Think back. What’s your all-time favorite Cal Cam Fair experience? No matter what comes to mind – that first bite of funnel cake or that first kiss at the top of the ferris wheel, plan now to make new memories Thursday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 16 at the West Cal Arena and Event Center in Sulphur.

 “This is our 100th year and we’re going big,” said Jan Nelson who has served as secretary to the Cal Cam Fair Board for the past 23 years. “We’ve got fun for all ages and our slogan embraces the past and looks forward to the future with its slogan, ‘100 Years of Making Tomorrow’s Memories Today.”

Expect the best in musical entertainment from gospel music, school choirs, Cal Cam’s Got Talent performances for big cash prizes and the sounds of Casey Peveto. Enjoy more exhibits than ever before. Regale livestock and roughstock winners. Pay homage to the past and meet tomorrow’s chefs today, winners of the children’s cooking contest.

Sulphur resident Gerald Hansen, 87, remembers the first time he went to the Cal Cam Fair. It was his first date with his wife-to-be Jeannette Bacque (June 1937-Sept. 2014).

“It was in October of 1959, and it was love at first sight,” Hansen said.” She said she would never marry a Yankee. I said I had no intention of getting married.”

Four months later they tied the knot that lasted 54 years. As soon as their son was old enough they took him to the fair, and he made his own favorite memories, after he finished his favorite fair food, a foot-long corn dog.

“This year’s fair isn’t a yearning to have things as they were 100 years ago, or even 20 years ago,” said Jody Barrilleaux, Cal Cam Fair Board. “My fair memories are different from my grandchildren’s memories and in their minds, those memories represent great times at the Cal Cam Fair.”

The commitment to pull out all the stops to celebrate 100 years has resulted in a not-to-be-missed schedule of events.

“It might be an old fair,” said Chuck Kinney, Cal Cam Fair Board. “But we’ve got new tricks.”

“We’ve gotten  more calls from people who want to participate and display their art, quilts, crafts, canned goods and flowers than ever before,” Nelson said. “The Cal Cam Fair was designed with farmer’s in mind. They had booths displaying crops and various farming implements. Today it is one of only a few fairs that still invites the public to exhibit anything that can be canned, cooked, sewn or created.”

“We’ve even selected a new carnival company managed by a young dynamo who understands the importance of making sure this is a fair to remember,” said Kinney.

Wednesday, Oct. 12, exhibitors will bring their wares to the West Cal Arena for judging. The public will not be allowed until the fair gates open the next day.

Thursday, Oct. 13, gates open at 4 p.m. Rides begin at 5 pm., and for the second year in a row, the crowd can enjoy gospel music headliner Alfred Gibson. Other entertainers include Dennis Soileau. He’ll be singing Elvis Presley’s gospel songs. Jody Barrilleaux will also perform.

“I have to give credit to a friend of mine who suggested a gospel night,” Lillian Karr, Cal Cam Fair Board, said. “Some of us don’t want to jump on the Tilt-A-Whirl like we did in the past. Now, folks can come out on Thursday, get the fair food they’re hungry for and listen to gospel music.”

Friday, Oct. 14, 10 a.m. to noon is set aside as Special Citizens Day. At noon, Larry Carrol will perform. Registration for livestock sheep, goats and pigs is 1- 1:45 p.m. At 2 p.m., the livestock show begins. Fair gates swing open at 4 p.m. Rides begin at 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. the Cal Cam’s Got Talent Contest promises to please.

“We started Cal Cam’s Got Talent in 2019,” said board member Jody Barrilleaux. “This year I had so many contestants, I narrowed down the field with preliminary auditions. What’s left is the best and the prize winner will receive $1,000, thanks to Tommy Boudreaux. As a tip of the hat to the past, we’ll honor his grandfather who was very instrumental in building the Sulphur Mine houses and donated the railroad museum and one of those houses to the historical society.”

A new Jr. Bull Riding Association will make its debut at 7:30 p.m.

“This isn’t just a bunch of kids getting together to ride bulls,” said Ryan Stutes, president of the Dirty South Bull Riders Association. “This event, and it’s a legit show with lights, smoke and  a ten-year-old trick rider who’ll jump through flames, is by invitation only.”

Invites went out to bull riders 6 to 16 with national and state titles under their belt and the roughstock promises to be challenging, according to Stutes.

At 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, the 100 Years of Making Tomorrow’s Memories Today Parade rolls from The Grove to WW Lewis. Come at 9 a.m. to be part of it.

Gates open at 10 a.m. and rides at 11 a.m.  Choirs from Bell City, Barbe and Sulphur will perform, and the Children’s Cooking Contest begins at noon.

“Last year was the first year ever to do our children’s cooking contest,” said Karr. “We had 25 contestants, fourth through eighth graders. This year our young cooks will use a pound of ground beef and a cup of rice in their recipes.”

  American Freestyle Bullfighting is back by popular demand and nine fearsome, fast souls have been recruited from as close as Hackberry –  returning world ranked champion Sage Seay will be there — and as far abroad as Brazil to engage in this extreme sport.

 “Salva Vidas Pessimo worked at PBR Brazil,” Kinney said. “He doesn’t speak fluent English, but I don’t think that will matter to the bull. They’re mean and they’re raised to fight.”

Crowd-pleasing Casey Peveto Band will perform after the bullfight.

Sunday, Oct. 16, livestock show registration, entry and weigh-in for beef begin at 10 a.m. Rides begin at noon and at 5 p.m., the window will close on 100 Years of Making Tomorrow’s Memories Today at the 2022 Cal Cam Fair.