Fiesta Latina, massive slide among new additions at Sioux Empire Fair

A 135-foot-long slide is among the most-striking new additions to the Sioux Empire Fair, which returns for the 85th annual event this week.

The fair runs Aug. 2-10 at the W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds.

New this year, a Fiesta Latina event will kick off the fair at 5 p.m. Friday. It was a suggestion from the Texas-based carnival operator that serves the Sioux Empire Fair and has seen other similar event nationwide, fair manager Scott Wick said.

The Sioux Empire Fair partnered with the South Dakota Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and SM Productions to feature performances from five artists starting at 5 p.m.:

• DJ Frank Fuego Fiesta
• Payasito Chapinsito
• Marquense Musical
• Bachata Pura
• Rosendo Robles

Fiesta Latina, which will be on the Billion Automotive Main Stage, is free with paid fair admission The Sioux Empire Fair offers a reduced admission price Friday: $5 for everyone age 6 and older, and free for children 5 and younger.

The new partners “have been a delight to work with,” Wick said. “They’re going to have a DJ, we have a clown booked … and we’ve had a great response and everyone’s excited.”

The event reflects the community and region’s increasing diversity, he added. A study through the carnival operator found a number of new Hispanic families in the area, and they’ve already been regular attendees at the Sioux Empire Fair, Wick said.

“They come as a family and seem to like to stay late and enjoy themselves,” he said. “It’s fun and family-oriented, and I think it’ll be a big night.”

Speaking of big — the slide coming with the carnival this year will attract a lot of attention, Wick said.

“They purchased a really, really big slide,” he said. “It’s 135 feet long, and the first time they had it set up was in Fargo three weeks ago, … so we’ll be the third location. It has a big digital reader board and a fancy stereo system, and it’s very, very colorful and very neat.”

This also will be the second year for the Power ride that takes riders up 110 feet and drops them.

“Other than that, they changed out a few kiddie rides, but this group has a lot of rides to choose from, and they’re always updating their light and sound systems, and they keep it nice and clean and do a great job,” Wick said.

Fairgoers can visit more than 50 food and beverage vendors, including some that have been coming for more than 40 years.

“We have a  lot of repeats,” Wick said. “But we’ve got the best of the best when it comes to corn dogs and cheese curds and funnel cake, and there’s just a huge variety.”

Flo Rida seems to be the big draw for the entertainment lineup so far, playing Aug. 8.

“We sold out of the pit passes right away and then opened more and sold out,” Wick said.

Here’s the full schedule:

Other than Friday, when the gates open at 5 p.m., hours will be 10 a.m. to midnight.

From there, it’s often up to the weather, Wick acknowledged.

“Last year, we lost two full days, and that’s hard to take,” he said. “The opening Saturday was virtually nonexistent because of the weather, and we had to cancel that concert, and Thursday we got the opener in, and then it was a lightning show like I haven’t seen in years.”

Rides are shut down when lightning strikes a certain distance from the property and are reopened once it has been clear for 30 minutes.

Already, the Sioux Empire Fair team has had to clean up from storm damage during setup, but “we’re used to it,” Wick said. “You regroup and get ready for the day.”

Find additional fair details at siouxempirefair.com.