Valley Fair Considers Santa Clarita Move

The San Fernando Valley Fair may be jumping to greener pastures in another valley if talks between event organizers and the city of Santa Clarita lead to a permanent home for the fair.

The Valley Fair, which has been held at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center near Griffith Park for the past five years, is looking for a permanent site and event organizers said Wednesday that they are talking to Santa Clarita officials about a fairgrounds there.

The city confirmed that discussions are taking place. “This is in line with the city’s efforts to increase tourism in Santa Clarita,” city spokeswoman Gail Ortiz said. “But this would be a major undertaking and the logistics are still a little sketchy.”

The fair is organized by the state’s 51st Agricultural District, which covers both the San Fernando and Santa Clarita valleys.

About 50,000 people are expected to attend the four-day event June 5-8. It is designed to promote the area’s agricultural heritage and features a junior livestock auction.

Dale Coons, manager of the 50-year-old fair, said representatives from the city of Santa Clarita and members of the city’s Chamber of Commerce approached her organization over a year ago about moving the fair to Santa Clarita.

“They are attracted to the fair because it’s a wholesome family event. We have definitely been talking to them and will continue to talk. It is our goal to have a permanent location,” she said, and fair officials find Santa Clarita an attractive prospect.

The fair, held for many years at Devonshire Downs at Cal State Northridge, bounced around to Hansen Dam and other locations before landing at the equestrian center, Coons said.

Coons added that no specific locations for the fairgrounds have been discussed and that the fair has a verbal commitment with the equestrian center for another three years.

“But there are no binding contracts,” she said.

Event organizers had to negotiate for the venue on a yearly basis until the agreement was reached three months ago, Coons said.

Administrators of the equestrian center would not comment and representatives of the Santa Clarita Chamber of Commerce did not return phone calls from The Times.