Rides, Shows Lure 300,527 to County Fair
New rides such as the Backdraft roller coaster and the Ejection Seat, a reverse bungee drop, helped draw the second-largest crowd in Ventura County Fair history, organizers said Monday.
The 12-day fair, which ended Sunday, drew 300,527 people to Seaside Park, compared with more than 308,000 last year. But officials said they were pleased with the large turnout, which they attributed in part to good weather.
“We were very fortunate,” said fair spokesman John Lockhart. “Hot weather inland pushed people out to the cool fair.”
Among the largest concert draws at the fair were country music star Brad Paisley and country musician Keith Urban. Each attracted between 12,000 and 15,000 people, he said.
Meanwhile, carnival ride and game revenue rose 15% this year, and the Junior Livestock Auction again exceeded sales of $500,000, Lockhart said.
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