County Fair Promises Old, New

Ventura County fairgoers will have to take a pass on perusing the poultry exhibit this year, but will find plenty of other entertainment and activities, including a creepy, crawly reptile show.

The 2003 Ventura County Fair opens Wednesday for its annual 12-day run at Seaside Park in Ventura, and spokeswoman Teri Raley said she is hoping for as many people as last year, when 292,394 set a record.

But a lot depends on external factors, she said.

“We’re praying for scorching weather in the Valley,� Raley said, since a spike in temperatures often spurs San Fernando Valley residents to head for Ventura County’s beachside fairgrounds.

On Sunday, a steady stream of youngsters accompanied by their parents walked a portion of the mostly empty midway -- past ice cream and snow-cone stands -- toward a large Quonset hut partially filled with youth exhibits.

At a table across from a wall of colorful paintings, two volunteers helped Karoun Kasraie, 12, and his brother, Kalen, 8, of Ventura register their homemade cookies in a youth baked-goods competition. The treats will be judged on presentation and taste.

“I love baking and it’s really fun to have other people like the judges tell me their opinion too,� said Karoun, a past ribbon winner. This year, he is entering gingerbread bears, which he adorned with red bow ties made of fruit peel strips and chocolate chip belly buttons.

Kalen entered snowman cookies, decorated with red candy buttons and mini scarves.

“They’ve always liked baking and bringing something in,� said the boys’ mother, Laurie.

Today, adults from across the county will begin delivering their cookies, candies and other food items to be judged, while workers continue setting up the booths and entertainment stages.

Raley, the fair spokeswoman, expects the entertainment to be a draw. Big Bad Voodoo Daddy will perform Aug. 5 and LeAnn Rimes Aug. 6, both at 7:30 p.m.

Blame the lack of poultry this year on an outbreak of exotic Newcastle disease in October. Fears that the deadly avian virus could spread spurred a ban at county fairs throughout the state. Instead, there will be photographs of chickens -- in costumes, Raley said.

Making up in part for the paucity of poultry is Brad’s World Reptiles, which will run the first nine days of the fair in Porker Flats.

The offbeat petting zoo, set in a make-believe rain forest, will feature more than a dozen slithery creatures. Reptilian participants will include an anaconda, boa constrictors, several varieties of king snakes and a Taiwanese beauty snake, along with tortoises, chameleons, snapping turtles, an iguana, an American alligator and -- not to be handled -- spiders and scorpions.

Fairgoers who like the tried-and-true will not be disappointed.

The fair parade, which begins at 10 a.m. Saturday at Main and Catalina streets in downtown Ventura, will again feature bands, floats, equestrians, tractors and, as grand marshals this year, the national champion Moorpark High School Academic Decathlon team.

Inside the fairgrounds, Mad Science returns to the Youth Building. The popular kids show, which features audience participation, will focus on agriculture this year.

The carnival and midway will be in their usual spots, but with a different look. Ray Cammack Shows, which has operated the attractions for the last 11 fairs, is skipping the Ventura run this year because of a conflict with the Orange County Fair.

So fair Deputy Manager Barbara Boester has put together about 40 rides and attractions -- the same number as in past years -- run by independent operators. Everything has come together nicely, Raley said.

“Barbara has cherry-picked the industry and gotten really, really good rides,� she said.

This year’s fair will feature the return of an $18 wristband, good for unlimited rides between 11 a.m. and 6 p.m. Wednesday and Monday through Aug. 6. Fairgoers can also save money on the two Thursdays of the fair by arriving between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m., when admission is only $1.

Other discounted days are Friday, admission free for youths 12 and younger; Aug. 5, free for senior citizens and those with disabilities; and Aug. 7, free for military with ID. Otherwise, admission, unchanged from last year, is $7 general, $4 for senior citizens and children 6 through 12, and free for children 5 and younger.

Also returning is a ban on gang attire. The policy was criticized by some local Hells Angels, who again will be prohibited from wearing club clothing.

Raley defended the rule.

“Obviously, [national spokesman] George Christie [Jr.] will come in his colors and be denied admission, but I think the policy is a good one and I think it’s unfortunate that this becomes a test case,� she said.

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The fair opens Wednesday and closes Aug. 10. Hours are 11 a.m. to midnight, with the exhibit buildings closing at 10 p.m. Parking is $5 at the fairgrounds, but free shuttles are available from the County Government Center (off Telephone Road in Ventura), Ventura High School (Poli Street lots), the corner of Schooner Drive and Harbor Boulevard (across from the Sheraton Four Points Hotel), Pacific View Mall in Ventura and the Oxnard Performing Arts Center on Hobson Way in Oxnard. For details, call 648-3376 or visit www.seasidepark.org/vcfair/index.html.