To: Board of County Commissioners
Through: Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
Prepared By:
prepared
Matt Bixenman, Fairground Site Manager, Open Spaces; Glen Poole, Operations Manager, Open Spaces; Gini Pingenot, Director, Open Spaces
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presenter
Presenter: Matt Bixenman, Fairground Site Manager, Open Spaces
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Subject:
title
2:00 PM *2026 Fair Debrief and Proposed 2027 Fair Changes
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Purpose and Request:
recommended action
Open Spaces Fairgrounds staff will present 2026 Fair recap and recommendations for key operational changes to the 2027 Fair. Staff seeks the Board’s feedback on recommended changes.
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Alignment with Strategic Plan: Good Governance - Understand and respond to community needs, interests, and values.
Background and Discussion: The Arapahoe County Fair attracts thousands of visitors from around the region each year. The event showcases the County’s agricultural and western heritage through 4-H programming, traditional farming and educational activities, and entertainment for the whole family. Gate entry tickets include event parking, unlimited carnival rides, Colorado Pro Rodeo Association sanctioned rodeos, firework or drone shows (weather and fire restrictions permitting), live entertainment, National Sled Pullers Association truck & tractor pulls, Globe of Death Show, mutton bustin’, public competitions, petting farm, 4-H livestock shows, Kids Corral and more.
The County Fair is financially supported through annual Fair operations and supplemented, when necessary, by the Fairgrounds Event Center Revenue Net Income fund. Open Spaces Sales and Use Tax collections cannot support the annual County Fair per the Open Space Resolution. The only Non- Sales and Use Tax Revenue available to help the Fair is the Fairgrounds Event Center Rental Revenue fund. In 2026, there was a transfer of $104,639 from the Fairgrounds Event Center Rental Revenue fund to support additional event expenses and anticipated financial lo...
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