Community Corner
Riverside Co. Fair & Date Festival 2017: Everything You Need To Know
The annual date festival is gearing up for its Friday opening in Indio. Be sure to check for special discount days!
INDIO, CA – Carnival rides, a President's Day parade, pageantry, live music and more await those looking forward to next week's 71st annualRiverside County Fair and National Date Festival in Indio.
From Feb. 17 to Feb. 26, the Riverside County Fairgrounds will be open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily, opening up Friday with the traditional "blessing of the dates."
The annual fair will return with many of the time-honored attractions, such as the Arabian Nights theme, which pays tribute to the Coachella Valley's date-growing industry, and is represented through theQueen Scheherazade Scholarship Pageant, camel races and date-focused cuisine.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
The President's Day Grand Parade will be held as usual, this time with actor Joe Mantegna and Lt. Col. Robert Friend, one of the oldest surviving members of the Tuskegee Airmen, serving as grand marshals. A fly-over with an original P-51 D Mustang, the type of place that Lt. Col. Friend flew in World War II, will accompany the parade. Calendar of Events here.
New attractions include Robosaurus, the world's largest, car-crushing transformer, a special celebrity guest appearance at the annual Demolition Derby, and several new rides, including the White Water Flume Ride and 100-foot high Vertigo towers.
Find out what's happening in Palm Desertfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Live music will be provided by Cheap Trick, War, The Eli Young Band, Voz de Mando, and more. More info here.
Entry is $10 for adults, $9 for seniors, $8 for kids between 6 and 12 years old, and free for kids 5 and under. Veterans can also get in free with proper ID, and bring in three guests also free of charge. Ticket and hour information here.
Unlimited carnival ride passes are between $25 and $28.
Tickets may be purchased at the gate or online at http://datefest.org/PurchaseTi...
Several promotions will be in effect throughout the festival, including special discount days and free admission for the first two hours on Feb. 17. Extra Value Days details here.
For more information, go to www.datefest.org .
ALSO COMING UP IN THE AREA:
- Comedian-Actor Kevin James at Pechanga Resort and Casino: Temecula
- Comedian-Actor Kevin James at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa: Rancho Mirage
- Oscar Party on El Paseo: Palm Desert
- Presidents Weekend Special Hours: Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
--City News Service/Image courtesy of Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival
