estimates he attended the fair 15 to 20 times as a spectator. With The Search, he was able to attend the fair last year and today - just on the other side of the stage.
He likes the other side.
"It's fun to play music and interact with the crowd. I don't know too many people now, but I like watching the people dance and have fun," said Curran on Tuesday. Among those in the crowd, Curran hopes, will be his parents, Barbara and Jim Curran of Nevada City.
Before and after his fair performances, Curran will have plenty to do.
"I'll get corn dogs, I loooove the corn dogs. I used to go on the rides but I don't know if I can stomach that now," Curran said. "I'll look at art exhibits, watch the Destruction Derby, look at the livestock. I love homecoming, coming home and playing at the fair, seeing my friends and family."
Although not from Nevada County, country pop rock singer Becca Kavanaugh visits her grandmother in Grass Valley periodically throughout the year. This week marks the 13-year-old's second consecutive year performing at the fair (Saturday and Sunday at 10 a.m.).
Performing professionally for the past two years, Kavanaugh's gigs include several county fairs.
"I think Nevada County's is really a good fair . A lot of people attend it.
This fair is different from others - people are laid-back at Nevada County Fair. I feel more welcome here," Kavanaugh said.
Thursday selected entertainment and activities
Kids' Day
10 a.m.: KNCO/Star 94.3 FM-Kids' Day Talent Show at Pine Tree Stage
11 a.m.: Magician Terry Godfrey at The Green. Also 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Barnyard Racers at Oak Grove. Also 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Noon: Modern rock band The Search at Art Center Stage. Also 2 p.m.
Rocket's K-9 Comets- Frisbee dog show at The Green. Also 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Grandma's Cookie Jar Judging at Huck Finn Corner
1 p.m.: Cowboy songster Sourdough Slim at Pine Tree Stage. Also 2:30 p.m.
2 p.m.: Death Globe motorcycle thrill show at The Outback. Also 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
4 p.m.: Blues Coalition, R&B, at Art Center Stage. Also 5:30 p.m.
Rising Starz Gymnastics demonstration at The Dance Pad
4:30 p.m.: Country/'50s Joni Morris and After Midnight at Pine Tree Stage. Also 6 p.m.
5:15 p.m.: Singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis at Pine Tree Stage
6 p.m.: King's Kids Dance Team at The Dance Pad
7 p.m.: "Rockin with the Oldies" Concert with Rosie and the Olympics, and The Elgins at Arena
Country Swing Dance-Gold Country Sound at The Dance Pad
7:30 p.m.: Karaoke! at Special Events Tent
8 p.m.: Country musician Lynsey Bostick at Pine Tree Stage. Also 9:30 p.m.
8 p.m.: Country rock Mogollon at Art Center Stage. Also 9:30 p.m.
Friday selected entertainment and activities
Scholar Students' Day And People with Disabilities Day
11 a.m.: Kris Skidmore and Dave Ayala at Pine Tree Stage
Magician Terry Godfrey at The Green. Also 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Barnyard Racers at Oak Grove. Also 1 p.m., 3 p.m. and 5 p.m.
Cotton Nose Contest at Special Events Tent
Noon: Groove rock Caller Nine at Art Center Stage. Also 1:30 p.m.
Rocket's K-9 Comets- Frisbee dog show at The Green. Also 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Squash Mobile Races at Special Events Tent
1 p.m.: Folk rock/ Americana Solid Air at Pine Tree Stage. Also 4:30 p.m.
Pine Needle Basket Making with Judy Nichols at Sugar Pine Lodge
2 p.m.: Death Globe, motorcycle thrill show at The Outback. Also 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
2:30 p.m.: Singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis at Pine Tree Stage
3 p.m.: Annual Spam Sculpting Contest Special Events Tent
3:30 p.m.: Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest at Special Events Tent
4 p.m.: Inside Strait, country rock at Art Center Stage. Also 5:30 p.m.
Alkali-Last of the 49ers at Special Events Tent
5 p.m.: Nevada County Wheelchair Basketball at The Dance Pad
6 p.m.: Michelle Lewis at Pine Tree Stage
The Willknots at The Outback. Also 7:15 p.m.
6:30 p.m.: Square Dancing with Joe Saltel and Charlie Eskin at The Dance Pad
7 p.m.: Quad Racing, "Big Air" and Monster Trucks at Arena
Barnyard Racers at Oak Grove
7:30 p.m.: Karaoke! at Special Events Tent
8 p.m.: Patton Leatha at Pine Tree Stage. Also 9:30 p.m.
8 p.m.: Mogollon at Art Center Stage. Also 9:30 p.m.
Saturday selected entertainment and activities
Family Day
10 a.m.: Country singer Becca at Pine Tree Stage
11 a.m.: Sierra Gold Chorus women's barbershop at Pine Tree Stage
Magician Terry Godfrey at The Green. Also 2 p.m., 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Barnyard Racers at Oak Grove. Also 1 p.m., 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Needle In A Hay Stack at Special Events Tent
11:30 a.m.: Travelin Shoes cloggers at Pine Tree Stage
Noon: Straight Up at Art Center Stage. Also 1:30 p.m.
Rocket's K-9 Comets- Frisbee dog show at The Green
12:30 p.m.: Nevada County Concert Band at Pine Tree Stage
1 p.m.: First Baptist Church musical presentation at Special Events Tent
2 p.m.: The Death Globe motorcycle thrill show at The Outback. Also 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Tommyknocker Cloggers at Pine Tree Stage. Also 4:30 p.m.
World Style Arm Wrestling at The Green
3 p.m.: Women with Axes guitar duo at Pine Tree Stage. Also 5:30 p.m.
Singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis at Tall Pines Building. Also 5 p.m.
4 p.m.: Bandana Blues Band at Art Center Stage. Also 5:30 p.m.
Alkali-Last of the 49ers at Special Events Tent
Dog Agility at The Green
6 p.m.: The Willknots at The Outback. Also 7:15 p.m.
Outlaws Dance Team at The Dance Pad
7 p.m.: Monster Trucks & Tuff Truck Competition at Arena
KNCO's All '80s Live Dance at The Dance Pad
7:30 p.m.: Karaoke! at Special Events Tent
8 p.m.: DoubleFunk Crunch at Art Center Stage. Also 9:30 p.m.
Mogollon at Pine Tree Stage. Also 9:30 p.m.
Sunday selected entertainment and activities
Truckee/Donner Day
10 a.m.: Country singer Becca at Pine Tree Stage
11 a.m.: Sierranaders at Pine Tree Stage. Also noon
11:30 a.m.: Farm Animal Look-A-Like at Special Events Tent
Noon: Bluegrass-oriented Mountain Laurel at Art Center Stage. Also 1:30 p.m.
Rocket's K-9 Comets-Frisbee dog show at The Green. Also 3 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Country Swing Dance-Gold Country Sound at The Dance Pad
1 p.m.: The Big Spin Lottery Show at Pine Tree Stage
2 p.m.: The Death Globe motorcycle thrill show at The Outback. Also 5 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Ninth annual Barbershop Quartet Competition at Special Events Tent
2:30 p.m.: Thunderfoot Cloggers at Pine Tree Stage
3 p.m.: Singer-songwriter Michelle Lewis at Tall Pines Building. Also 5 p.m.
4 p.m.: Classic rock 'n' rollers Eddie D and the Cruisers at Art Center Stage. Also 5:30 p.m.
4 p.m.: Alkali-Last of the 49ers at Special Events Tent
7 p.m.: Destruction Derby at Arena
7:30 p.m.: Blues Patrol Band at Pine Tree Stage. Also 9 p.m.
Karaoke! at Special Events Tent
Country Swing Dance-Gold Country Sound at The Dance Pad
8 p.m.: That '80s Band in tribute to The Blues Brothers at Art Center Stage. Also at 9:30 p.m.
Check out the Web at www.nevadacountyfair.com for a complete entertainment and activities schedule.
KNOW & GO
WHAT: Nevada County Fair. This year's theme is "Down on the Farm."
WHEN: 10 a.m. to midnight today through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Sunday.
WHERE: Nevada County Fairgrounds, 11228 McCourtney Road, Grass Valley
ADMISSION: $5 for adults, $2 for children 6 to 12, and free for
5-year-olds or younger.
INFORMATION: 273-6217
