• Maria Montaño of Nogales, age 5, takes the wheel at a bumper car. Photo by Dave Lumia
  • Nine-year-old twins Jane and Josephine Kevelson of Tucson float across the Sonoita sky at the County Fair last weekend. Photo by Dave Lumia
  • Peyton Bell, Henry the mischievous steer, Garret Bell and Avery Bell of Patagonia. Photo by Pat McNamara
  • Prize winners at the fair. Photo by Marion Vendituoli
  • Santiago (age 6) and Elias Yanez (age 7) of Patagonia float skywards. Photo by Dave Lumia
  • Brooke Gummo, of Elgin, holds her calico pinto rooster with Rydia Fennell, of Sonoita who holds her lavender cochin bantam chicken in the 4-H small stock tent at the fair. Photo by Marion Vendituoli
  • A young girl scrubs her sister’s pig before the livestock auction Sunday at the fair. Photo by Marion Vendituoli
  • 10-year-old Brooke Gummo kneels next to her broad breasted bronze turkey before the auction. “Turkeys are really nice if you spend time with them,” she said. Photo by Marion Vendituoli
  • Amaya Catriz, age 2, of Rio Rico, enjoys a ride at the fair. Photo by Dave Lumia
  • Brynlynn Fimbres of Sierra Vista, age 3, goes for a drive at the fair. Photo by Dave Lumia

Last weekend’s 2025 Santa Cruz County Fair at the Sonoita Fairgrounds set an attendance record.

And no wonder.

With the art exhibits from local participants, culinary exhibits and competitions, high school bands, carnival rides, food, 4-H and FFA livestock competitions and various other demonstrations, the fair had plenty to keep the public engaged.

A monsoon storm on Friday evening resulted in some flooding, leading to the postponement of several livestock competitions. But the weather improved the next two days, allowing participants and spectators to enjoy the many activities, exhibits, rides and vendors.

New to the fair this year was a demolition derby in the main arena. The Saturday evening event drew a standing room only crowd, with many local families bringing their children for the noise and chaos that only cars bashing into one another can generate. The ‘Sonoita Smash’ was a smash hit.

We’ll have further coverage of the fair, including a list of the competition champions, in the October issue of the PRT.