Hot afternoons, mild nights as fair enters final weekend
The Stanislaus County Fair asks you to “imagine the fun!” But if you attend Friday through Sunday, the close of the 10-day run, you won’t have to.
Nor will you have to imagine the heat of late afternoon. Today’s high will be near 98, according to the National Weather Service. Later hours at the fair sound pleasant enough, with a low around 66 and a wind of 6 to 13 mph.
Saturday again will be sunny and hot, with a high near 97, and again cooling to a low of about 66 at night.
Sunday is forecast to be a little less hot – a high near 93. Though the day should be mostly sunny, the weather service says there’s a 20 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms from after 11 a.m. through about 11 p.m.
The final night of the fair won’t cool down as much, either, with an expected low of about 72 degrees. The evening sky should be partly cloudy.
Friday is Modesto Nuts Night at the fair, with gifts to first 1,000 guests.
Playing the Variety Free Stage at 8:30 p.m. is Jerrod Niemann, known for his No. 1 hits "Lover, Lover" and "Drink to That All Night" and the Top 5 single “What Do You Want.” He has earned award nominations from the Academy of Country Music, Country Music Awards, Country Music Television and the American Country Awards.
Saturday night, the “American Band,” Grand Funk Railroad, will bring its 45th-anniversary tour to the Variety Free Stage. The five-piece outfit still includes founding members Don Brewer (writer and singer of the multimillion-selling hit “We're An American Band”) and bassist Mel Schacher.
The Michigan-born band’s hits also include “I'm Your Captain/Closer To Home,” “Locomotion” and “Some Kind Of Wonderful.”
And the final act on the Variety Free Stage this fair season will be Banda Machos on Sunday at 8:30. The Spanish-language group has released more than 20 albums over its 25 years. “They are well known for their unique sound and have an international fan base,” fair spokeswoman Adrenna Alkhas has said of the Mexican band.
Gates open Friday at 5 p.m. Exhibit buildings close at 11 p.m., and the carnival at midnight.
Fair admission is $12 for adults, $5 for children 7 to 12 and seniors 65 and older, free for 6 and younger.
For more information, go to www.stancofair.com or call 209-668-1333.
This story was originally published July 17, 2015 at 8:57 AM with the headline "Hot afternoons, mild nights as fair enters final weekend."