El Dorado County Fair is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3)
Fair Hours: Thursday & Friday Noon - Midnight | Saturday 10am - Midnight | Sunday Noon - 10pm
El Dorado County Fair is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3)
A Fair Classic!
For more than 40 years, El Dorado County has received not only local, but state and national recognition for the unusual and unique contest for mature women, the EL DORADO ROSE pageant at the El Dorado County Fair. The El Dorado Rose and her Court are the official Hostesses for El Dorado County during their one year term. They appear at local functions like parades, and many civic and community events. wearing period dresses, hats, gloves, purses, parasols and appropriate jewelry representing the years 1849 to 1910.
A candidate must be sponsored by a business, club, organization, or a person. A candidate must have the following qualifications:
1. Is 60 years or older.
2. Has been a resident of the county for 10 years or longer.
3. Has contributed volunteer services to the community.
The sponsor submits an application and pays an entry fee. Both are due by April 1, and need to be submitted to El Dorado Rose c/o El Dorado Rose Corporation, P.O. Box 282, Placerville, CA 95667. The entry fee covers admission to the Ball for the candidate.
Prior to the Rose Ball held in May, it is tradition for the sponsors to have a reception for their candidates to be introduced to the community.
Sponsors will have access to the El Dorado Rose Roster for the invitations they will be sending out on behalf of their candidates.
If you have any questions or need more information, please contact the Fair Office at 530.621.5860 or email us at fair@eldoradocountyfair.org.
Candidates must attend Orientation. They will be assigned a “Big Sister” for help and information.
Candidates should be accessible to the Mt. Democrat to have their photos taken and interview arranged.
Each Candidates is encouraged to attend each others’ receptions.
Candidates are expected to attend the Rose Ball. Candidates will need to attend a short practice before the Ball to learn the Grand March.
Candidates must wear clothing representing the 1849-1910 period for their personal interview.
In 1976 the County Fair Special Events Committee discussed the need for a program or event that would honor mature women.
Dottie Ingram came up with the idea of a contest to be held honoring mature women. Thus the El Dorado Rose program was introduced and sponsored by the El Dorado County Fair. Each winner was to hold the title for one year.
In the Spring of 1980, the first annual El Dorado Rose Ball was held. At the Ball, dressed in beautiful period ball gowns, new candidates and their sponsors are presented
during the Grand Promenade.
Judging for El Dorado Rose is done by five respected people who come from a variety of backgrounds. In personal interview each candidate is judged on her volunteer community service, presentation, personality, costume and knowledge of county history. A point system is used and the winner’s name is held in secrecy until the El Dorado Rose Pageant.
The El Dorado Rose Pageant is held on Thursday evening, the opening day of the Fair, which is also Seniors’ Day. The pageant begins with music and entertainment, and then the current El Dorado Rose and the new candidates are escorted onto the stage. Costume trophies are awarded for the Most Authentic Costume and the Best Reproduction Costume.
When, the new El Dorado Rose is announced she is presented with a bouquet of long stemmed red roses, a rose necklace and a satin sash. She then takes her presentation walk across the stage to the song “El Dorado Rose” (written especially for her in 1980.)
A reception immediately follows and marks the beginning of a year filled with fun and duties, not only for the newly selected El Dorado Rose, but also for her court ladies.
Throughout the year, the Rose and her Court appear at community events in El Dorado County and are recognized as El Dorado County’s official hostesses. The Rose coordinates these events for the El Dorado Rose organization.
Always dressed in period clothing and never without an escort, the Rose can be seen at ribbon cuttings, hostessing at a variety of community affairs, or at other events giving talks on the history of El Dorado County. The Rose is invited to attend the Opening Ceremonies at the California State Fair.
The El Dorado Rose Organization meets every month throughout the year to plan programs and events. In the summer, a potluck picnic is held for all members of the El Dorado Rose organization. In December, a holiday luncheon is held for members and their escorts. All past Roses, Court Ladies, and Golden Roses are lifetime members if annual membership dues are current.