Valley Fair Opens Today in Burbank

With the final hours winding down before the San Fernando Valley Fair would open its gates to the public once again, organizers spent Wednesday putting the final touches on the annual extravaganza.

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, the four-day event opens at 4 p.m. today at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center in Burbank. For Ra Jeanna Runyan, who has spent the last several days preparing the home arts pavilion, it will be a welcome moment.

“We were here until 2 last night,” she said Wednesday morning, little more than eight hours later.

Around her, the space had slowly transformed into a showcase of more than 1,000 entries in categories such as fine arts, baked goods and industrial arts.

Still, for all the hard work, there’s no place she’d rather be.

“I’ve gone to all the big fairs, and nothing looks as homey and boutique-like as our fair,” she said.

Elsewhere at the dusty site, Ruth Eddy, who is supervising the fair’s farming, gardening and floral pavilion, agreed.

“This is an old-time country fair,” she explained, noting that the annual event offers a window into the Valley’s rural past. “I think we need a taste of that. We need to know where our food comes from. It doesn’t really grow at Ralphs.”

In addition to fair perennials like livestock, cotton candy and thrill rides, this year’s event will feature performances by the Flying U Rodeo and the Skyriders Bike & Blade Aerial Thrill Show.

Peter Hopkins of Trendwest Resorts, a fair sponsor, said that while the Valley’s warm climate may tax adults and children alike, he’s looking forward to the variety of entertainment and exhibits that will fill the fairgrounds through Sunday.

“I love going to all these fairs,” he said. “There’s always something different.”

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San Fernando Valley Fair

The 50th annual San Fernando Valley Fair opens at 4 p.m. today at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, 490 Riverside Drive, Burbank. Today is Senior Citizens Day, with people 62 or older admitted free. General admission is $6, free for children 11 and younger. Hours are 4 to 10:30 p.m. today, noon to 10:30 p.m. Friday, and 10 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Information: (818) 373-4500.

Today’s Highlights

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TIME EVENT PLACE 4, 5, 7 p.m. Trinidad Steel Community Stage Drum Band 4, 5:30, 7 p.m. Magician Terry Godfrey Fun Zone 4, 5, 6, 7 p.m. Sultans of Dixie Grounds 4 p.m. Stilt Walker Grounds Matt Love 4:30, 6, 7:30 p.m. Kids Games Fun Zone with Terry Godfrey 5 p.m. Kool Kids Fun Zone 5, 6:30, 8 p.m. Picasso’s Place Fun Zone 5, 6:30, 8 p.m. Skyrider Bike & Thrill Zone Blade Thrill Show 5:30 p.m. Showbiz Kids Miller Country Stage 6, 7:30 p.m. Jumping Jacks Thrill Zone Trampoline Show 6 p.m. Rusheen’s Bird Show Community Stage 7, 8, 9 p.m. Talent Quest Miller Country Stage 8, 9 p.m. Nikkodo USA Community Stage Karaoke Contest

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