Bosque Farms Community Fair: 86 years of family fun

Julia M. Dendinger
Julia M. Dendinger News-Bulletin Assistant Editor
Published Modified

If You Go

Schedule of Events

1040 Arena Road, Bosque Farms

Friday, Aug. 1

3:30-5:30 p.m.: Ice cream and cupcake social (Cowboy Hall)

4-6 p.m.: Register for Toad Races (Patio)

5 p.m.: Bosque Farms Fire Department hot dog, chile dog and Frito pie fundraiser (Patio)

6:30 p.m.: Toad Races (Under the big tent)

7-7:30 p.m.: Sheepdog herding exhibition with Kyle Fakhoury (Arena)

7:30 p.m.: Universal Waste Systems annual Battle of the Bales (South of the arena)

Saturday, Aug. 2

7:30-8:30 a.m.: Line up for the parade (Margaret Drive on South Bosque Loop)

8 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Bosque Farms Car Show (Bosque Farms Sports Complex)

8:30 a.m.: Parade begins

9:30 a.m.: Silent auction begins (Ends at 3:30 p.m.); food trucks open; New Mexico Game & Fish exhibition; Bosque Farms Rodeo Association pancake breakfast (Cowboy Hall); bean count (Cowboy Hall); money and corn pits open

10 a.m.: Kid’s Bingo (Patio); greased pole climb (southeast of the arena, ends at 4 p.m.); face painting (in the big tent, ends at 4 p.m.)

10 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Los Lunas Parks and Rec climbing wall

10:30 a.m.: Kid’s pole fishing (northwest corner of Cowboy Hall); races (Arena); women’s rolling pin throw (after the races)

11 a.m.: Parade awards (Patio)

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: New Mexico Raptors (southeast corner of Cowboy Hall)

11:30 a.m.: Register for the corn hole competition (South of the arena)

12 p.m.: Corn hole competition (South of the arena); Bosque Farms Rodeo Association Royalty (Arena after the rolling pin throw)

12:30 p.m.: Register for 4-H dog care and grooming (Riley home)

1 p.m.: Judging for 4-H dog care and grooming (Riley home)

1:30 p.m.: Snack attack walk (patio)

2 p.m.: Live Auction

2-3 p.m.: Register and submit entries for chile contest (Cowboy Hall)

3 p.m.: Pet Parade (Patio); chile contest judging (Cowboy Hall)

3:30 p.m.: Grandma’s Pot Shop annual Cluck n’ Run (Bosque Farms Sports Complex)

6 p.m.: BFRA Rodeo

BOSQUE FARMS — If things go as planned, the toad races will be live streamed this year.

In its 86th year, the Bosque Farms Community Fair — the longest running community fair in the country — is adding some new technology so spectators can observe the hottest race of the year.

“We’re going to broadcast the toad races hopefully on Facebook and stream it at the site so people can see them outside of the ring,” said Bosque Farms Fair board president Aaron Ashley. “We’re going to try to do the same for some things on Saturday for the seniors and others out on the patio.”

The toad races kick off at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 1, with plenty of fun on Saturday, including the parade, pancake breakfast, kid’s bingo, money and corn pits, greased pole climbing and much more.

Saturday starts at 8:30 a.m. with the parade on West Bosque Loop to the Bosque Farms Rodeo Arena.

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The parade marshals this year are the Milton Torres family — Milton, wife, Denise, and their three children, Desiree, Matthew and Tori. The Torres’ are the owners of Fiesta Tents.

The family has lived in the village for more than 32 years. Milton has been a part of Little League and coached at Valencia High School for more than 15 years.

If you’re looking to stroll slowly and look at shiny and colorful objects, the car show will be going from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

During Saturday, there will be plenty to munch on, thanks to the 10 food trucks making an appearance, and Marble Brewery will be out both days, serving adult beverages.

The kids can stay busy in the corn and money pits, try their hand at pole fishing and Los Lunas Parks and Rec is bringing its climbing wall out from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

There will be a snack attack walk in the afternoon, plus a corn hole competition for those with the gift of good aim.

Laura McCann with New Mexico Raptors is returning to the fair with her live, non-releasable ambassador birds of prey.

While there will be many traditional fun activities at the fair, Ashley said the board decided to try something new this year — a silent auction.

The silent auction will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday in Cowboy Hall.

The items will be available for viewing on Friday, but the bidding won’t start until Saturday. All items are new and will have a reserve price that must be met with required bid increments based on the items value.

The traditional live auction will be start at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Winners can pay for items using cash or a debit or credit card for both the live and silent auctions.

Ashley said the main focus of the fair is to provide a friendly, free event for the community.

“We want to keep it as free as possible for families,” he said. “Most of the events are free, but some do require a quarter.”

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The women’s rolling pin throw is one of the old-school competitions at the Bosque Farms Community Fair. Come out this weekend — Friday, Aug. 1 and Saturday, Aug. 2 — to race a toad, chuck a rolling pin and climb a greased pole.

Ashley said the fair wouldn’t happen without the myriad of volunteers who are “the blood behind the system. They keep it flowing and going. They’re an awesome and we’re always looking for more volunteers who want to jump in. It’s getting bigger and bigger every year.”

If you want to lend a hand at next year’s fair, send an email to bosquefarmsfair@gmail.com and organizers promise they will put you to work. For more information about this year’s fair, visit bosquefarmsfair.com.

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