The biggest event in Lea County is the annual Fair & Rodeo which takes place at the Lea County Fairgrounds located at 101 S. Commercial St in Lovington, NM. Visitors from all around the area come out to enjoy the festivities which include a concert series, carnival, arts & craft exhibits, livestock shows and the PRCA rodeo.

This year’s Fair & Rodeo takes place from August 4 to August 12. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children with kids under 5 free with a paid ticket. There are several free admission days this year as well as free admission every day before 5:00 PM. This gives everyone the chance to come out and enjoy the Lea County Fair & Rodeo.

See below for all the Fair & Rodeo has to offer or skip directly to the schedule of events.

Carnival

As in the past, Wright’s Amusements will be operating the carnival each evening of the Fair & Rodeo. The carnival boasts a variety of rides and activities. It opens at 5:00 PM each day and will stay running until either midnight or 1:00 AM depending on the day. Tickets cost $1 each and each ride will have a specific ticket cost for it. No open toed shoes will be allowed on any ride due to safety reasons.

Tuesday August 8 is “Dollar Night” where every ride will cost $1.00. Unlimited Armbands will be available from Wednesday August 9 through Saturday August 12 for $35. Thursday August 10 is Canned Food Night. Bring 2 cans of food and get an unlimited armband for $25.

PRCA Rodeo & Activities at the Jake McClure Arena

One of the biggest draws of the Fair & Rodeo is the PRCA pro rodeo events, as well as the other rodeo activities happening at the Jake McClure Arena. The PRCA is the world’s largest rodeo organization and the Lea County Fair & Rodeo is an important stop on the PRCA circuit.

The PRCA Rodeo kicks off with Xtreme Bull Riding at 7:00 PM on Tuesday August 8. It will then continue with four performances each beginning at 7:00 PM from Wednesday August 9 to Saturday August 12.

Mutton Bustin’ will take place at the Jake McClure Arena at 7:00 PM on Saturday August 5. The arena will also host the Special Rodeo, Local Team Roping and the Youth Horse Show.

Arts, Craft, Farm and Garden Exhibits at the Yucca Building

The Yucca Building hosts a variety of exhibits and other activities throughout the Fair & Rodeo. Entries will be judged at 2:00 PM on Monday August 7, and the Yucca Building will be closed to the public during the judging.

Visitors may come view exhibits between 8:00 AM and 10:00 PM from Tuesday August 8 to Saturday August 12.

The Yucca Building also hosts the Pioneer Iron Chef Competition, taking place on Thursday August 10. The youth competition is at 2:00 PM followed by the adult competition at 4:00 PM. A Fiddler’s Jam Session will take place in the Yucca Building on Friday August 11 at 6:00 PM and the following day will be the annual Fiddler’s Contest starting at 1:00 PM.

Concert Series

Music is a key part of the Fair & Rodeo with major concert events happening throughout the 9-day event. Concerts take place at the Main Concert Stage located between the Fairgrounds buildings and the Jake McClure Arena. This year’s Concert Series will kick off with Hispanic Heritage Celebration featuring Los Rieleros Del Norte and Los Invasores De Nuevo. The band Alabama will headline the Concert Series giving the final performance of the Fair & Rodeo on Saturday August 12. Leading up to Alabama will be performances by Wade Bown, For King + Country, The Frontment and Tracy Lawrence.

Junior Livestock Show

4-H and FFA participants will be showing a variety of animals in the Fair & Rodeo Livestock Show and the public can come and view the animals too. Large livestock will be in place by 11:00 AM on Sunday August 6 while rabbits and chickens will be in place by 7:00 PM on Monday August 7. The large livestock, which includes cows, sheeps, goats and pigs, will be located at the Livestock Pavilion. The rabbits and chickens are located in the Rabbit Barn next to the Livestock Pavilion.

Please respect the animals as you view them. Don’t poke or bother them, and do not feed them.

Schedule of Events

The Lea County Fair & Rodeo will be underway from August 4 to August 12 with a wide variety of events. The event schedule is subject to change. For the full list of events, check the Lea County Fair & Rodeo website.

Friday: August 4

• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open
• 10:00 AM – Indoor Vendor Setup Complete
• 12:00 PM – Hispanic Heritage Luncheon (General Service Building)
• 5:00 PM – Admission Charged at Entry Gates
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 5:00 PM – Vendor Booths Open (Chaparral & Zia Buildings)
• 7:00 PM – Concert: Los Rieleros Del Norte (Main Concert Stage)
• 9:00 PM – Concert: Los Invasores De Nuevo Leon (Main Concert Stage)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 1:00 AM – Carnival & Entry Gates Close

Saturday: August 5

• 7:00 AM – 4-H/FFA Youth Horse Show (Jake McClure Arena)
• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open – Free Admission All Day
• 12:00-3:00 PM – Pre-Entered Items Accepted for Home Economics & Handicrafts Exhibits (Yucca Building)
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 5:00 PM – Vendor Booths Open (Chaparral & Zia Buildings)
• 7:00 PM – Mutton Bustin’ Slack (Jake McClure Arena)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 1:00 AM – Carnival & Entry Gates Close

Sunday: August 6

• 6:00 AM – Swine, Steers, Goats, Lambs, Horses, Beef Heifers and Dairy Heifers arrive
• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open – Free Admission All Day
• 11:00 AM – All Livestock in Place (Livestock Pavilion)
• 1:00 PM – Pre-Entered Items Accepted for Home Economics & Handicrafts Exhibits (Yucca Building)
• 1:00 PM – Entries Open for Creative Arts and Farm & Garden Products (Yucca Building)
• 2:00 PM – Local Team Roping (Jake McClure Arena)
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 7:00 PM – Yucca Building Entries Close
• 12:00 AM – Carnival & Entry Gates Close

Monday: August 7

• 7:00 AM – Weigh/Classify Swine, Lambs, Meat Goats (Livestock Pavilion)
• 7:00 AM – Yucca Building Entries Open
• 7:30-11:30 AM – Flower Show Entries Open
• 8:00 AM – Weigh Steers (Livestock Pavilion)
• 8:00 AM – Rabbits and Chickens Arrive
• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open – Free Admission All Day
• 8:00 AM – Judging of Home Economics & Handicrafts Exhibits (Yucca Building)
• 8:00 AM – Fair & Rodeo Royalty Horsemanship Competition (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:30 AM – Weigh Dairy Heifers (Livestock Pavilion)
• 1:00 PM – Creative Arts, Flower Show and Farm & Garden Entries Close
• 2:00 PM – Yucca Building Closed for Judging
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 7:00 PM – Special Rodeo (Jake McClure Arena)
• 7:00 PM – All Rabbits and Chickens in Place (Rabbit Barn)
• 12:00 AM – Carnival and Entry Gates Close

Tuesday: August 8

• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open
• 8:00 AM – Market Swine Judging (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 8:00 AM – Yucca Building Open for Viewing
• 10:00 AM – Vendor Booths Open (Chaparral & Zia Buildings)
• 12:00 PM – Sweepstakes Winners Announced (Yucca Building)
• 5:00 PM – Admission Charged at Entry Gates
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Open (Dollar Night – All Rides $1.00)
• 6:00 PM – Dairy Heifer Show (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 7:00 PM – Xtreme Bull Riding (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:30 PM – Concert: Wade Bowen (Main Concert Stage)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 12:00 AM – Carnival and Entry Gates Close

Wednesday: August 9

• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open – Free Admission All Day
• 8:00 AM – Poultry Showmanship & Judging (Rabbit Barn)
• 8:00 AM – Yucca Building Open for Viewing
• 9:00 AM – Meat Goat Judging (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 10:00 AM – Vendor Booths Open (Chaparral & Zia Buildings)
• 4:00 PM – Parade
• 5:00 PM – Market Lamb Judging (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 7:00 PM – PRCA Rodeo: 1st Performance (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:30 PM – Concert: For King + Country (Main Concert Stage)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 12:00 AM – Carnival and Entry Gates Close

Thursday: August 10

• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open
• 8:00 AM – Beef Heifer Judging (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 8:00 AM – Rabbit Judging (Rabbit Barn)
• 8:00 AM – Yucca Building Open for Viewing
• 8:30 AM – Cloverbud Beef Showmanship & Market Steer Judging (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 9:00 AM – Rabbit Showmanship (Rabbit Barn)
• 9:00 AM – PRCA Slack (Jake McClure Arena)
• 10:00 AM – Vendor Booths Open (Chaparral & Zia Buildings)
• 1:00 PM – 4-H/FFA Youth Horse Show (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 2:00 PM – Pioneer Iron Chef Youth Contest (Yucca Building)
• 4:00 PM – Pioneer Iron Chef Adult Contest (Yucca Building)
• 5:00 PM – Admission Charged at Entry Gates
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 7:00 PM – PRCA Rodeo: 2nd Performance (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:30 PM – Concert: The Frontmen (Main Concert Stage)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 12:00 AM – Carnival and Entry Gates Close

Friday: August 11

• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open
• 8:00 AM – Yucca Building Open for Viewing
• 8:00 AM – Fair & Rodeo Royalty Interviews (Closed to Public)
• 9:00 AM – PRCA Slack (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:00 AM – Mark Daugherty Memorial Livestock Judging (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 10:00 AM – Vendor Booths Open
• 11:00 AM – Fair & Rodeo Royalty Luncheon and Speech Competition (General Service Building)
• 5:00 PM – Admission Charged at Entry Gates
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 5:30 PM – Livestock Awards Dinner (Entertainment Pavilion)
• 6:00 PM – Fiddler’s Jam Session (Yucca Building)
• 7:00 PM – PRCA Rodeo: 3rd Performance (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:30 PM – Concert: Tracy Lawrence (Main Concert Stage)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 1:00 AM – Carnival and Entry Gates Close

Saturday: August 12

• 7:30 AM – Buyer’s Breakfast (Livestock Pavilion)
• 8:00 AM – Entry Gates Open
• 8:00 AM – Yucca Building Open for Viewing
• 9:00 AM – PRCA Slack (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:00 AM – Junior Livestock Sale (Livestock Pavilion Show Ring)
• 10:00 AM – Vendor Booths Open
• 12:00 PM – Fiddler’s Contest Registration (Yucca Building)
• 1:00 PM – Fiddler’s Contest Begins (Yucca Building)
• 3:00 PM – Fair & Rodeo Royalty Coronation (General Service Building)
• 5:00 PM – Admission Charged at Entry Gates
• 5:00 PM – Carnival Opens
• 7:00 PM – PRCA Rodeo: Final Performance (Jake McClure Arena)
• 9:30 PM – Concert: Alabama (Main Concert Stage)
• 10:00 PM – Buildings Close
• 1:00 AM – Carnival and Entry Gates Close