Music, vendors and llamas are all things people can look forward to this weekend at the Higher Ground Fair. This year will mark the third annual Higher Ground Fair, a celebration of culture, values of the Rocky Mountain region and emphasizing community sustainability.
“It’s really part music festival, part food and part marketplace,” said Candace, one of the staff helping to organize this event. This Saturday and Sunday at the Albany County Fairgrounds the Higher Ground Fair will have vendors, competitions, live music and other events happening. The goal of the fair is to highlight self-sufficiency, community collaboration and sustainable living. They also spotlight and host small to medium scale farmers at the fair. Attendees can expect to see Happy Jack Farms and Acres student farms as some of the vendors at the Higher Ground Fair.
“Our concert stage is fully booked for this weekend,” said Candace. Artists will be coming from Wyoming, Montana, Utah, Colorado, Idaho and New Mexico. Brigit Burke, The Two Tracks, Crispy Watkins and Crack Willows and the Wind River Dancers will all grace the main stage this coming weekend.
Another stage will also be set up in the fairgrounds called the Leaping Stage where people can follow along with demonstrations. Several groups including Zumba with Ruby Sanchez, Sky Styx Yoga with Theresa Chavez and family ballet with Autumn. An improv group from UW will also be on stage Sunday morning.
“We have over 60 vendors scheduled for this weekend with more applications still rolling in this week,” said Candace. “We’re trying to find space for all of them.” Vendors this weekend will include artists, jewelers, farmers and some vendors will be selling pickles, jams, pies and other foodstuffs.
One of the groups that helps put on the Higher Ground Fair is Feeding Laramie Valley. Feeding Laramie Valley partners with Action Resources international along with all the participants to create this event each year. This year they also have 200 volunteers along with a few permanent staff members.
“This year we hired someone for the summer to help promote the event through social media,” said Candace. “We’ve had greater attendance at other events so we’re hopefully going to see that at the fair this weekend.”This year they are hoping to draw more than 2,000 people to fairgrounds this weekend.
Other events included this year will be a quilt show. There is also a quilting competition with different categories for various ages and types of quilts. Vendors will also be selling quilts and quilting materials. For younger kids, there’s an adventure zone.
Llamas, alpacas and draft horses will have a spot in the fair as well. Some returning draft horses will be apart of demos this year and the llama and alpaca competition centers on fleece judging. An obstacle course will also be available with two categories for llamas and alpacas.
Fair goers can receive a $5 coupon if they decide to come to the fair before 10 a.m. on Saturday or Sunday. Tickets for the event are available online and the day of the event. For more information about the event, tickets or volunteering visit highergroundfair.org
