Annual Bosque Farms Community Fair this weekend

BOSQUE FARMS — It’s a leap year and it’s going to be hopping at the 85th annual Bosque Farms Community Fair this weekend.

The fair runs Friday, Aug. 2, through Saturday, Aug. 3, at the Bosque Farms Rodeo Association grounds, 1040 Arena Road.

Before the night gets wild with the much-anticipated toad races on Friday, fair organizers are kicking off the community spirit with a ice cream and cupcake social.

“We wanted to bring this kind of thing back,” said Aaron Ashley, this year’s fair board president. “In the 1930s, they would do a big buffet and the whole community would bring a plate.”

Since things are starting off with dessert, fair-goers can stick around for the Bosque Farms Fire Department hot dog and Frito pie fundraiser at $5 a plate. To help the volunteer department get the most bang for its buck, Ashley said food vending on Friday evening is exclusive to the department.

Of course the toad races will be happening under the big tent at 6:30 p.m., followed by a sheepdog herding exhibition in the arena.

This year will also feature the second annual “Battle of the Bales” in the arena to close out the evening as youth and adult teams of two buck hay bales from one location to another to see who can measure up.

Saturday starts off with the parade. Line up starts at 7:30 a.m. at Margaret Drive on South Bosque Loop, and the parade will begin at 8:30 a.m. The parade route will be the same as always, despite roadwork on West Bosque Loop. The parade will trek north on the West Loop then head east on North Bosque Loop then down Arena Road to the Bosque Farms Rodeo Association grounds.

“The parade will be a little different because of the road work. It will be on dirt, so we’re going to have to do it like the old days,” Ashley said.

This year’s parade grand marshals are Ken and Sherri Hays. Ken built his home on Esperanza Drive 54 years ago and recalls a time when he would have to park on Bosque Farms Boulevard when it rained or snowed since that road was still dirt. He and Sherri have been married for 36 years.

After the parade wraps up at the rodeo grounds, some of the expected 13 food trucks will be open serving breakfast along with the pancake breakfast put on by the BFRA in Cowboy Hall.

There will be numerous games in the arena, including archery, three-legged and stick-horse races and high jump competitions, Ashley said, plus more than two dozen arts and crafts vendors will be on hand for the day.

“We’ve kind of upped the stakes to get more things for people to do this year,” he said. “We have the kids games, bingo and this year, we’re doing corn hole.

“Horse shoes have kind of died and people have been asking why we didn’t have corn hole.”

Register for the corn hole competition starting at 11:45 a.m., then test your aim at noon.

The 25th annual Bosque Farms Car Show will be running until 2 p.m. at the Bosque Farms Sports Complex, so folks will have plenty of time to ogle the chrome.

New Mexico Raptors will be attending again, Ashley said, after the organization proved to be a crowd favorite last year.

The fair will also have it’s own take on the traditional cake walk — the snack attack walk — for a tasty treat in the afternoon.

To keep people entertained and going strong until the end of the day, the board is introducing an event that is sure to delight and amuse — 2024 will see the inaugural Cluck and Run. Attendees are invited to don inflatable chicken suits and race for the finish line.

“We’ll have the Cluck and Run out on the baseball field after the car show awards,” Ashley said. “We get a lot of people petering out and we want to keep them here. We will also have the auction and this year we have some amazing things.”

If you are of a crafty, canning or baking nature, you still have the chance to enter an indoor exhibit into the fair from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 1, and from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 2.

There’s also the chile competition, which welcomes a variety of dishes in both red or green.

Ashley said he’s looking forward to this weekend, and wants everyone to come out and enjoy the longest running community fair in the nation.

“I would like to also say how grateful I am for the support from all my ‘minion volunteers.’ This fair wouldn’t happen without their help,” he said.