“United We Celebrate” was the theme for the 121st annual El Paso County Fair, which was held last week at the Calhan fairgrounds.
“We’re having a lot of people coming in dressed for the theme,” said manager Theresa Odello. “The whole El Paso County community really seems to be taking the USA 250/Colorado 150 celebration to heart, and they’re rolling with it.”
The mood was festive and energetic as families roamed the fairgrounds, largely unaffected by a high temperature of 88 degrees.
“People who have lived here a long time know how to prepare for the heat,” said County Fair board member Grant Harris, who has been involved with the fair since the 1980s. “And the kids enjoy the fair so much, they don’t care about the heat.”
Cayden Hyland-Moore (right) chomps down while competing in a funnel cake eating contest at the El Paso County Fair on Sunday, July 12, 2026. The El Paso County Fair will continue in Calhan through July 18. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)
From the rides, to the games, to the food booths and livestock shows, kids seemed to ricochet around the grounds, trailed by smiling parents.
“Seeing the kids enjoy themselves is the best part,” said Chuck Schwartz, who also attended the Pikes Peak or Bust Parade on Saturday.
“(The fair) is a fun slice of Americana,” said Robin Schwartz, Chuck’s wife. “There’s so much to see here.”
Fair officials hoped to draw about 25,000 people over the course of the eight-day celebration.
Events included a car show, eating contests, a Colorado Pro Rodeo Association-sanctioned rodeo competition and mutton-busting, which is always a fair favorite.
“It’s a really fun event to watch,” Odello said. “It’s a way to get kids interested in rodeo at an early age.”
Families enjoy rides at the El Paso County Fair on Sunday. (O’Dell Isaac, The Gazette)
The El Paso County Fair Queen competition, which includes a series of interviews, speeches and a horsemanship exhibition, concluded with Kadence Baker emerging as the fair queen for 2027.
The fair’s most popular event is the demolition derby, a metal-crunching showdown that continues until there’s only one car left running.
“It’s always fun to see cars crash into one another until that can’t go any more,” Odello said.
Rabbits that are raised and care for by young people are judged at the annual El Paso County Fair in Calhan on Sunday, July 12, 2026. The fair continues through July 18. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)
Luke Schossow talks to one of the rabbit judges, Connie Hopkins, about his very large white rabbit named Winter at the El Paso County Fair on Sunday, July 12, 2026. The El Paso County Fair will continue in Calhan through July 18. (The Gazette, Jerilee Bennett)