Harvesting Tradition

Like the rest of Southern California, the Antelope Valley has not been immune to the wacky weather of recent days. But stubborn heat, extreme humidity and the occasional downpour have not put a damper on what has long been an end-of-summer tradition here: the Antelope Valley Fair and Alfalfa Festival.

As the annual fair heads into its final weekend, officials say concession sales are up and attendance is on pace to surpass last year’s total of 217,000 fair-goers, which was itself 20% higher than the year before.

“The thunderstorms have settled all the dirt, so there is not much dust,” said Jim Greenleaf, the fair’s marketing director. “Once the sun goes down, it cools off, and it’s very nice out here.”

Marking its 60th anniversary, the Antelope Valley Fair began in 1938 when a group of area farmers looking for a permanent location for their annual alfalfa festival paid $2,200 for a 77-acre parcel of land at Avenue I and Division Street.

In recent years, organizers say, they have sought out big-name talent and new attractions to reach out to a younger crowd while striving to preserve the rural flavor of the fair, which originally was a celebration of the harvest.

“For the people who live here, the fair has always been a celebration of the year’s work and a chance to look ahead to the next year,” Greenleaf said. “I like to say that the fair is slow to change, but quick to improve.”

And improve it has, visitors say. Where else in Los Angeles County this weekend can you take in a livestock auction, visit a hands-on science center, watch a demolition derby, ride a Ferris wheel, square dance, shop for a home spa and take part in group hypnosis?

Already this week, country music star LeAnn Rimes and Monster Trucking have appeared--although not together--at the main outdoor arena. Vintage motorcycle racing and the fair’s signature event, the Rural Olympics, are still to come.

For 45 years the Rural Olympics have offered participants a chance to compete at such events as hay loading, tractor driving and a Model T Ford race in which drivers are required to change a tire in the middle of the race. It sounds like fun, but the competition is also serious. There’s a $2,500 top prize in the hay-loading contest alone.

“It still seems like one of the small country fairs; that’s what we like about it. We’ll run into people that we know,” said Margie Lawley, who, with her husband A.J., recently returned to Lancaster after living in Ojai for several years.

“The truth is that I come for the cinnamon rolls and the pepper bellies,” Lawley said, referring to a fiery snack consisting of corn chips with chilies and cheese.

The fair has activities for all ages, something that attracted Sal Ventura, who attended Thursday night with his wife, Lorraine, and their children Sally, 3, and Vince, 2.

“My daughter wants to go on the Ferris wheel, but I’m a little bit chicken,” he said, pushing a stroller containing a large stuffed Cartman character from the animated “South Park” television series that Lorraine won in the basketball toss. “We’ve been here since 4 p.m. and we’re going to go home broke, but we’re having fun.”

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Finding the Festival

The fair will continue today through Monday at the Antelope Valley Fairgrounds, corner of Avenue I and Division Street in Lancaster.

Hours are noon to 1 a.m. today, noon to midnight Sunday and noon to 11 p.m. on Labor Day. From Los Angeles, exit the Antelope Valley Freeway at Avenue I and drive east for 1 1/2 miles.

Admission is $5 general, $3 for seniors 55 and older, and children 6 to 15, and free for members of the military and children 5 and younger.

Information: (805) 948-6060.