You’re Fair Game

Immerse yourself in Expedition Earth. But as you descend into the depths of the largest attraction at the 78th annual Los Angeles County Fair, running today through Oct. 1, pay close attention to what lurks beside you.

For instance, in the Mystic Sea, one of the six Expedition habitats, explore colorful seaweed and sunken treasure, giant whales suspended above coral reefs, slithering eels and some sort of prehistoric whale-lizard creature that has the choppers of an agitated alligator.

There is no aquarium glass, no obvious barriers and, of course, no actual water. But the surroundings are credible enough to give one a submerged sensation. And not only are the creatures of the deep an imposing lot, they also grunt, squawk, sputter and--just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water--they move.

Be prepared to feel like bait.

Thanks to Dinomation, the firm that created the dinosaur exhibit that proved a monumental success last year, two dozen animatronic creatures will commingle with 300 live animals in the most ambitious attraction at the 2000 fair. Exhibit coordinator Kathy Wadham came up with the idea for Expedition Earth during last year’s fair.

“This is our big wow,” Wadham said. “It’s our biggest attraction--always educational and always better than the year before.”

Upon entering Fairplex 7A, a 43,000-square-foot pavilion, visitors will venture into a tropical rain forest, with a conglomerate of giant insects, live plants, waterfalls and colorful birds and butterflies. An imposing, 25-foot animatronic queen termite holds court at one end of the forest.

Walk through a rocky archway and witness a desert night sky above actual desert rocks and cactuses, armadillos and desert tortoises. From there, the trail leads to the grasslands of Australia, where an animatronic prehistoric sloth shares the environment with a live emu, a prairie dog and a raccoon.

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The trunk of a giant redwood serves as the threshold to the temperate forest, where a noisy and sinister-looking prehistoric wart hog greets visitors. Look for a live alligator in the nearby enclosure, nicely camouflaged as a log.

A blast of cold air marks the glacier-like entrance to the arctic tundra, where a woolly mammoth family will dwarf everything else that moves among the snow and ice. A Siberian lynx is among the live animals here.

A coral archway marks the entrance into the mystic sea, among the largest habitats. Peek into the windows and the damaged hull of a shipwreck, where aquariums seemingly allow live fish to swim throughout the ship.

Kids can touch the starfish and other live sea creatures in the tide pool, created especially for hands-on explorations. The nearby shark tank, on the other hand, is not a hands-on exhibit.

Plenty of family activities are set up outside the habitats, where more hands-on exhibits, an entertainment stage and screenings that explain the different ecosystems are presented throughout the day. Kids can explore Crab Beach, where live crabs have taken refuge in the sand, or look for whale fossils in the fossil dig.

A giant animatronic log is not for the squeamish. Make your skin crawl with the push of a button, which sends animatronic ants, spiders, termites and other squiggly-crawly insects and reptiles scampering about the log.

Expedition Earth is but one of numerous fair attractions. Thunder Alley, a motorsports midway, is the newest addition to the National Hot Rod Assn. exhibit. An actual pit area will re-create the commotion at an NHRA race.

Kids traditionally gravitate to the Etnies Gravity Zone Skate Park, featuring BMX riders and skateboarders. The “Creative Living 2000” exhibit highlights everything from clothing construction to computer Web sites. The America’s Kids building has an African safari theme and offers live animal and reptile shows. There is also a “Bees and Honey” exhibit that will provide honey samples as well as plenty of hands-on educational activities.

The Millard Sheets Gallery will present “Art 2000: Applauding Revolutionary Talent,” focusing on California’s future in fine art and photography. Events and activities for children and adults, along with artist demonstrations, are planned throughout the fair.

Of course, the carnival rides and midway games are fair standards, along with more food than you can shake a corn dog at.

Concert headliners include Cheap Trick tonight; War on Friday, Eddie Money and Paul Rodgers (Bad Company) on Saturday, Tower of Power on Sept. 23, KC and the Sunshine Band on Sept. 29, and Styx on Sept. 30.

* L.A. County Fair, Fairplex, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Today-Oct. 1. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Opening day: $2. Regular admission: $10; $5 after 5 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays; seniors $7, $3.50 on Tuesdays; ages 6 to 12 free on weekdays, $5 on weekends. Call for other discounts and promotions. (909) 623-3111.