Fair Officials Put Emphasis on Tradition : Entertainment: It’s hoped more east county residents will attend, attracted by such old favorites as pig races and chili cook-offs.

As the Ferris wheel is raised and the last food booths hammered together, organizers of the Ventura County Fair opening this week hope to draw enough visitors--including more from the east county--to at least equal last year’s turnout.

“I’d love to be up, but this is another economically fragile year,” fair spokeswoman Teri Raley said. Last year’s attendance was nearly 275,000--about the same as the year before.

But fair officials are taking an unusual tack in their bid for residents’ entertainment dollars: They don’t promise anything really new.

Except for grandstand entertainers, which change every year, and some innovative exhibits, the 12-day fair that begins Wednesday will offer mainly old favorites such as quilt exhibits, pig races and chili cook-offs that visitors count on year after year.

That’s the point, fair officials said.

“The traditional presentation of our fair will continue to be possibly our strongest asset,” Raley said. “It’s just a real, clean old-fashioned way to have fun.”

And the fair offers plenty of opportunities for people to get downright silly, from pie-eating competitions to look-alike contests.

“There’s something about the fair that’s uninhibiting,” Raley said. “That’s because it feels protected. It feels like a family party.”

Ordinary residents aren’t the only ones who will be getting silly.

Five local celebrities or public officials, including Oxnard Police Chief Harold Hurtt and Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury, have volunteered to be the one to kiss a pig at the end of the fair, depending on which name attracts the most votes from fair-goers.

If such contests seem old-fashioned, Raley said, it’s because the Ventura County Fair has retained an authentic rural flavor, unlike some fairs in urban counties.

At the Ventura County Fair, egg ranchers fight public concern over cholesterol by sponsoring demonstrations on how to cook with eggs. Teen-age 4-H Club members auction lambs they have raised. Residents of all ages rope calves and ride broncos in an amateur rodeo.

“Here is a chance to participate in real Americana,” fair board member Charles Schwabauer said. “County fairs are great for that. It showcases things that are done within the community, things that are produced within the county.”

Indeed, organizers expect the total number of exhibits this year to exceed the 22,000 entered last year, ranging from extravagant landscaping displays in the floriculture building to single plates of home-grown tomatoes and other vegetables in the agriculture department.

While many residents who have entered exhibits are vying for the more than $100,000 in prize money, others say they just want to show off what they have done.

If the fair draws county residents together, as Schwabauer said, then he hopes this year’s extravaganza will fulfill its promise by attracting more east county exhibitors and visitors than in the past.

One reason Schwabauer, a Moorpark citrus rancher, joined the fair board two months ago was to boost east county awareness of the fair, he said.

“Moorpark has always been active, but Simi Valley and Thousand Oaks not as much,” he said.

The biggest problem is probably just distance, he said. From Simi Valley, for instance, the drive to the fairgrounds is at least 45 minutes.

But Schwabauer said he hopes the new Metrolink service from the east county to the fairgrounds on the fair’s two weekends will draw visitors who may have never been to the fair.

One indication that fair organizers may already be succeeding in their quest to lure east county visitors is the lineup of bands in the annual fair parade for Saturday.

This year, the 119 entries in the parade include 13 bands--about twice as many as usual, said Bob Cornett, fair superintendent.

And at least four of the marching bands come from the east county, including entries from Moorpark and Newbury Park high schools. “What I like about it is, it’s so representative,” Cornett said.

As always, the fair will offer a rich choice of foods for hungry visitors.

In addition to concessionaires who will have booths throughout the 62-acre fairgrounds, some food exhibits will offer free tastes to visitors.

The agriculture building will continue a practice begun last year: featuring different taste treats on certain days. This year, mushrooms, citrus and cups of beef chili cooked by the county’s cattlemen’s association will all be free to visitors on various days.

Last year’s beef chili was so popular that visitors consumed 32 quarts in just two hours, said Sue Kleine, the fair’s agriculture superintendent.

“People were just lined up outside to get their little bit,” she said.

Many events at the fair, of course, highlight food that hasn’t yet been prepared.

In the junior livestock auction that will be held the last Friday of the fair, county business and community leaders pay top dollar to purchase steers, lambs and other farm animals raised by 4-H youngsters and other youths.

Some buyers give their purchases back to the children. But most of the animals are headed for slaughter.

In addition to rewarding the young people for their diligence in raising the animals, the money paid in the auction also goes toward the college funds of some children, fair organizers said.

Nevertheless, a few animal rights activists have protested the event in the past, 4-H officials said.

All of the entertainment is free with the price of admission--$6 for adults, $3 for seniors and children 6 through 12. Admission is free for children under 6.

Big-name entertainment this year includes the Charlie Daniels Band in the Grandstand Arena Thursday, Vikki Carr in the Grandstand Arena Aug. 25, Gary Lewis and The Playboys on the Budweiser Stage Aug. 27, and the rock group War on the Budweiser Stage Aug. 28.

A demolition derby and various motor races will fill the Grandstand Arena the first weekend, followed by the rodeo the second weekend.

“Because of the variety of things to see and do at the fair, there is something there literally for everyone,” Raley said. “You’ll run into the person who checks your groceries. You’ll run into your boss.”

YOUR GUIDE

More than 250,000 visitors are expected at this year’s Ventura County Fair, which begins Wednesday. Whether you plan to go by car, bus or train, the travel maps and tips in the fair guide will help get you there. B2

GOING TO THE FAIR

Ventura County Fair organizers expect crowds of 15,000 to 35,000 during each of the 12 days of the fair, with the heaviest crowds on weekends.

Beat the congestion by arriving before noon. Or take free shuttle buses from one of four offsite parking lots. Better yet, forget your car and take Metrolink, which stops immediately in front of the fairgrounds.

Freeway routes To get there, motorists traveling northbound on the Ventura Freeway should exit at San Jon Rd. or California St., turn left at the end of the off-ramps and right onto Harbor Blvd. leading to the fairgounds.

Southbound motorists along the freeway should exit at San Jon Rd. or Ventura Ave. From the Ventura Ave. exit, turn right at end of off-ramp, right again at California St. or San Jon Rd., and right onto Harbor Blvd.

TIPS AND INFORMATION:

Days: Wed., Aug. 18, through Sun., Aug. 29

Time: Fairgrounds and carnival open 11 a.m. to midnight daily.

Exhibits close at 10 p.m.

Admission: Adults:$6

Children 6 to 12 years old: $3

Children 5 and under: Free

Senior Citizens: $3

Senior Citizens 100 years or older: Free

Admission Discount Days:

* Pepsi Family Day: Wed., Aug. 18, $10 family price admits two adults and all children age 12 and under in the immediate family.

* Military Appreciation Day: Thurs., Aug. 19, free to all military personnel presenting current i.d.

* Youth Day: Fri., Aug. 20, free to all visitors 12 years old and younger.

* Ferris Wheel 100th Anniversary: Mon., Aug. 23, all tickets discounted $1.

* Senior and Handicapped Day: Tues., Aug. 24, free to all seniors and all handicapped persons.

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Parking: Fairgrounds parking costs $3 per car. Free parking will be available at several lots away from the fairgrounds, with free shuttle bus service from the lots to the fair.

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Carnival Rides: Each ride costs from 50 cents to $2.50. Prior to opening day on Wed., Aug. 18, special discount books of 20 carnival tickets will be sold for $15, with each discount ticket good for any one ride. *

Off-track betting: Fair visitors over 18 years old will be admitted free to the Watch & Wager pavilion.

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Wheelchairs & strollers: Wheelchairs can be rented for $6, strollers for $3. They will be available just inside the main gate next the the Gem & Mineral Building.

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Banned items: Skateboards, roller skates, bicycles (bicycle rack is outside main entrance), pets (guide dogs excepted).

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Lost and found: Located in the Fair Administration Office

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Lost children: Children found separated from their families will be taken to the Salvation Army booth across from the Gem & Mineral Building.

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Fireworks: A fireworks show will be held at 9:30 p.m. nightly. *

Street closures: When traffic from the fair gets heavy, California St. between Thompson Blvd. and Harbor Blvd. may be closed to southbound traffic. At all times during the fair, both S. Garden Street and the southbound lanes of Figueroa St. between Thompson and the fairgrounds will be closed. *

More information: 648-3376 or 656-1260

PARK AT THE FAIRGROUNDS

The fairgrounds parking lot holds about 2,000 cars and costs $3. The lot typically always has spaces open on weekdays. On weekends, it often is filled in the afternoons and early evenings.

AVOID THE JAM AND TAKE A BUS&

Shuttle buses run every half hour from all locations.

Parking is free at all locations except at San buenaventura State Beach, where it is free only for handicapped persons. Other motorists will pay $5 per car at the beach.

A. San Buenaventura State Beach: Shuttle busses from this location will be the only ones that are wheelchair accessible.

B. Ventura High School Parking lot: On Poli St. just west of Seaward Ave.

C. Buenaventura Mall: At Mills Road and Main Street.

D. Ventura County Government Center: At Victoria Ave. and Telephone Rd., lots E and F.

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TAKE THE TRAIN

Metrolink trains will make special runs between Simi Valley and Ventura on Aug. 21-22 and Aug. 28-29. The train will stop at the stations shown below.

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Service schedules

Depart Depart Depart Depart Arrive Simi Valley Moorpark Camarillo Oxnard Ventura 9:30 a.m. 9:42 a.m. 9:53 a.m. 10:02 a.m. 10:20 a.m. 11:50 a.m. 12:02 p.m. 12:13 p.m. 12:22 p.m. 12:40 p.m. 1:50 p.m. 2:02 p.m. 2:13 p.m. 2:22 p.m. 2:40 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 4:57 p.m. 5:08 p.m. 5:20 p.m. 5:45 p.m.

Depart Arrive Arrive Arrive Arrive Ventura Oxnard Camarillo Moorpark Simi Valley 10:30 a.m. 10:43 a.m. 10:52 a.m. 11:15 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:50 p.m. 1:03 p.m. 1:12 p.m. 1:23 p.m. 1:40 p.m. 3:40 p.m. 3:53 p.m. 4:02 p.m. 4:13 p.m. 4:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:43 p.m. 6:52 p.m. 7:03 p.m. 7:40 p.m.

TICKETS: The rides will cost $3 one-way, $6 round-trip from Simi Valley and Moorpark, and $2 one-way, $4 round-trip from Camarillo and Oxnard. Children 5 years old and under will ride free. August monthly passes will be accepted.

Riders may purchase the Metrolink tickets in advance at city halls in Simi Valley, Moorpark, Oxnard and Camarillo or at the fairgrounds. Tickets will also be sold at the rail stations on the day of travel.

*The service is not wheelchair accessible because Metrolink cars are not compatible with the Ventura Amtrak station.

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Source: Ventura County Transportation Commission