Ventura County Fair Opens at Seaside Park

Featuring a “Hooray for Hollywood” theme, the 2004 Ventura County Fair begins at 11 a.m. today at Seaside Park in Ventura.

Fair organizers are hoping the 12-day event will top last year’s attendance, which drew record crowds to the annual music and carnival extravaganza. This year’s event ends Aug. 15.

“We’re trying to best the 308,000 [attendance] number from last year, which was the all-time record for any Ventura County Fair,” said spokesman John Lockhart.

“We’re hoping to get 30,000 a day,” he said.

In addition to the midway, the fair’s musical acts are expected to be a big draw. Country singer Brad Paisley takes the stage at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Other scheduled performers include the Village People, Keith Urban, Crystal Gayle, Sugar Ray, Smash Mouth and the B-52s.

“The concerts bring in huge crowds,” said Leah Lacayo, a fair board member. “We like that. The concerts and the music fans really help make the fair a success.”

This year’s theme is a tribute to the county’s role in the entertainment industry. It has been the site of numerous television and motion picture productions over the years, including “Swordfish” with John Travolta and Halle Berry, and “Chaplin” with Robert Downey Jr.

Other fair attractions include motor sports and a demolition derby that runs today and Thursday and a rodeo scheduled for 2 and 7 p.m. Aug. 14 and 15.

The annual fair parade is scheduled for 10 a.m. Saturday at Main and Catalina streets in downtown Ventura. It will feature bands, floats and equestrians.

For details, visit the fair’s website at www.coolfair.com.

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Ventura County Fair

Dates: Aug. 4-15

Location: Seaside Park, Harbor Boulevard and Figueroa Street, Ventura.

Hours: The fair will open each day at 11 a.m. All exhibits close at 10 p.m. The carnival and midway will be open till 11 p.m.

Admission: $7 general; $4 persons 62 years and older, and 6 to 12; free, 5-years-old and younger.

Special admission days:

* Opening Day, today: Receive $2 off for FoodShare donation of three or more cans of food.

* Youth Day, Friday: children 12 years and younger admitted free.

* Seniors & Persons With Disabilities Day, Tuesday: Persons 62 and older and all handicapped persons admitted free.

* Pepsi Family Day, Wednesday, Aug. 11: With coupon, two adults and children 12 years and younger admitted for $15.

* Military Appreciation Day, Thursday, Aug. 12: All personnel with current, valid military ID admitted free.

Carnival: Rides and midway will be open each day till 11 p.m.; $18 wristbands, good for unlimited rides until 6 p.m., will be available today and Aug. 9-11.

Parade: The annual fair parade will commence at 10 a.m. Saturday and proceed along Main Street from Ventura High School to San Buenaventura Mission.

Parking and Shuttle Information: Fairgrounds parking accommodates less than 2,000 vehicles; $5 per vehicle. Free shuttle service is available each day from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. at six locations, all in Ventura except where noted: San Buenaventura State Beach (beach parking fee, $5; shuttle service is free); Ventura County Government Center, off Telephone Road; Ventura High School, off Poli Street; corner of Schooner Drive and Harbor Boulevard, across from the Sheraton Four Points Hotel; Pacific View Mall, Telegraph Road; Oxnard Performing Arts Center, 800 Hobson Way.

More information: (805) 648-3376; www.seasidepark.org/vcfair or www.coolfair.com

Source: Ventura County Fair Board

Los Angeles Times