PORT ANGELES — Despite the “Party ‘Til the Cows Come Home” theme of the 2013 Clallam County Fair, horses have taken over the fair, with equine events featured each day.
The grandstand will have horses all day today, beginning with the 4-H Western Games and followed by this year’s featured entertainment, three shows from Cavallo Equestrian Arts, a traditional trick-riding troupe that is new to the Clallam County Fair.
“Two years ago, we had jousting, but this is the first time we’ve had this show,” said Shari Ioffrida, fair manager.
The free show, titled “Ma’Ceo,” features the Ocala, Fla.-based Zoppe-Zamperla family, which has been performing with horses since the 1840s.
“Ma’Ceo” performers use strong, steady horses as platforms for gymnastics, juggling acts and trick riding.
“It’s really exciting,” Ioffrida said.
The show is free with fair entry and will be at 3 p.m., 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the grandstand.
The 4-H Western Games, which begin at 9 a.m. today, also at the grandstand, are a combination of events that test the coordination of horse and rider in events such as barrel racing and pole bending.
Stars of the show
Horses are also the stars of the show at the Clallam County Rodeo, as roping horses dig in to capture loose steers, cutting horses separate cattle and keep them separated, and broncs show their stuff — with a little help from their cowboys and cowgirls.
The rodeo begins at 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday at the grandstand.
Youth and 4-H horse events are held at the horse show arena behind the horse barns.
The shows includes Western Performance at 9 a.m. Saturday, miniature horses at 10 a.m. Sunday and a horse trail competition at 12:30 p.m. Sunday.
A few of the horse-related events involve even more fun and imagination.
Horse costumes
A 4-H horse costume class, a show event that features both fancy and silly horse and rider costumes, will be held at 4 p.m. Sunday.
That will be followed at 5 p.m. by a horse and rider pie-eating contest.
Sunday’s horse events include miniature horses, a horse costume class and a horse and rider pie-eating contest.
The draft horse pull, a contest of strength and training for the largest breeds of horses and mules, was held Thursday.
The four-day fair continues through Sunday.
Today’s schedule
At the Wilder Auto Community Stage, Night Beats will take the stage at noon, the Brian Ledbetter Magic Show will perform at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., and shows by Petty Fever, a Tom Petty tribute band, will begin at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Sunny Farms Center Stage acts will be the Eden Valley Strummers at 11 a.m., Luck of the Draw at 1 p.m., Roberto the Magnificent at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Shady Grove at 5 p.m.
Saturday
Saturday’s main event will be the Logging Show at noon at the grandstand.
The Wilder Auto Community Stage will open with the Olympic Mountain Cloggers at 11 a.m., and entertainment will continue with the Sweet Adelines at noon, Retro Guys at 2 p.m., the Aaron Crowford Country Band at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and Brian Ledbetter Magic at 6 p.m.
Sunny Farms Center Stage will feature the Olympic Men’s Chorus at 11 a.m., String Theory at 1 p.m., Roberto the Magnificent at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m., and Retro Guys at 5 p.m.
Sunday
The final day of the fair is scheduled to end with applause and bows, including the third annual Variety & Talent Show at 2 p.m. at the Wilder Auto Community Stage.
The talent show usually includes a wide variety of acts, including singers, dancers, musicians, magicians and bands.
One local veterinarian will kiss a pig at 1:30 p.m. at the sheep and swine arena.
To vote for a veterinarian, drop a donation of any amount in a voting box in the swine barn at any time during the fair.
The veterinarian who receives the highest dollar amount in donations, which will go to scholarships for graduating 4-H seniors, will be selected to kiss one of the pigs in the 4-H barn.
Two acts will fill out the final day on the Wilder Auto Community Stage: the Happy Soles dancers at noon and the Hodori Little Tigers’ Korean Martial Arts Demonstration at 5:30 p.m.
Sunny Farms Center Stage’s last acts will be the Young Fiddlers at 11 a.m. and Guardian Elephant at 1 p.m. and 4 p.m.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
