124th State Fair begins in Reno

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998 | 10:54 a.m.

Those unmistakable aromas started filling the air Tuesday as workers drove in tent stakes and carnival workers readied the midway rides for the 80,000 people expected to attend this year's Nevada State Fair.

The 124th state fair kicks off at the Reno Livestock Events Center Wednesday with five days of activities heavy on family entertainment, from duck races to a flaming high diver.

"It's a bargain for $6 for adults and $4 for kids," said Gary Lubra, the fair's chief executive officer.

Cookie bake-offs, livestock judging, Frisbee-catching dogs and an opening night fireworks display were among the events scheduled Wednesday.

World champion diver Dana Kunze will make dives at least three times a day from an 80-foot tower into an 8-foot pool of water, a first for the state fair.

"This year we have everything from dogs to ducks to divers," said Sarah Chvilicek of Reno, president of the state fair.

"If state fairs are going to stay alive, we have to have something contemporary," said Chvilicek, 38, who grew up attending the Montana State Fair and now coordinates 4-H programs in Washoe County.

While tourists come and go to numerous special events in Reno during the year, the state fair traditionally draws few non-Nevadans, sponsors say.

"We're the one event that specifically does not cater to tourists," fair spokesman Bill Martin said.

"It's 90 percent locals. It's the biggest locals event all year," he said.

The first Nevada State Fair in 1874 was held in a farm field at South Virginia Avenue and Plumb Lane south of downtown Reno. It moved to Fallon in the 1930s and 1940s but returned to Reno after World War II.

Sponsors said they were hoping to improve on last year's attendance of about 75,000 by the time the fair closes Sunday evening.

Thursday is Senior Day with free admission for everyone over 62 and Friday is kids day with free admission for children 12 and under.

Special $16 wristbands give kids all-day access to unlimited rides on the midway, and are available two-for-one on Wednesday and Thursday.

On Tuesday, workers were building fences and getting ready for the Great American Duck Races, which depend on volunteers from the audience to act as jockeys to help herd the ducks down a 16-foot-long track.

One laborer pounding 3-foot-long tent stakes into an asphalt parking lot offered up a special preview of the fun to come but wasn't getting any takers:

"Three swings for a dollar," he barked.