Those who go to the New Mexico State Fair don't get to watch the celebrity goat-milking contest this year, but there isn't a shortage of attractions.
Concerts, art exhibits, sheep sheering, extreme-sports shows, midway rides and rodeos are being offered this year. Fair coordinators are hoping the attractions will bring in enough people to top last year's attendance of 712,247.
Veronica Valencia, media relations director, said simplifying the ticket prices is one way they hope to draw more people.
"Last year we had a variety of prices," she said. "It was a little confusing. So, this year we made it just one price."
Admission is $5 for adults and $3 for children and seniors. There will also be $2 Tuesdays - two bucks for parking and two bucks for admission. Some food vendors will also offer $2 items.
The state fair is celebrating 121 years as the biggest annual event in New Mexico, and for the first time, it will run during Labor Day weekend.
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"Hopefully this is going to attract a lot more out-of-state visitors," Valencia said.
There are also three "Super Spectaculars" being held daily this year. These events include the Xtreme Air stunt show, which Valencia described as "acrobatic skateboarding." Winn's Thrills of the Universe and a performing cats-and-dogs show fill out the bill.
This year brings big-name concert acts to Tingley Coliseum. Clay Aiken starts off the series on Friday. Reba McEntire, Kenny Rogers and B.B. King are also in the lineup. Country-western artists like Jessica Andrews, Emerson Drive and SheDaisy will perform Sept. 10 - 16 following the rodeos.
If tuition and book costs are a damper on disposable income, students can take advantage of free music daily at the Ford Pavilion, Villa Hispa§a Stage, Indian Village and African American Pavilion.
For the deep-fried Twinkie fans, Valencia said just when you think nothing else can be deep-fried, the man who makes them comes up with something new.
"This year he is talking about doing deep-fried cookie dough," she said.
On Sept. 14 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Avenue of the Governors, UNM will participate in Celebra la Ciencia, funded by the National Science Foundation. Among other businesses, the chemistry department, the chemical and nuclear engineering department, the college enrichment program and KNME-TV will be involved. The bilingual activities will provide hands-on science and technical experiments for children.
UNM will also be involved in "Pathways to College and Careers Day" Sept. 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. More than 20 UNM departments are collaborating with the New Mexico Commission on Higher Education for this event. There will be 60 booths with exhibitors from universities from all over the Southwest and people on hand to answer questions. Activities during the day include demonstrations, non-invasive health assessments and entertainment. Most booths will also give away free stuff.
For those who visit the fair just for the rides, more than 60 of them occupy the 50-acre midway.
