The Dos Palos Lions Club Cotton Festival is from Sept. 6 to 8. Enjoy activities at O’Banion Park on Center Avenue and Lorraine Street in Dos Palos.
For more than 50 years, Dos Palos has celebrated the importance of cotton in the local economy’s development. For generations, cotton was king.
According to the newsletter Ag Alert (March 22), cotton is making a comeback. Cotton production has again expanded in Merced County and throughout the state after reaching a state low in 2023.
The cotton festival is a reunion in which folks from the surrounding area come to enjoy food, fun and laughter. The Beer Garden is a favorite gathering area.
The vast number of booths offer toys, crafts and a variety of food items. The booth decorating theme is stars and stripes. Although red, white and blue are popular, all colors are welcome.
Some locals don’t cook at home for three days. At the fair, they pick up delicious entrees, beverages and treats.
Many food booths offer traditional Mexican cuisine. Enjoy tacos, burritos, chili dishes, fruit treats and much more. For booth information, call Armando Bravo at 209-676-1014.
Locals rely on the festival to pick up a slab of Tom Pigg’s mouthwatering ribs to put in the freezer. You can preorder by calling Pigg at 209-896-7057.
Everyone who comes to the fair will surely work up a great appetite. Enjoy watching or participating in co-ed softball or RC (radio-controlled) racing. Try winning a prize or having a thrilling ride at the carnival.
Softball games have a long history as part of the festival. The co-ed softball tournament begins at 9 a.m. on Sept. 7. Register teams by calling Chaz Garcia at 209-704-8196 or Cheyenne Rose at 209-769-3006.
The softball tournament is co-ed, and each team must have a minimum of two women. The registration fee is $200 per team, with payment on the morning of the tournament.
The RC drag races at O’Banion Park return for the third year during the cotton festival. RC car testing is from 3 to 4:30 p.m.
A driver meeting immediately follows testing at 4:30 p.m. Spectators will enjoy watching the races, which begin at 5 p.m., in the cool evening.
This year, RC racing at the fair offers three categories. The cash fee is $30 per class. In other words, drivers entering two classes pay $60.
The RTR class means Ready-to-Run. Drivers entering this class aren’t necessarily RC builders. Anyone can participate by purchasing an easy-to-assemble car kit.
There is a strict limitation in the 2.2 class: the car cannot run faster than 2.2 seconds in the 132-feet track. The tracer puts the time needed into perfecting the car for racing in this category.
In the Outlaw class, RC cars are miniatures of vehicles that actually drive on roads. Cars in the Outlaw category convey realism. This is the fast class with no speed limit. The first to the finish wins.
For information about RC drag racing at the fair, register now and contact Chaz Garcia at 209-587-0763.
Note that with the other exciting contests to enjoy, there will not be a cornhole competition this year.
The Dos Palos Cotton Festival ride tickets presale ends Aug. 5. For ride tickets and information, contact the Dos Palos City Hall at 209-393-2174 or Danny McCarty at 209-752-4069.
The Miss Dos Palos contest occurs on Sept. 5 before the cotton festival. The court is featured in the cotton festival parade on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m.
Janet Miller’s e-book, Family Prayers and Activities: Weekly Guides, is for families or prayer groups. Janet is the creator of Friends on the Way, an e-resource for churches to teach families about the Bible and discipleship. Find it at www.TeamRCIA.com.
