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MontanaFair 2015
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MontanaFair 2015
Appearing at Montana’s largest Beer Garden inside Rimrock Auto Arena at MontanaFair Tuesday, August 11 – Saturday, August 15 Daily from 4pm – 9pm #100YearsOfFun
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MontanaFair History 1916 was the start of something spectacular— it was the year of the first Midland Empire Fair. This fair promised to have the finest agricultural, livestock and industrial exhibits ever seen. The Midland Empire Fair brought together communities from all over Montana and Northern Wyoming. This allowed people to show off their projects they had been working on all year in hopes of winning a blue ribbon and some recognition. With great excitement for this new endeavor, the fair board made special arrangements with the Northern Pacific Railroad to run a train from the depot to the fairgrounds. This arrangement gave special rates for riders of the train to travel back and forth from the fair to home. With great success the fair continued to grow over the years but in 1919, it was bigger and even more elaborate than years prior. This 4th annual fair had several counties of Northern Wyoming involved in showing exhibits and livestock. Wyoming recognized that the Midland Empire Fair was a great advertising tool in the northwest. Midland Empire Fair housed the finest livestock in the region and people traveled from all over. Soon, Montana started becoming known as a state in which purebred livestock was a specialty. Not only were there exhibits and livestock but also the attractions of horseracing and rodeo. The annual horserace drew in thousands and the rodeo brought in cowboys from all over the nation. Both types of riders competed for the largest purses rewarded to winners. The fair was a destination for exhibitors and a place where all the citizens from different counties could exchange helpful advice. They were able to discuss what worked for them and why as well as explain what didn’t work.
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Midland Empire Fair Banner The Yellowstone June 1929
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After having the name Midland Empire Fair for nearly 60 years, the fair board decided it was time for a name change and rebranded the fair as the Yellowstone Exhibition. The board felt that changing the name would help those that weren’t really sure what or where the Midland Empire was. Having Yellowstone in the name made the area more distinguishable. Also, they used exhibition instead of exposition because Great Falls used that in their name. In 1969 came a great tragedy when the original Midland Empire Auditorium burned down. Though it was sad to see it go, the board used it as an opportunity to create a new facility that could be used year round and host more events than just an annual fair. Seven years later, the Metra was constructed. The name Metra came from an acronym for Montana Entertainment Trade and Recreation Arena. The Yellowstone Exhibition lasted about for about 14 years until transitioning in to the MontanaFair that we have today here at MetraPark. Although the name has changed, the event still stays true to the original mission of celebrating agriculture and education and has become the largest event in Montana with 250,000 visitors annually. For information about all events at MontanaFair, please visit MontanaFair.com.
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MontanaFair 2015
AWOLNATION’s hit single “Sail,” is the second longest charting song in the Billboard Hot 100’s 55-year history. “Sail” isn’t the bands only chart topping hit; AWOLNATION currently has two other songs in the Billboard U.S. Rock chart top 15. “I’m On Fire” comes from the Fifty Shades of Grey Original Motion Picture Soundtrack and Hollow Moon (Bad Wolf) from the new studio album RUN. Denmark natives, New Politics, self-titled debut album hit the scene in 2010. The album yielded MontanaFair Line Up raucous hit single “Yeah Yeah Yeah” #100YearsOfFun at MontanaFair and the band embarked on tour kicks off Friday, August 7, when Multi- for nearly two years with the likes Platinum selling, Los Angeles based of 30 Seconds To Mars and Neon Indie Rock band AWOLNATION rocks Trees. In 2013, the band released the stage with Danish Alternative their sophomore album A Bad Girl Rock trio New Politics. In Harlem which features singles “Harlem” and “Stuck On You.” Get ready for #100YearsOfFun at MontanaFair August 7-15, 2015. This year’s fair theme is celebrating the centennial of Montana’s largest event. Entertainment will abound in the arena, the grandstands, and throughout the grounds. Montanans, as well as people from around the region, will be showing off their best efforts and vying for that blue ribbon. The Mighty Thomas Carnival will once again present the MontanaFair midway.
The BreakfasT exchange cluB Is proud to partner wIth Metra park.
Proceeds generated from beer concessions at Metra Park have been contributed to the community since 1967.
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MontanaFair 2015
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MontanaFair Line Up
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Saturday, August 8, will be a night to remember as legendary rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd returns with a fiery slice of Southern style guitar rock heaven with iconic Blue Öyster Cult. Lynyrd Skynyrd is led by core members Gary Rossington (guitar), Johnny Van Zant (vocals) and Rickey Medlock (guitar), Skynyrd continues to build on the legacy that began over 35 years ago in Jacksonville, Florida. Lynyrd Skynyrd is a band of today, carrying a steely mantle forged in the sweaty confines of the Hell House in Jacksonville decades earlier. There’s a reason this is one of the most beloved bands of all time. Blue Öyster Cult (BÖC) has been thrilling fans of intelligent hard rock worldwide with powerful albums loaded with classic songs. Upon the release of BÖC’s self-titled debut album in 1972, the band was praised for its catchy-yet-heavy music and lyrics that could be provocative, terrifying, funny, or ambiguous, often all in the same song. BÖC’s canon includes three stone-cold classic songs that will waft through the cosmos long after the sun has burned out: The truly haunting “(Don’t Fear) The Reaper,” the pummeling “Godzilla,” and the hypnotically melodic “Burnin’ for You.” Sunday evening, August 9, has country music star Martina McBride hitting the stage with Brett Eldredge to round out the slate of MontanaFair
concerts. The Country Music Association named Martina McBride its Female Vocalist of the Year four times. The Academy of Country Music presented her with its Top Female honor three times. To date, she has had 20 top-10 hits and six No. 1 smashes. As a result, Martina McBride is ranked as the most played woman vocalist on country radio between 1999 and 2010. Her hit records have included such enduring classics as “Wild Angels,” “Safe in the Arms of Love,” “Wrong Again,” “Blessed,” “My Baby Loves Me,” “Life #9,” “Love’s the Only House,” “Whatever You Say,” “Where Would You Be,” “In My Daughter’s Eyes,” “When God Fearin’ Women Get the Blues,” and “A Broken Wing.” Country up-and-comer Brett Eldredge’s debut album Bring You Back features hit singles “Don’t Ya,” “Beat of the Music,” and “Mean To Me” which climbed to the top of the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart and Mediabase/Country Aircheck chart this past March. The only country artist cited as one of People Magazine’s “Ones To Watch,” Eldredge has enjoyed recent performances on Today, Live with Kelly & Michael, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and Late Night with Seth Myers. Eldredge will be joining Darius Rucker on his Southern Style tour before his trip to MontanaFair.
On Tuesday, August 11, Supercross will heat up the track at the Grandstands. Produced for MontanaFair by the Billings Motorcycle Club, contestants will navigate a tortuous track and catch some big air. Each year the Billings Motorcycle Club outdoes themselves by building a bigger and better track, and they’ll have their work cut out for them this year. The Yellowstone River Roundup PRCA Rodeo will cap off the MontanaFair evening entertainment with performances on August 13, 14, and 15 in the Grandstands. The Roundup has raised the bar each year and has been honored for three consecutive years by the PRCA and WPRA for continued improvements and the condition of the rodeo grounds. Tickets are available at the MetraPark Box Office, Leslie’s Hallmark in Rimrock Mall, by phone at 406.256.2422 or toll free at 800.366.8538, and online at MontanaFair.com and MetraPark.com. Concert tickets are priced at $45 and $35 for reserved seats and $25 for general admission seating. SuperCross and Rodeo tickets are priced at $28 and $25 for reserved, $18 for general admission, $14 for kids ages 6-12 years in general admission seating. All arena concerts and grandstand performances begin at 7 p.m. except Supercross which begins at 6 p.m.
Lynyrd Skynyrd
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MontanaFair 2015
Get the ValuPass
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MontanaFair’s bigg est bargain, the Va luPass, is priced at $59. The pass includes gene ral admission seating for each of the seven ticketed evening events plus gate ad mission for all nine days of MontanaFair. Show s in the ValuPass m upgraded to rese ay be rved seats on an in dividual basis. Gate admission fo r MontanaFair is $8 for adults and $5 for kids 6-12 ye ars of age or peop le 65 and older.
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Buy Early and Sa
rips of 8 purchased in st Tickets can be fair begins. $32 before the r fo s on si is m in strips ad n be purchased ca s et ck ti e id R ckets. Carnival take multiple ti es d ri t os M 0. of 60 for $4
Sunday, August 9
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Martina McBride
MontanaFair 2015
Brett Eldredge
Congratulations Montana Fair 100 Years of Bringing Fun to Billings From your friends at Sysco
#100YearsOfFun
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Free Entertainment on the Grounds
of the audience on the edge of their seat biting their nails and curling their toes. This exhibit is sure to be an educational experience for the whole family. Performing nightly on the Patio Stage will be a long time MontanaFair favorite – The Bad Larrys. Their repertoire includes everything from Johnny Cash, Steve Earle, Junior Brown, Southern Culture on the Skids, Simon & Garfunkel, Lyle Lovett, Jerry Garcia, David Grisman, Corb Lund, Greg Brown, and even some countrified Aerosmith, Queen, and Beyonce. Their signature sound features tight vocal harmonies with amusing and often off-beat story telling. The Bad Larrys are fun enough for the young kids and smart enough for the adults. Adding more fun and excitement to the midway is duo Mango and Dango. This strolling act will wow the audience with breathtaking technical skills and bring laughter and danger together for a pas de deux of chance and circumstance. Taking the Community Stage for one day only is Marty Davis. Marty Davis brings to the stage the color, excitement, and harmony of the stars of the Silver Screen and the singing cowboy era.
the immortal Harry Houdini’s record for the most Water Torture Cell escapes ever performed, which historians and magic aficionados worldwide Free entertainment is included with the purchase estimate to be just over one thousand. Catch the of gate admission and this year’s lineup is hotter show three times daily near the 4th Avenue Stage. than ever! Two other acts that are sure to bring excitement Two Way Crossing will be rocking the Pond to 4th Avenue Stage at MontanaFair are the Stage this year. Blake and Jenny Marvin are the amazing hypnotist Michael Mezmer and comedic powerhouse married duo that makes up this ventriloquist Jim Adams. Michael Mezmer has Nashville based band. Two Way Crossing is new distinguished himself both as a hypnotist and to the 100th MontanaFair. The pop-country couple entertainer. He has received numerous accolades, and their band have been heating things up on including the Rocky Mountain Association of Fair’s stage and rising up the music charts with their “Entertainer Of The Year” and “Entertainment recent single “Deep End.” They bring the energy Division Award” from the Western Fairs and will keep the crowd dancing all night! Association. Jim Adams is recognized as one of the Returning for their second year, acapella group top entertainers and ventriloquists in the nation! Kazual (pronounced Casual) will also perform He uses a cast of colorful characters to create an daily on the Pond Stage. Kazual has opened for unforgettable family experience which delights Destiny’s Child, Nelly, Ginuwine, and even made audiences of all ages. it to the top 40 on America’s Got Talent. With Kachunga and the Alligator Show will be a huge their unique style and mix of R&B, Rock, and Pop, attraction in Kid’s World. The crowd will watch in fairgoers will be blown away! astonishment as Kachunga apprehends a ferocious Escape artist Lady Houdini will have audience man-eating reptile with his bare hands. Kachunga’s members in amazement as she performs some struggle with the alligator will keep each member of the most dangerous stunts. She has broken
Kazual The Bad Larrys
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Kachunga and the Alligator Show MontanaFair 2015
Taste of the Fair
It’s easy to enter online. Just visit MontanaFair.com and click on Let’s involve all of our senses this “Exhibitors”. There you will find all of year at MontanaFair 100 Years Of the handbooks with information on Fun. If it smells good, it’s got to taste what you can enter. Once you decide delicious! Join us to experience “the on your categories, just click on the sense of taste” at this year’s Taste of “Enter Now” button and the simple the Fair. This is an exciting new event system will guide you through online happening Wednesday, August 12 at entry. For help and advice or simply MontanaFair located in both the food more information about exhibiting at court area behind the Grandstands MontanaFair, please contact Connie and in the Rimrock Auto Arena from Watts at 406.256.2410 or 4 to 8 p.m. During this time, fairgoers cwatts@metrapark.com. will be able to taste a variety of fair food items as well as sample the winning BBQ from our MontanaFair BBQ competitors. While you’re there, visit the Budweiser World Beer Tour as well as the always impressive Budweiser Clydesdales! MontanaFair is moving full steam ahead with a re-imagined Youth Expo. New this year is the “EXPLORIUM”. We are setting the stage in the main arena exhibit hall as a destination for young people to explore, discover, and connect with art, handmade crafts, and to top it all off – Lego Building and Contests! Kids can enter the Explorium in Show Your Stuff at several divisions. Starting with Wild & MontanaFair Wonderful Wings, a division with Blue Win cash prizes, blue ribbons or Ribbon Kids (5 years & younger), 6-10 those coveted bragging rights by year olds and 11-12 year olds. Kids “showing your stuff at MontanaFair” can enter their creation of a favorite August 7-15. Now is the time to winged wonder. They can let their begin planning for your entry, imagination go wild with materials especially since anyone is eligible and such as papier-mâché, fabric, foam, everyone is encouraged to enter. water bottles, or recycled items. MontanaFair has an exhibitor Entries will be displayed from the category for everyone and at every ceiling. experience level including: Fine Creative Critters will accept entries Arts, Photography, Decorative in all three age groups by making Arts, Horticulture, Heritage a sculpture of their favorite insect Arts, Needlework, Culinary Arts, using items of their choice. My Book Collections, Youth Art, and Livestock. Buddy brings out the creative side of Did you get an exceptional shot of kids as they make a costume for their the sunset during your vacation? favorite plush toy to make it look like Exhibit it in the photography their favorite character in a book. department! Bake a tasty apple pie? They include the book with their Compete in Culinary Arts! Scrap plush animal for judging. Both the toy booking, quilts, collections, leather and the book will be returned to the work, woodwork, flowers, artwork, kids at the end of MontanaFair. animals, legos, crops, home brewed What is better at the fair than beer, graphic design, and more can almost anything else? THE FOOD! be entered. Fair Foodies is for kids to pick their favorite fair food and make
MontanaFair 2015
a sculpture of it. This should be interesting! We can’t forget the technical side. The Kid’s Cell Phone Photo Contest will allow kids to enter a photo of their favorite experience at the fair and have it displayed for judging until the last day of the fair while the Kid’s Creative Writing divisions will let kids enter a short story or poem in the competition. To top it all off, we’ve added a Lego Extravaganza! The Lego division will include a Lego Build Competition for exhibits built before the fair while the The Lego Extravaganza will have contests during the fair for age groups 10 & under, 11 & over, and a Family/Team Build division. It will conclude with the Tournament of Champions Lego Contest on the last day of the fair, Saturday, August 15th. Bricks & Minifigs will display some of the largest Lego build models and conduct MontanaFair’s first Lego Derby!
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Be a Star on the Community Stage Calling all singers, dancers, rockers, magicians, comedians, jugglers and more; put your act on center stage at MontanaFair! Local and regional acts can showcase their talents on the Montana Army National Guard Community Stage during MontanaFair. All ages and talents are invited to perform in half-hour time slots. Located near the main fair entrance, the community stage is often the first thing people see and hear when they enter and exit the fair. No experience is necessary. To apply to perform on the Community Stage, contact Superintendent Sandy Wong at 406.855.4829 or at communitystage@gmail.com.
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