Blaine County Fair is moving in as Paleto Bay Fair is Canceled.

BLAINE COUNTY — Preparations are in their final stages for the annual Blaine County Fair, which organizers say will be the largest iteration of the event in recent memory. The fairgrounds, set against the foothills, will host tractor pulls, asphalt racing, derby racing, and a demolition derby across the multi-day event, alongside food vendors, craft and trade booths, and on-site RV campgrounds for out-of-town attendees.

The fair will conclude each night with a fireworks display launched from barges anchored on the Alamo Sea, visible from much of the surrounding county. County officials have advised residents near the shoreline to expect road closures and increased traffic along the access routes during the display windows, and have asked boaters to steer clear of the marked exclusion zone on the water during launch hours.

Drivers are also being warned to plan around the racing schedule. The nearby highway will see intermittent closures throughout the fair to accommodate the asphalt and derby racing events. Transportation officials say the closures are expected to back up traffic significantly along the corridor during peak hours, and have urged commuters to seek alternate routes or adjust travel times where possible for the duration of the fair.

"This is Blaine County doing what Blaine County does best," said a fair committee spokesperson reached by phone. "Tractors, derbies, and something loud in the sky to end the night. We're expecting a big turnout — and yes, we know Route 68 is going to be a mess. We appreciate everyone's patience."

Sponsors for this year's fair include Burgershot, CNT, Globe Oil, WZ News, Sprunk, and several additional both regional and local businesses. Proceeds from the event will benefit Guns 4 Kidz, a charity providing recreational shooting programs for county youth.

Paleto Bay Fair Cancelled Amid Funding Shortfall

In a separate development, the long-running Paleto Bay Fair has been cancelled for the year, according to a brief statement issued by Paleto Bay's event coordinating office. The statement cited "unforeseen budget shortfalls" as the reason for the cancellation, though it offered few specifics.

Sources familiar with the matter told Weazel News that the shortfall stemmed in part from a disputed insurance claim following storm damage to the fairgrounds' main pavilion earlier this year, which the town had budgeted to repair using funds already committed to this year's event. With the claim still under review and no repair funds available, organizers said they were left without a usable venue and no way to cover the difference.

Residents have also raised questions after learning that a portion of Paleto Bay's discretionary event funding was redirected earlier this year toward the Blaine County Fair.

"We were told the money would come back before fair season," one Paleto Bay vendor said. "Now we're hearing there's no fair at all."

Weazel News has reached out to both the Blaine County Fair committee and Paleto Bay officials for further comment on the funding transfer and will update this story as more information becomes available.

Separately, Weazel News has learned that several Grapeseed property owners, including members of the O'Neil family, received compensation from fair organizers in exchange for allowing portions of their land to be used for event overflow and race-adjacent infrastructure. Neither the fair committee nor the O'Neils responded to requests for comment on the terms of the arrangements or the amounts involved.

Neighbors in Grapeseed have expressed mixed reactions to the deals. "Nobody told the rest of us anything was happening back there until the trucks showed up," said one resident who declined to be named. Others said they were unbothered, noting the fair has historically brought business to the area.