GOSHEN COUNTY – The area will host a carnival this year, but not during the Goshen County Fair. Fair manager Stephanie Lofink announced Sun Valley Rides – the same carnival found at the Scotts Bluff County Fair in Mitchell, Neb. every year – will set up in Torrington in conjunction with the first-ever Fiesta de Salsa July 20-21.
The multicultural event will feature the following contests: salsa-tasting and eating, chile-eating and fiesta flower pot. In addition, residents can take in a chile and tomato show, Chihuahua races, goat roping, timed event rodeo, music, dancers and car show during the two-day celebration.
Tacos, enchiladas, nachos, tortillas, carnitas and empanadas will be served, and attendees of age can enjoy margaritas, sangria and cervesa. A garden market, including fresh eggs, will also be available.
Lofink said the fair board has “fought for years” to secure a carnival during the Goshen County Fair and, in 2018, made the decision to host the carnival earlier in the summer.
“We have Sun Valley Rides under contract,” she explained. “(The carnival) will have to be separate (from the fair). Since we didn’t just want a carnival, we decided to start a multicultural event in conjunction with the carnival. Our goal is to sell lots of carnival bracelets – any funds generated from the carnival being here is money we can put towards the fair budget.”
Lofink said Sun Valley Rides is an extremely reliable enterprise and offers updated equipment.
“It’s hard to get past the nostalgia and tradition of the carnival being with the fair,” she said, but added it was necessary for the board to move forward. “I actually probably have 80 percent of commitments already for Fiesta de Salsa, for the contests and vendors.”
The 2018 Goshen County Fair is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 4 through Saturday, Aug. 11.
“We did not increase ticket rates, we’re just trying to work a little bit smarter and decrease what we spend rather than decrease in days,” Lofink said. “It’s pretty much the same format … just Saturday to Saturday – and the schedule moved forward (one) week.”
The local fair will not interfere with Wyoming State Fair, which is now officially scheduled for Aug. 15-18.
