by Roberta John
WINDOW ROCK, AZ – A million dollar ride.
That’s a new event that will be added to this year’s Frazier Carnival during the Navajo Nation Fair here in the Navajo Nation capital.
According to Owner Steve Broetsky, the new ride is called Freak Out, which was invented in the Netherlands – it took almost two years to make and it cost approximately one million dollars to make. Broetsky explained there are only two dozen Freak Out rides in the world.
“We’re very excited to bring Freak Out to the Navajo Nation,” Broetsky said. “Freak Out will make its premier during the Navajo Nation Fair.”
The Navajo Nation Fair will be held September 2-8th. Frazier Carnival will begin its rides on Wednesday, September 4th and end at 10 p.m. on Sunday, September 8th.
Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department Manager Martin L. Begaye said “We’re trying to add new events, attractions and activities to make the Navajo Nation Fair a week full of adventure and fun for the entire family. We hope individuals who enjoy carnivals will enjoy Frazier’s new ride and we pray for everyone’s safety at the carnival and at the entire Navajo Nation Fair.”
Unlike previous years, Begaye said there will be three straight days of concerts and fireworks. Moreover, the public will have a chance to win a horse trailer or win $1,000 or $5,000. Raffle tickets will be sold for $10 to give fairgoers a chance to win $1,000 on September 4-7th and a chance to win $5,000 on September 8th. Individuals must be at the Indian rodeo in order to win the cash give away.
Begaye said in year’s past, “The only way a person could win anything is if he or she was entered as a contestant or participant. However, this year’s fair will be an opportunity for anyone to become a winner.”
Navajo Nation Fair Manager Genevieve Tsouhlarkis echoed Begaye’s comments, and noted, “I would like to invite everyone to come out and enjoy the Navajo Nation Fair. We have an action-pack week of events and activities. The Navajo Nation Fair is the grand daddy of all tribal fairs and it is the premier Native American festival in North America. This is how we show our appreciation to the Navajo people and how we showcase our cultural pride and beauty to the world.”
No matter what genre you enjoy, the Navajo Nation Fair is the ideal place to experience Navajo culture. Some of the Navajo Nation Fair highlights will include an Indian rodeo for the young and seniors, roping, a wild horse race, song and dance, pow wow, a arts and crafts competition, a free barbecue, concerts, fireworks, a golf tournament, a fry bread contest, a parade, a half marathon, a livestock show, a hot air balloon night glow, a baby contest and much more.
For more information about the Navajo Nation Fair, contact the special events staff at (928) 871-6478 or via the internet at www.navajonationfair.com
