Get ready for ClovisFest

Where can you find carnival rides, Lucha Xtreme wrestling matches and a sand castle competition?

No, you don’t have to drive to the beach — just head to Old Town Clovis on Sept. 19 and 20 for the 41st annual ClovisFest and Hot Air Balloon Fun Fly.

In their yearly tradition, hot air balloons will inflate about 6:15 a.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Clovis Rodeo Grounds and then take to the sky. The brightly colored dirigibles are just for gazing at, however. No public rides are available.

Attendees can then cross Clovis Avenue for ClovisFest fun beginning at 8 a.m. both days. Old Town Clovis will be packed with crafts and food vendors, a beer garden, rides and demonstrations.

New this year is the American Institute of Architects San Joaquin 2015 Sandcastle Competition, which will be held Saturday morning on the west side of 5th Street. Teams will build their sandcastles on site, with judging and awards at 1 p.m., said Fran Blackney, communications director for the Clovis Chamber of Commerce.

“They said they’re going to bring extra sand for the kids to play in, and although the competition is Saturday, the castles will stay there until Sunday for viewing,” Blackney said. “It should be really neat.”

Don Mauer Carnival will set up rides for the 11th year in a row, Blackney said.

“The rides are geared more toward younger children,” she said. “The have very clean, safe rides. The parents really enjoy them. We’ve moved them down to 4th Street... so we want to let people know that they’re still there, just not in the usual spot.”

The Clovis North Robotics team, which went to the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) world championship competition earlier this year in St. Louis, Missouri, will hold demonstrations with their ‘bots on 5th Street.

Meanwhile, on 7th Street, Lucha Xtreme wrestlers will take to the ring in matchups throughout the day.

“They were at Big Hat Days also, and the crowds enjoyed them. They’re out there all day and take turns wrestling,” Blackney said.

MB2 Raceway Clovis will host a race car demonstration — “they don’t give rides,” Blackney said — and the Clovis Independent 4-Wheelers club will also hold demonstrations. RaceRoom simulators will be set up by the fire station for attendees to experience driving a race car.

Toy Hauler Liquidators will bring trailers of four wheelers and more and fill Pollasky between 7th and 8th streets, Blackney said.

Traditional fair food, crafts and other merchandise will be sold, and the Bud Light Beer Garden will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

Fat Frankie’s Funnel Cakes is the event’s newest vendor, Blackney said.

“There will be the usual barbecue on the Bullard Food Court. There’ll be bacon wrapped hot dogs, sausages, Mexican food, cinnamon rolls, kettle korn, shaved ice, chocolate covered bananas, fresh roasted nuts, root beer floats, the usual fair stuff,” she said. “Then we have a booth that does virgin piña coladas and fresh pineapple. Sweetie’s Candy will be there with their cotton candy.”

The food vendors are a mix of businesses and nonprofits. The American Legion Post 147 will serve breakfast and lunch near the carnival, Blackney said.

Bands will play at the Bud Light Beer Garden beginning at 10 a.m. Saturday and noon on Sunday. Saturday will be full of country music, beginning with Jeff Bryan & Brent Monnier at 10 a.m. followed by country band 82 Deluxe at 11:30, Cadillac Cowboys at 1:30 p.m. and Hired Gun at 3:30.

Sunday will bring a variety of tunes, with Jeff Bryan & Brent Monnier opening the show at noon, followed by Richie Blue singing the blues at 1:30 p.m. and some classic rock by Night Heat at 3:30.

Last year an estimated 70,000 people attended, and Blackney said she expects a similarly large crowd this year.

“Big Hat Days was huge, and when you’re doing two of these big events in a row, if one is really big then everyone wants to come to the next one,” she said.

Blackney said the event is appreciated by local families.

“It’s become a tradition and part of Clovis’s way of life and part of the reason we are the number one city to raise a family,” she said. “It’s a good opportunity for people to also visit other businesses not only in Old Town but throughout the city, and fill up at the gas stations in the city. It brings a lot of business everywhere.”

Attendees must leave their pets at home. Admission and parking are free.

This story was originally published September 7, 2015 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Get ready for ClovisFest."