With its helm and a wealth of carnivals from his son, the annual, highly anticipated demolition derby, and a wide range of mainstage entertainment acts, the 73rd edition of the Yuma County Fair endured the theme of “creating memories and building dreams.”

Fair admission fees from April 1st to 6th were $7 for adults aged 13 and $5 for children aged 6-12, and children under the age of 5 were allowed free of charge. The Carnival Ride Wristband saved $35 for $35 on an unlimited ride, $55 to avoid the Express Pass, and $20 each after the fair began.

Helm and his sons used magical money to pay for the popular basketball toss and other vehicles, Midway concessions and games. This year was the newest and the show’s iconic Ramblink 33m Dutch wheels and diamond wheels. Also new: thrill rides such as the vast, creepy two-storey dark ride conjure, based on a horror movie. Hyper Drive, a Star Wars-themed starfighter.

Helm and his sons regularly set stages in the Midway, featuring performances, music, game shows and presents. At the Carnival Game Show, staff awarded awards to participating contestants including unlimited ride wristbands for the whole family. The gift of luxury tickets allowed the lucky winner to walk the fair, play the game, taste the food and ride several times before the official fair opening. In collaboration with the Saguaro Foundation, Carnival provided opportunities for guests with developmental disabilities to visit Special Friends Day, held on Monday, April 3rd.

The carnival company brought in multiple roller coasters this year. Each is located at a different position in the Midway, with a channel of Prahl, Olympic Bob Sled and large splashes. Another small tots area with eight different rides, including the popular Cool Bears, along with other popular thrill rides such as Wave Swinger, Rampage, Zipper and Alien Aidation, painted the youngest Fairmars. Children of all ages enjoyed the queue at the photo booth. Speaking of photography, Carnival has added a special new photo manipulation area this year, including the new Instagram-enabled Eiffel Tower.

For the game, Midway includes breaking bottles, breaking bottles, balloon darts, shooting games, water races, basketball throws, arm strength hangmans, and gator domes.

In addition to the new carnival ride, this year’s Yuma County Fair has offered a new, wider, more convenient layout that offers more corridors for guests to walk and explore the fair. Fair Committee Chairman Devon McPherson said this was a monumental year of change and growth as we concluded the completion of the Carnival Relocation Project, new parking and the Legacy Event Centre, a new commercial building. The latter structure has been underway for over two years.

For some fairers, food rather than rides brings the thrills, mixing khan asada fries from Papas, flavored thrassie mixed with freeze zone candy mix, freshly squeezed lemonade from lemonade stands, corn dogs, candy apples from cotton candy wagons, and cotton candy. Funnel cakes in a variety of flavors were also popular snacks. So were the cob corn, Sonora hot dogs and corn from a commercial building, a huge cinnamon roll.

Photo by Steve Hintz

As always, the Yuma County Fair included plenty of walks, performances from Guido’s family and main stage performances, as well as displays of farming from rabbits and poultry to sheep, pigs and of course steers. Jett and Jesse Hancock took home top prizes to show off the market beef. Overall, the 2025 Junior Livestock Large Animal Auction auction auctioned almost 400 animals on Saturday.

In addition to the animals themselves, the livestock area was also a place of fair tradition. This is a parade of animal costumes, from sheep in ballet costumes to cows dressed like sharks, all in which participants dressed.

There was also a wide range of commercial vendors, with open entries for photography, art, flowers, cooking, sewing and baking projects.

But perhaps the most predicted of all was the demolition derby. The event sold out this year for its annual fair and favourite event held on Wednesday. The Derby was a local event, and organizers of the Yuma County Fair were looking for drivers ready to fight during a high-energy metal-making event. Participants received trophies and cash awards, including a $1,000 grand prize, tested their driving skills and won the right to brag.

This year’s winner, Trentorico, also ranked number one last year. “This is probably the fourth or fifth time we’ve done this, and last year we won.

The fair also continued to offer scholarships to local high school students and show support for various community organizations. All nine students were recognized, including Carol Mead, who received this year’s $5,000 Addison Scholarship.

In terms of music, mainstage acts include Doo Wah Riders Oldie Greats, Rocking Faux Fighters Tribute Act, Country Favore Easton Corbin, La Kana, Checker’d Past, and Southbound and Company. Meanwhile, on Guido’s family stage, fair participants enjoyed entertainment such as Marcus. “The magic of the heart!”

Photo courtesy of Yuma County Fair

Walking acts include Rankie the Clown, Steve’s fun balloons, Street Magician Aussie Ruhur, and Tikishack, who provided songs from Walking Beach Music. The juggling variety has added ice cream comedy cycles, bubblelogist Megan and Willy’s washboard jamboree to Roving Entertainment.

Also on the premises, guests were able to see an exciting birdman bird show. Or incorporate science-themed attractions, such as interactive wild science in the theatre buildings and the smart science school of comedy professors.

Elsewhere, guests swing at the fairgrounds’ complimentary miniature golf attraction, Patrick’s Putt Adventure, while young children were drawn to the fair’s freckles zoo and pony rides. All of these were back attractions.

Although the number of attendees has not yet been included, attendance was strong, and it was expected that it would be fair if the number of attendees reached the top last year. Helm and his son report “Midway was stuffed.” Fairboard’s MacPherson would like to thank fair participants for “selecting Yuma County Fair to create memories that last a lifetime.”