Cascade County Commissioners approved contracts for the carnival, ground entertainment, night concerts and the rodeo for this year’s state fair during July meetings.

The commission approved a new five-year agreement during their July 8 meeting with the Thomas Carnival, Inc. for this year’s fair through the 2029 fair.

2025 Montana State Fair guide

The county has contracted with Thomas Carnival for 30 years for rides and games during the state fair.

In the agreement, Thomas Carnival agrees to provide “riding devices, sideshows, carnival games and food concessions.” The carnival provides a full list of riding attractions and their capacity to the county at least 60 days before the opening of each year’s fair.

Thomas Carnival will present rides with an hourly passenger of at least 90 percent of those presented during the 2024 fair.

2025 Montana State Fair night show lineup released

Under the agreement, the carnival pays the fair 35 percent of gross ride ticket sales, except “extreme” rides, net of all applicable sales taxes, up to $350,000 in sales, and 40 percent of sales over $350,000.

The carnival pays 10 percent of the ticket gross of up to two “extreme” rides and the designation of “extreme” is mutually agreed upon by both parties, according to the contract.

The payment numbers are the same as the previous carnival contract commissioners signed in 2021.

Last year, the carnival grossed $826,191, up from $809,982 in 2023.

County releases 2024 fair numbers

Commissioners also approved contracts for the grounds entertainment:

• Blake Guyre, Strolling piano: $10,000 and two hotel rooms for July 24-Aug. 2 for 36 performances
• Cast in Bronze: $18,500 and one hotel room for July 24-Aug. 2 for 54 performances
• AmirrorCAN Men: $23,000 and three hotel rooms for July 24-Aug. 2 for 54 performances
• Storm Troopers: $9,500 and two hotel rooms from July 24-Aug. 2 for 36 performances
• Extreme Pogo: $18,000 and three hotel rooms for July 24-Aug. 2 for 36 performances
• Strolling DJ: $14,500 and two hotel rooms for July 24-Aug. 2 for 36 performances

Commissioners approved a new contract with the Sankey Rodeo Company for 2025-2027 with the option to extend for 2028 and 2029 for the Big Sky Pro Rodeo.

County approves horse racing, fair entertainment contracts [2024]

The contract rate for this year’s rodeo is $88,500 for the county.

The rate will increase in the following years:

• 2026: $96,500
• 2027: $100,000
• 2028: $105,00
• 2029: 110,000

During their July 24 meeting, commissioners approved an agreement with Neste Live, terminating the agency’s exclusive talent buying services for the night concerts at the fair.

The county had contracted with Neste since 2023 for talent buying/booking for the fair’s night concerts after a targeted bidding process.

County Commissioner Joe Briggs said Neste was getting out of the fair booking market.

County approves use of new talent booking firm for state fair [2023]

Commissioners approved a contract with the Fran Romeo Agency who booked night show entertainment for this year’s fair.

The night show lineup this summer includes: Jo Dee Messina, Tucker Wetmore, The Oak Ridge Boys, Smash Mouth, Scotty McCreery, Lecrae with Special Guest Gio.

The contract total $464,400 paid to Fran Romeo Agency in six equal payments of $77,400 following the conclusion of each performance.

Last year’s night show sales were $411,769 and those sales were included in the fair’s total. Night show attendance was 9,522 at Pacific Steel and Recycling Arena.

County approves horse racing, fair entertainment contracts

The 2024 contract with Neste Live for night show entertainment was $609,500.