When voters in Washington and Colorado legalized recreational marijuana use in 2012, many in the events industry watched closely to see what the effect on the live entertainment experience would be.
The Denver County Fair, set for Aug. 1-3 at the National Western Complex in Denver, will become one of the first entertainment brands to embrace legalization, adding marijuana-themed exhibitions and events to the programming mix this summer. It’s a bold move for the fair, which has a history with cutting edge events, including a speed texting competition and drag queen pageant.
Marijuana was officially legalized in Denver Jan. 1, and many retail shops across the state opened and began selling pot and marijuana-based products to individuals age 21 and over. Since that day, Dana Cain, the director of the Denver County Fair, has been following events closely.
“I’ve always wanted to include it, but there has been resistance from various parties,” Cain said. “Since year one, we’ve had a Holistic Pavilion with an “Herbal Remedies” competition category. I kept waiting for some pot entries to filter in, but it just never happened.”
For the first time, the fair will accept exhibitions for marijuana, although no pot actually will be allowed on the grounds, Cain said. The judging of any competitions that actually include marijuana will take place off-grounds. An onsite Pot Pavilion will include marijuana-related activities and exhibits and attendees must show proof that they are 21 at one of two entrances in order to peruse the area.
“We’re following all state and local laws, of course,” Cain said. “Judging for some of the blue ribbon categories will be done off-site, in advance, and the entrants will be represented by photos in the Pot Pavilion.
“Other items, like ‘Best Homemade Bong’ and ‘Best Tie-Dye,’ will be on display, in the flesh, so to speak.”
Blue ribbon events will include Best Marijuana Plant, Best Clone Plant, Best Brownie Recipe, Best Savory Recipe, Best Hemp Fabric, Best Homemade Bong, Best Homemade Roach Clip, Best Tie-Dye; plus two live competitions, in speed rolling and Dorito eating.
Attendees who visit the Pot Pavilion will be entertained by Grateful Dead karaoke.
“Vendor and exhibitor booths will be allowed to sell pot-related merchandise, but not marijuana,” Cain said. “They can advertise their shops and hand out fliers and coupons, etc.”
The Denver County Fair was created in 2011 by Cain, an event planner, and her friend, Tracy Weil, a community organizer and artist. The two immediately set the event apart with the tag line, “We’re mixing up a big bag of tradition with a side of NOW!” The fair takes place at the National Western Complex, home of the National Western Stock Show, which just wrapped up on Jan. 26.
“We loved the opportunity to create a totally new, 21st century county fair that really represents Denver as it is today,” Cain said. “We do focus on all things Denver, especially the unique and creative aspects that make Denver special. We love Denver’s pioneering spirit and want the world to know that Denver is the new creative capital.”
The fair’s attendance was about 14,000 in 2012 and 20,000 in 2013, Cain said.
However, Stephen Chambers, executive director of the Sacramento, Calif.-based Western Fairs Assn., said, “I assume that the idea of a wine competition or a microbrew tasting at the county fair would have been unimaginable not so long ago. Fairs have always reflected social trends and I don’t expect any difference here.”
The Colorado Amendment 64 was a pro-marijuana initiative that outlined the legal uses of pot in the state in terms of allowing residents ages 21 and over to legally grow and possess a certain amount, regulating its use similar to that of alcohol and making it illegal to use while driving. The measure passed Nov. 6, 2012 and was enacted this past Jan. 1. While pot remains illegal under Federal law, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder has made statements indicating the federal government won’t intervene in either Colorado or Washington, which also recently legalized marijuana.
A press release announcing the Pot Pavilion and marijuana-related events was released on Jan. 27 and quickly was picked up by the Associated Press. Jimmy Kimmel showed news clips of the plans and joked about it on the Jan. 28 episode of his ABC talk show and Cain found herself being interviewed on National Public Radio and on another radio station in Ireland.
“Media attention has been nuts,” she said. “We were mentioned on ‘The View.’ We have been on dozens and dozens of TV news shows across the country. The story was in the United Kingdom’s Daily Mail and it even made it to Australia.”
Media attention has been mostly positive, Cain said, but there also have been some complaints.
“There are some folks who are anti-marijuana, and they don’t think it belongs at the fair or anywhere in the state,” she said. “Usually when we explain the logistics and that it won’t be anywhere near the kids, they calm down about it. Often the complaints come from people who are misinformed. We are being very careful to do this right and within the laws.”
As for whether Washington State will get its own pot exhibits remains to be seen.
“At this juncture, we will simply be watching this new exhibit from afar, seeing how this develops for them,” said Karen LaFlamme, public relations counsel at the Washington State Fair in Puyallup.
“I have to admit, they have developed a very creative and out-of-the-square program.”
However, Chris Wiseman, GM of the Colorado State Fair, Pueblo, said, “We have no plans for such a thing. I don’t know of any fairs who are.”
Competition sign-ups begin in June, Cain said.
Interviewed for this story: Dana Cain, dana@denvercountyfair.org; Stephen Chambers, (916) 927-3100; Karen LaFlamme, (253) 841-5024; Chris Wiseman, (719) 561-8484