Unofficial end of summer
The sun sets on the opening night of the 2023 Tulelake Butte Valley Fair. Image: Brian Gailey
Growing traditions together
TULELAKE, Calif. - The start of the annual Tulelake Butte Valley Fair marks the unofficial end of summer in the Klamath Basin. On Thursday, the TBV Fair opened the gates to dazzle locals with food, exhibits, rides, and entertainment.
The official tribute band Fleetwood Mask headlined Thursday with the iconic sounds of Stevie Nicks and Fleetwood Mac. Tonight, acclaimed country music superstar Joe Nichols will perform live in concert on the Grandstand Stage. Saturday, the Destruction Derby returns to the grandstands.
Official tickets start times for all events can be found at tbvfair.com.
Fleetwood Mask performs at the 2023 Tulelake Butte Valley Fair. Image: Brian Gailey
Daily free entertainment
Buck Ford, Huckleberry Road, and Twinkle Time Children’s Show are performing all fair long on the main stage. Additional free entertainment includes Cook’s Racing Pigs, Rawhide Express, and the Tumbleweed Ponies.
Nashville recording artist Buck Ford focuses on keeping that authentic country sound mixed in with his modern style edginess. Bucks influences consist of George Strait, Haggard, Mark Chesnutt, Daryle Singletary, and Keith Whiteley, to name a few. Buck and his band pride themselves on their performances, " bringing back to life” that authentic country sound with an edgy, modern new flavor.
Huckleberry Road has been chasing the dream for more than two decades. The band began with lifelong friends Robert Clark (vocals and guitar) and Anthony Vairetta (lead guitar). They developed a seasoned and earth-shaking country rock flavor, and once Dillon Secklin (drums) joined in, the flavor exploded, bursting off the stage and right into people’s ears, leaving them dumbfounded and excited.
Into the bright and colorful world of children’s entertainment shoots Twinkle, a sparkling star who makes children everywhere laugh and learn through the universal language of music! Straight from the heart of Twinkle herself comes Twinkle Time, a bilingual English/Spanish show that fuses education, language, arts, and pop culture into the hottest kids’ phenomenon to hit the scene.
Near the Grandstand, you will find the Cook’s Racing Pigs. See the lightning-fast Pigs race around the track for their Ice Cream and Cookies reward. Pick the winning color, and you win a Blue Ribbon—additional prizes awarded at each show.
Be sure to look for The Rawhide Express when you’re out and about. Hop on at one of the train stops, and Engineer Brandon will give you a tour of the fair. You’ll also be making your feet happy. The Rawhide Express is truly a remarkable electric and solar-powered trackless touring train. The “Environmentally Safe” train emits neither smoke nor fuel odors and carries families in the quiet comfort of their own coach touring around the fairgrounds. The train also has a solar panel charging system so that the batteries remain charged as it is driven around. Klamath Falls News and Basin Beat proudly sponsor the Rawhide Express.
Tumbleweed Ponies return to the TBV Fair with their very gentle, loving ponies with free rides for children under 70 lbs. Visit them over by the horse barns to take a ride with them.
Do not forget about the arts & crafts exhibits and the vendors throughout the grounds.
Parade
The Tulelake Butte Valley Fair Parade is a favorite tradition. It is always the Saturday of the fair and begins at noon. The parade starts at the corner of Main and Modoc Streets before continuing down Main Street until they reach the fairgrounds.
There are categories for individuals, groups, and organizations of all kinds.
Hundreds of spectators from all across Modoc, Klamath, and Siskiyou Counties are expected to come to watch the parade.
Carnival
The Paul Maurer Shows Carnival has once again taken over the grassy southwest corner of the fairgrounds. They have brought over thirty rides and games for your enjoyment. Individual tickets or unlimited carnival wristbands are available at the ticket booths. Don’t forget about the carnival favorite treats too - hand-dipped corndogs, cotton candy, popcorn, candy apples - Paul Maurer Shows have you covered.
Youth Livestock Auction
The fair would not be the fair without the 4-H and FFA animal and non-animal exhibits. All weekend, showmen are prepping their animals to find out just who will become the Grand Champion and be first at auction.
The Youth Livestock Auction will be inside the Jock’s Sale Pavilion on Sunday. The building will come alive at 2:00 PM. The Tulelake Rotary Club extends invitations for all to attend the auction; Sunday is family day, with free admission and free parking - all are welcome.
“We truly appreciate your time and dedication to supporting the youth of the 10-A Agriculture District. During an especially challenging year, we are grateful for your unwavering commitment to the past, present, and future of our communities. We are looking forward to seeing lots of familiar and new faces at this year’s Rotary Junior Livestock Auction,” states the Tulelake-Butte Valley Joint Junior Livestock Auction Committee
Fair hours and admission
General admission (ages 6+): $4.00/day or $10.00/season pass
Friday, Sept. 8 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Saturday, Sept 9 - 10:00 AM - 11:00 PM
Sunday, Sept 10 - 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM (Family Day - no admission fee)
Parking: Free
There is much more to see and do at the annual summer-end tradition. Visit TBVFair.com for more info, or better yet, take the short drive to Tulelake and experience all the fun for yourself.
We will see you at the fair.
