Tucson overflows with fun in April, with county fair, big rock show, UA carnival

We started the month last weekend with Country Thunder in Florence.

This weekend, we move on to the popular student-run University of Arizona Spring Fling carnival on the UA campus.

On Saturday, April 14, Maynard James Keenan and his prog-rock outfit A Perfect Circle headline KMFA Day at Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium with Stone Temple Pilots and indie newcomers Vista Kicks.

Next Thursday, April 19, the month takes a wide swing into all-out crazy fun when the Pima County Fair opens with rapper Ludacris kicking off the fair concert series. Other acts on the lineup over the fair’s 10-day run through April 29 include 1970s pop rockers REO Speedwagon, Christian pop band Mercy Me, hard-rockers Anthrax and Everclear, and a couple country acts including Easton Corbin.

Admission to those concerts is free with paid fair admission. If you want a reserved seat it will cost you $15.

We’ve prepared a little user’s guide to help you plan your month. Note that all three events follow the clear-bag mandate; no purses, backpacks or other bags unless they are made of clear plastic. Also, no weapons, alcohol, fireworks, sharp objects or outside food allowed — in other words, follow basic concert/public events protocols.

2018 UA Spring Fling

When: 4 to 11 p.m. Friday, April 13; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, April 14; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, April 15.

Where: UA East Mall, off North Campbell Avenue, on the University of Arizona campus.

Cost: $5 admission, tickets are 50 cents, sold in books of 10, 20 and 40; $30 unlimited ride wristbands available.

Lineup: Local bands and performing arts groups perform throughout the weekend beginning at 5 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Details: springfling.arizona.edu

KFMA Day 2018

When: Gates open at noon, first act goes on stage at 1 p.m. and concerts continue until 10 on Saturday, April 14.

Where: Kino Veterans Memorial Stadium 2500 E. Ajo Way.

Cost: $45 at area Pizza Hut locations, online at ticketfly.com or at the gate.

Lineup:

Prog-rockers A Perfect Circle with Keenan, frontman for the band Tool and a prominent Verde Valley winemaker (Caduceus Cellars).
Alt-metal band 10 Years, which apparently is in good company with Keenan on the lineup. One of their biggest influences is Keenan’s band Tool.
Stone Temple Pilots is the oldest band on the lineup — they originally formed in 1989, although they did take a six-year hiatus from 2002-08 — also has endured the most turmoil, from firing its founding lead singer to losing his replacement to suicide last summer.
Korn frontman Jonathan Davis is flying solo, but surely he’ll dust off some Korn favorites.
We can’t print the name of Two Feet’s — aka Bill Dess — viral video single, but we are pretty certain the Harlem electronica-rocker will play it.
Perhaps the youngest band on the marquee, Vista Kicks out of Northern California, likes to add some groove to its music. (See related story.)

Details: kfma.com/kfmaday-2018

2018 Pima County Fair

When: April 19-29; gates open at 1 p.m. Mondays through Fridays and 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Where: Pima County Fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road, off Interstate 10.

Cost: Admission is $9 adults, $5 for kids 6 to 10 and military; free for kids 5 and younger. Parking is $5. Ride tickets are extra.

Lineup (all concerts on the Main Stage unless noted; admission is free with fair admission):

8 p.m. April 19, rapper Ludacris.
8 p.m. April 20, rockers Everclear on the 4 Peaks Stage; 9 p.m. metal rockers Anthrax on the Main Stage.
8 p.m. April 21, neo-trad country singer Randy Houser.
7:30 p.m. April 21, I Luv the ’90s Tour with Rob Base, All-4-One and Kid N Play.
4 and 7:30 p.m. April 23, 1970s pop band Jefferson Starship.
7:30 p.m. April 25, Christian pop band MercyMe.
8 p.m. April 26, rapper Ja Rule with Ashanti.
8 p.m. April 27, 1970s rockers REO Speedwagon.
8 p.m. April 28, country singer Easton Corbin.
7:30 p.m. April 29, Mexico’s Banda el Recodo.
New rides: For the young kids, flying elephants rule on the Flying Jumbo — it’s like a merry-go-round with elephants instead of horses; for the big kids, the European bench ride Konga and the two-story mirror maze Rockin’ Rodeo.
New eats: The fair’s marketing guru Launa L. Rabago will be the first to tell you that the rides are secondary when it comes to people attending the fair; they come for the food, according to Pima County Fair research. It’s deep-fried paradise, especially this year when the fair will feature among other things: Peanut Butter and Jelly Siracha Funnel Cake, Flaming Hot Cheeto Corn Dogs, Fruity Pebbles Shrimp on a Stick and New Zealand Traditional Fry Bread. They also are serving up the new fad in frozen treats, nitro balls — giant ice cream balls dipped in liquid nitrogen.