74th Annual Date Festival Opens At RivCo Fairgrounds In Indio

COACHELLA VALLEY, CA — The 74th Annual Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival opens Friday, with the traditional blessing of the dates ceremony beginning at 9:30 a.m. and beautiful weather on tap.

The festival runs through Feb. 23 at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, 82-503 Highway 111. The dates' blessing takes place at gate 1 followed by free opening day admission from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Veterans plus three guests are admitted free every day with proper identification. Festival-goers can also get free admission on Wednesday, Feb. 19, as part of recycling day (see more info below).

“The Date Festival has a long legacy of many generations of families who have grown up with the Fair and its traditions,” said Riverside County Supervisor V. Manuel Perez, whose district includes Coachella Valley. “With fantastic food, amazing concerts, carnival rides, and features of our date-growing heritage that make Riverside County’s fair unique, there’s something for all our visitors to enjoy. I invite you to come out as we kick off ten days of fun and unforgettable experiences!”

This year’s entertainment includes concerts by George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic; Banda Machos; “I Love the 90s” with Vanilla Ice, Coolio, Tone Loc and Young MC; Chris Janson; and Mariachi Sol de México. These headline acts, along with monster trucks, freestyle Moto X, demolition derby, BMX pros stunt show, professional bull riding and other performances, are included with fair admission.

Monday, Feb. 17, is Veterans’ Appreciation Day with the annual President’s Day Grand Parade at 9 a.m., a flag raising ceremony for the fair’s U.S. flagpole at 1 p.m., and a special presentation on the pageant stage at 5:30 p.m. honoring veterans Edward Robles and Rae Lynn Munoz.

Former UCLA and NBA star Tracy Murray has been announced as Grand Marshal for the Presidents’ Day Parade. The parade begins at 9 a.m. from the intersection of Miles Avenue and Deglet Noor Street in Indio. The route then runs south on Oasis Street followed by west on Highway 111, ultimately ending at the intersection of Rubidoux Street and Highway 111.

Murray played college basketball for the UCLA Bruins from 1989-1992 and made it to the Pac-10 all-conference team twice. In the first round of the NBA draft in 1992, Murray was selected by the San Antonio Spurs. After joining the Los Angeles Lakers in 2002, Murray played side-by-side legend Kobe Bryant and will commemorate his NBA friend and teammate by displaying a mamba flag with numbers 8 and 24 on the rear of his classic black convertible.

“It’s an honor to be named Grand Marshal of the Riverside County Fair’s Presidents’ Day Parade,” said Murray. “It’s also a privilege to also honor the memory of the great Kobe Bryant and recognize the wonderful Lakers organization who both were such an important part of my life and career."

Murray continued his basketball career as an assistant coach/shooting coach for the Los Angeles Lakers until 2016 where Head Coach Byron Scott described Murray as “one of the purest shooters I’ve ever seen.” These days you will catch Tracy Murray on ABC 7 “Slamdunk Sundays” as a color commentator and as he continues in his broadcaster role with the UCLA Bruins.

The 74th Annual Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Gates open at 10 a.m. and close at 10 p.m. Purchase tickets early to receive them at a discounted price: $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for youth, $8 for group tickets or bus tours (minimum of 25), and $22 for unlimited carnival ride wristbands.

For the Wednesday, Feb. 19, recycling day, fairgoers can get free admission by bringing items including small, used electronic devices such as cell phones, telephones, tablets, radios, DVD players/recorders, receivers, computer peripherals like a mouse, keyboard, driver, reader, and ink cartridges. At least one item per admission is necessary. Items will be collected at the main gate and gate 6. (Business waste, automotive batteries, single-use alkaline batteries and lead acid batteries will not be accepted. No household hazardous wastes will be accepted.)

For more information, call 800-811-FAIR or visit www.datefest.org.