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FuN For kidS
All Creatures Great & Small
Petting Zoo
Here’s the one place on the grounds where
kids can touch the animals all they want—and
feed them, too! All Creatures Great and Small
is located right next to McDonald’s Farm. An
honest to goodness hands-on educational
experience for children and adults. Feed is
available for purchase– have the animals eat
right out of your hand.
Location: Behind Lujan C and the Red
Barn, just south of McDonald’s Farm.
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
AgVentureland
Brand NEW to this year’s New Mexico State
Fair, AgVentuerland is an interactive and
educational agricultural exhibit featuring
agricultural themed hands-on activities, pedal
tractor area, and crafts. Ten colorful 10’ x
10’ tents are filled with fun activity stations
such as simulated cow milking with a life-size
fiberglass cow, pony saddling, corn box, face
painting and craft station and much more.
Location: Dairy Barn, West Wing
Schedule: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Great American Pig Races
Chicharron brought his friends for some
Fairtime fun! They’re faster than a chicken,
chubbier than a goat – round, cute and built
for speed. Here come the PIGS! The latest
racers to hit the Great American Speedway
are sure to please. Also NEW to the Fair this
year, each exciting and educational show
includes four race heats featuring audience
participation, pig trivia and prize giveaways
for winning race cheerleaders. Pick out your
favorite porcine pacer and root for them!
Location: Dairy Barn, East Wing
Schedule: Noon, 2 p.m.
4 p.m. & 6p.m. daily
Middle-earth Studios
Presents the Unicorn Theater
Back for its second year at the New Mexico
State Fair by popular demand from kids and
parents alike, Middle-earth Studios presents
the Unicorn Theater and invites everyone
to participate in the story of The Gypsy
Princess. Come listen or become a costumed
character in this interactive story-telling
experience. There are no lines to learn as
the participants, dressed as knights, gypsies,
animals, or wicked spriggans, all begin to feel
their parts and to enjoy them. Dads, moms
and grandparents get a great chance to
show their kids they haven’t forgotten how
to be kids themselves. Each performance
becomes an unpredictable and often
hilarious group effort. Threads of the timeless
spirit of mythology and the hero’s quest
are woven into each fun-filled celebration
of imagination. Kids won’t want to miss the
NEW Time Machine puppet show …
Location: Box Car Lawn Area (in front
of Box Car Stage, next to Fine Art
Gallery)
Schedule: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 2:30
p.m. & 4:30 p.m. daily
KidsWay
NEW at the Fair this year, the KidsWay is like
the Midway, but for kids and their grownups
only! You’ll find more kid-centric rides here in
a smaller, more condensed, less chaotic area.
Location: Native American Indian Arts
Parking Lot (corner of Main Street &
Heritage)
Schedule: Noon-9 p.m. daily
(Opening and closing times may vary
daily)
FFA Animal Exhibit
Sponsored by local FFA chapters, the Red
Barn hosts a miniature zoo of sorts each year,
featuring a wide variety of both livestock and
everyday household pets. From puppies and
kittens to ducklings and miniature horses,
you’ll find a little bit of everything represented
under the Red Barn. There’s usually a sow
and her sucklings, pygmy goats and all kinds
of cute critters to keep the kids’ attention.
There are also signs that warn little fingers to
keep out. They ain’t kiddin’.
Location: Red Barn
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
McDonald’s Farm
Like “The Farmer in the Dell,” “Mary Had a Little
Lamb” and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm” all
come to life in one magical little place, McDonald’s
Farm is a special area of the Fairgrounds
where city kids can experience life on a real
working farm. Graciously sponsored each year
by McDonald’s, the Farm allows children to experience
gathering eggs from a chicken coop,
picking fruits and vegetables from a garden,
and the joys of an edible flower garden, tractors
for climbing on and toys for playing with,
and much more. McDonald’s Farm is an interactive
exhibit that promotes education, culture,
science and agriculture.
Location: Behind Big Red Barn/Poultry &
Rabbit Barn
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily
Pee-Wee Stampede
The Pee-Wee Stampede is a “mock rodeo” for
little city slickers ages 3 to 6 years old complete
with live music, stick horses, cowboy hats,
chaps, stick bulls, rodeo numbers, trophies and
ribbons. With an emphasis on good character,
everyone is a champion at the Pee-Wee Stampede.
Each child receives a prize while learning
the importance of good sportsmanship, as well
as characteristics such as sharing and waiting
their turn, following directions, paying attention
and developing good listening skills.
Location: Box Car Lawn Area (in front of
Box Car Stage, next to Fine Art Gallery)
Schedule: 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m.
& 3:30 p.m. daily
Children’s Carnival Rides
Kids’ rides galore can be found on the eastern
most end of the Midway – from roller coasters
to flying teacups and more!
Location: Midway
Schedule: Monday thru Thursday opens
at noon; Friday thru Sunday opens at 11
a.m.
(Opening times may vary daily)
School Arts Building
Take a break from the crowds and spend some
meditative time in the School Arts and Flower
Buildings. More than 4,000 pieces of art adorn
the walls of the School Arts Building, each one
created by a New Mexico’s elementary, middle
and high school students. Next door, in the
Flower Building, a veritable oasis of pungent
and dazzling floral design awaits. You might not
think of floriculture as much of an art form - it’s
just a bunch of buds in a vase, right? Wrong! -
until you check out what these folks can make
with some of the most beautiful, or beautifully
strange, flowers known to humankind.
Location: Behind Native American Indian
Arts Gallery on Heritage Avenue
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily
Southwest Dairy Farmers
Milking Parlor
A trained instructor from the Southwest Dairy
Farmers will demonstrate how to milk a live cow
before your very eyes and give you the play-byplay
on how milk gets from the dairy farm to the
consumer. Students will learn the characteristics
and anatomy of dairy cows, the role of dairy
foods in a healthy, nutritionally balanced diet,
the modern milking process, and modern
environmental and food safety practices.
Location: Dairy Barn
Schedule: 10:00 & 11:00 a.m., Noon, 2:00,
3:00, 4:00, 5:00 & 6:00 p.m. daily.
Tucker Pony Rides
Kids can get a taste of horseback riding on one
of these gentle ponies. A perennial favorite
among kids’ activities at the Fair, a pony ride
makes the perfect photo opportunity.
Location: Behind Lujan C and the Red
Barn, just south of McDonald’s Farm.
Schedule: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily
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FuN For kidS