This is the second year that students enrolled in the horticulture class at Nevada Union – led by Karen Henderson, Agriculture Instructor and FFA advisor at Nevada Union – have grown and planted the Marigolds to create the walkway known as the Gold Path, which runs from near the Main entrance to the beginning of Treat Street.
Each year, the high school group grows the Marigolds from seed, in anticipation of planting them along the Gold Path. In addition to Marigolds, they grow flats of Impatiens and Coleus, which are planted in flower beds throughout the Fairgrounds. The plants are raised in the greenhouse at the school. They are then planted at the Fair, and also sold throughout Nevada County, including at the Farmer’s Market held on Saturday mornings during the summer at the Fairgrounds.
“The students put many class hours of work into this project,” said Henderson. “The Gold Path is one of several hands-on projects the students complete while being enrolled in horticulture at Nevada Union. I hope when individuals walk down this path, they remember that it was our local high school students who helped create this beautiful pathway.”
The Fair also partners with Nevada Union and Bear River High Schools to produce the annual Ag Mechanics Auction and Junior Livestock Auction, which raise more than half a million dollars for Nevada County youth in agriculture. The Ag Mechanics Auction will be held on Friday, August 8 in the evening and the Junior Livestock Auction will be held on Sunday, August 10.


Gates open daily at 10 a.m. and close each evening at 11 p.m. Admission is $8 for adults, $6 for seniors (65 and older), $3 for children 6 to 12 and free to children five years old and younger. Several special pre-sale packages are available this year, including a fair admission package for only $4. Kids Day is Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and during that time all children 12 years and under are admitted for free. Other values include a “pay-for-one” price in the carnival area, which allows unlimited rides for $28. This package can also be purchased in advance for only $23 when bought by Boy Scout Troops or at the Nevada County Fair office by August 5.