Rock the Nights with Music at the Ramona Country Fair
By Regina Elling for the Ramona Country Fair 2021
The Ramona Country Fair is celebrating its 50th year and promises more events and contests than ever before. But live music is also a big part of the festivities, and this year the Fair will rock the evenings with several extremely popular musical groups.
The Ramona Chamber of Commerce is presenting the Ramona Country Fair from Friday, July 30 to Sunday, August 1. The three-day event will feature a midway of carnival ride, games and prizes, numerous food and craft vendors, award-winning wines, entertainment and live music.
The event kicks off on Thursday, July 29, with a Cheers to the Valley Wine Tasting from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Ashley E. Norton will be providing an acoustic musical performance during the tasting. Norton has more than a dozen studio releases, multiple official music videos and other country album in the works.
On Friday night, Simple Man, a Lynyrd Skynyrd Tribute Band, holds the stage from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Based out of Southern California, Simple Man celebrates the entire catalogue, from the well-known hits like “Simple Man” and “Sweet Home Alabama” to deep cuts, such as “Poison Whiskey.”
The band promises a “genuine Lynyrd Skynyrd rock n’ roll experience” that can be enjoyed by both children and adults.
On Saturday night, the Patrick Howard Trampus Band performs from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.
Also known as PHT Country, they are a Southern California top 40 country/rock cover band performing high energy shows.
Live music from Farm Truck takes place Sunday evening, from 3 till 6 p.m.
Farm Truck has created their own unique style, and in doing so, established themselves as a premier Southern California Americana band, combining “a bit of Tom Petty, Steve Earle and Honky Tonk Rolling Stones.”
Fair hours are: noon to 11 p.m. on Friday; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Saturday; and 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday. The Fair is held at the Ramona Outdoor Community Center, 421 Aqua Lane, Ramona.
Admission to the fair is free. A parking donation fee of $10 goes back into the community scholarship fund.
Fair goers also can experience the 50th year of the Ramona Junior Livestock Fair and Auction. Local 4-H and FFA members will compete for blue ribbons after raising and caring for their prized livestock. The week-long livestock program organized by the Ramona Junior Fair runs from July 24 to August 1.
The Ramona Country Fair is a COVID compliant event. Protocols will be in effect and all participants are asked to follow the current County guidelines for the dates of the Fair.
Proceeds from the Fair will benefit the Ramona community, including Chamber scholarships to Ramona students, educational grants and support to other local events promoting Ramona.
For more information and current schedules, call 760-789-1311 or visit: www.ramonachamber.com, or www.facebook.com/RamonaCountryFair.