Ventura County Fair : Midway Hits the Highway After Fair Plays to Bigger, Friendlier Crowds : Recreation: Merchants and officials walk away happy after 12 days of steadily rising attendance, solid sales and minimal arrests. Planning begins on next year’s event.

Lured by comfortable weather and a packed schedule of events, 254,736 people walked through the Ventura County Fair’s turnstile this summer, topping attendance figures from last year.

The number was about 3% higher than last year’s total of 247,823, but it did not come close to matching attendance figures from the late 1980s, which peaked at 306,040 in 1989.

Just the same, fair officials were delighted to see attendance steadily climb during this year’s 12-day event.

“We were certainly hoping for an increase, and we got it,” fair publicist Teri Raley said. “There were no unexpected peaks or drops. Attendance was up every day, which makes it manageable.”

Fair planners credited clear skies and popular headline acts. Merchants said their cash registers chimed busily as a result.

Packing up his 1950s-style pink and turquoise food booth Monday evening, Riverside County resident Michael LaPenna said his business had increased.

“I’ve been doing this fair since 1977,” he said. “It was very good.”

Ventura police described this year’s fair as one of the most peaceful on record. Less than a dozen people were arrested, primarily for minor offenses such as public drunkenness and violation of probation.

“This was probably the best or one of the best I have ever worked,” said Sgt. Bob Velez, who has patrolled the fair for 18 years.

Police attributed the minimal number of arrests to tougher security measures, such as weapons searches and a ban on gang attire.

“They are letting people know clearly, up front, they are not going to allow that kind of activity,” Velez said.

Planning for next year’s fair, tentatively scheduled for Aug. 14-25, will begin this week as various boards and departments critique the event. “It’s best to start planning when it’s fresh,” Raley explained.

Events new to this year’s fair and likely to be continued include the cheerleading competition, which drew hundreds of onlookers Sunday, the last day of the fair.

In contrast, an extended karaoke contest may be scaled back for next year. “We mull those things over,” Raley said.

On Monday, work crews began the tedious task of dismantling carnival rides and concession stands from the trash-clogged midway. By late afternoon, half of the 108-foot-high Ferris wheel teetered like a giant pie wedge, its other half neatly folded onto a truck.

“The signs of the fair are generally disappearing a piece at a time,” Raley said. “It’s so sad, I hate it.”

Exhibitors had until 7 p.m. to collect their entries and clear out of the giant fair tents, most of which were gutted by the day’s end.

Ventura resident Marcia Weaver, supervisor of the Professional Arts Building, said she always enjoys the fair. But, she added in a relieved voice, “It is nice that it is over.”

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Head Count

Ventura County Fair attendance:

1988: 281,855

1989: 306,040

1990: 273,525

1991: 267,563

1992: 274,527

1993: 274,203

1994: 247,823

1995: 254,736

Source: Ventura County Fair records