Carnival & Fair News

With an extensive carnival from Helm and Sons, the annual, eagerly awaited Demolition Derby, and a wide array of main stage entertainment acts, the 73rd edition of the Yuma County Fair lived up to its theme of “Create Memories and Build Dreams.”

Running April 1st through 6th, fair admission was priced at $7 for adults ages 13 and up, and $5 for kids ages 6-12, with those under age 5 admitted free. Carnival ride wristbands were available for pre-sale at $35 for unlimited rides, and $55 for an express pass avoiding lines, a savings of $20 each over pricing once the fair began.

Helm and Sons utilized Magic Money to pay for rides, midway concessions, and games, such as the popular basketball toss. New this year was the shows iconic Lambrink 33m Dutch Wheel, the Diamond Wheel. Also new: thrill rides such as the expansive and spooky two-story dark ride Conjuring, based on the horror movies; the Star Wars-themed Star Fighter, and Hyperdrive.



Helm and Sons regularly sets up a stage on the midway, featuring performances, music, game shows, and giveaways. At The Carnival Game Show, staff awarded prizes to participating contestants such as unlimited ride wristbands for the entire family. An advance ticket giveaway allowed lucky winners to walk through the fair, play games, taste some food, and ride a few rides before the fair's official opening. Working with the Saguaro Foundation, the carnival also offered developmentally disabled guests the chance for a visit on Special Friends Day, held on Monday April 3rd.

The carnival company brought multiple roller coasters this year, each located at different positions on the midway: Plur, Olympic Bob Sled, and the Big Splash Flume. Along with other popular thrill rides such as Wave Swinger, Rampage, Zipper, and Alien Abduction, a separate Tiny Tots area featuring 8 different rides, including the popular Cool Bears, drew the youngest fairgoers. Kids of all ages enjoyed a row of photo booths. And speaking of photos, the carnival added special new photo op areas this year, including the new Instagram-ready Eiffel Tower.

As to games, the midway included Ring a Bottle, Break A Bottle, balloon darts, a shooting game, water race, basketball throw, the arm strength-tester Hangman, and Gator Dome, a clever twist on the traditional kids' duck pond game featuring cute plastic alligators.

Along with the new carnival rides, this year's Yuma County Fair offered a new, wider, and more convenient layout that provided more ample walkways for guests to enjoy strolling and exploring the fair. Fair Board President Devon McPherson says that this year “has been a monumental year of change and growth as we have finalized the carnival relocation project, the new parking lots, and the completion of our new commercial building, The Legacy Event Center.” The latter structure has been in progress for over two years.

For some fairgoers, food rather than rides brought thrills, with carne asada fries from Papas, mix and match flavor slushies laced with candy mixes from the Freeze Zone, freshly squeezed lemonade and corndogs from The Lemonade Stand, candy apples and cotton candy from the Cotton Candy Wagon. Funnel cakes in a wide variety of flavors were also a popular treat, as was corn on the cob, Sonoran hot dogs, and from the commercial building, a giant cinnamon roll.


As always, the Yuma County Fair included strolling acts, performances on Guido's family stage and on the main stage, and plenty of agriculture exhibits from rabbits and poultry to sheep, swine, and of course, steers. Two siblings, Jett and Jessi Hancock, took home the top prizes for showing market beef. In all, the 2025 Junior Livestock large animal auction auctioned off almost 400 animals on Saturday.

Besides the animals themselves, the livestock area was also the location of a fair tradition, an animal costume parade with participants dressed as everything from a sheep in a ballet costume to a cow dressed up as a shark.

There were also open entries for photography, art, floral, cooking, sewing, and baking projects, along with a wide range of commercial vendors.

But perhaps most anticipated of all was the Demolition Derby. The event was sold out this year for the annual fair-favorite event, which took place on Wednesday. The Derby was a local affair, with Yuma County Fair organizers seeking drivers ready to battle during the high-energy metal-crunching event. Participants received trophies and cash prizes including a $1000 grand prize, while testing their driving skills and earning bragging rights.

This year's winner, Trent Rico, also took first place last year, “This is probably the fourth or fifth time doing this. We went back-to-back. Last year we won, and we did it again this year…” Rico enthused.

And the fair also continued to show its support for a variety of community organizations, offering scholarships to local high school students. Nine students were recognized in all, including Carol Meade, who received this year's $5000 Addison Scholarship.

As to music, main stage acts included the Doo Wah Riders oldie greats, the rocking Faux Fighters tribute act, country favorite Easton Corbin, as well as La Kana, Checker'd Past, and Southbound and Company. Meanwhile, on Guido's Family Stage, fair attendees enjoyed entertainment such as Marcus - Funny Man Who Does Tricks, Michael Mezmer's “iMAGIKnation,” and The Perceptives! “Magic of the Mind!”



Strolling acts included Lanky the Clown, Steve's Fun Balloons, street magician Auzzie le Rue, and The Tiki Shack which provided strolling beach music tunes. Juggling variety act The Ice Cream Comedy Cycle, Megan the Bubbleologist, and Willy's Washboard Jamboree added to the roving entertainment.

Also on the grounds, guests could watch the exciting Birdman avian show; or take in science-themed attractions including the interactive Wild Science or the comedic Professor Smart's Science School in the Theatre Building.

Elsewhere, guests took a swing at the fairgrounds' free miniature golf attraction, Patrick's Putt Putt Adventure, while young kids gravitated to the fair's Freckles Petting Zoo and Pony Rides. These were all returning attractions.

While attendance numbers are not yet in, attendance was robust, with the fair expecting to top last year's attendance figures. Helm and Sons reports that the “midway was packed;” the fair board's McPherson thanks fairgoers “for choosing the Yuma County Fair to create memories that will last a lifetime.”