Valley Fair Goes for the Gold

As much as the Valley has changed over the past half-century, a few things remain comfortably constant. The San Fernando Valley Fair celebrates the end of its 50th annual run today, the golden anniversary of an event that began when the Valley was still a place where folks were as likely to be real farmers as suburban gardeners.

The years have not been easy on the state-sponsored fair. Its agricultural displays and craft shows are still there, but today they face competition from billion-dollar theme parks and television. This also is an age in which consumers are easily jaded. In the early 1990s, the fair’s financial troubles and search for a home cast its future into doubt.

But after trimming its staff and staking out a place at the L.A. Equestrian Center--which has hosted the event for five years--the fair appears to be gaining strength. Attendance has rebounded from recent lows. The addition of science displays and thrill shows and the return of a rodeo offer wholesome and relatively inexpensive entertainment to families.

It’s hard to beat a local fair--with the aroma of popcorn and the glitter of the midway--for a quintessentially American experience. Some people still want to see the traditional livestock shows and horticultural displays. But by recognizing that modern families are more interested in NASA presentations than in pickling contests, the fair has been able to keep pace with change even as it provides a welcome dose of warm nostalgia.