Ventura County Fair has it all

BY STEVEN LIBOWTIZ
DAILY SOUND ARTS EDITOR

It’s a strange sort of irony that the biggest and best fair in the Santa Barbara area isn’t even in Santa Barbara County.
The Santa Barbara Fair, held over five days each April, is a nice event, but it’s somewhat limited in size, scope and duration, and it’s only been around 18 years. The 116-year-old Santa Barbara County Fair, held in mid-July, is a much more venerable gathering, and lasts one day longer, but it’s a good 90-plus miles from town, and darn hot at the landlocked Santa Maria venue.

But the Ventura County Fair has it all.
The 12-day extravaganza, which began Wednesday and continues through Sunday, Aug. 12, is less than a 30-mile drive from downtown Santa Barbara and staged in the appropriately named oceanfront Seaside Park, naturally cooled by ocean breeze. The 132-year-old Ventura fair has absolutely everything you want in a county fair, from huge 4H animal competitions, to a massive carnival, a non-stop horse show, animal races, gobs of food booths (including the famous sticky buns), three buildings full of exhibits, commercial vendors, strolling performers, a nightly fireworks display (at 10 p.m.) and entertainment on three stages.
This last item is part of what makes the Ventura County Fair such a bargain. Where California’s Mid-State Fair charges lots of moolah for tickets to the pop concerts every night, in Ventura, it’s all including in the price of general admission: a measly $8 for adults (defined as those between the ages of 13-61), $5 for children age 6-12 and seniors age 62-99, and free for kids 5 and under and “super seniors” 100 or older.
And we’re not talking about singers and bands that you’ve never heard of. These are the kinds of acts that have appeared not all that long ago at the Chumash Casino and/or Santa Barbara Bowl
“It’s really important for us not to charge a separate admission for the concerts,” said Barbara Boester-Quaid, the CEO of the Ventura County Fair. “The fair has always been a good value for people and we want to keep it that way. Every time you have to dip into your wallet for something else, it can be really hard on a family. We want to stay a bargain so the whole community can enjoy the fair.”
This year’s entertainment line-up includes: County singer Tanya Tucker (tonight); ’70/’80s rock band REO Speedwagon (tomorrow), alternative bands Hinder and Papa Roach (Monday, Aug. 6), ’70s soft-rock hitmaker Tony Orlando (Tuesday, Aug. 7, at 1 p.m.), surf-rock legends The Beach Boys (Aug. 7 at 7:30 p.m.), country singer Jo Dee Messina (Wednesday, Aug. 8), The Bangles (Thursday, Aug. 9), Lifehouse (Friday, Aug. 10), and the PRCA Rodeo for two shows each day next Friday and Saturday, Aug. 11-12, at 2 & 7 p.m.
“We try to book something for everyone, harder music for the younger set, someone like Tony Orlando for the seniors, country rock, oldies, ’80s rock, you name it,” said Boester-Quaid. “It helps to get everyone involved in the fair.”
She suggested that Santa Barbara residents who want to come to a concert arrive several hours early to make a day of it.
“Start with the exhibit buildings,” she said. “That’s what fairs are really all about, how they got started in the 1800s as a way for people to bring their wares to market. We try to keep that going. So walk through and see what the folks in the community have spent all year putting together.”
Boester-Quaid said she was particularly impressed by this year’s photography exhibits as well as those in the youth building. “It’s astounding what they come up with for the competitive exhibits, craftsman, photos, hobbies of all sorts, and a variety of collections. For me, that’s the heart of the fair. Everything else is just entertainment.”
After the exhibits, Boester-Quaid recommends “having something to eat you wouldn’t have any other time of the year. Just indulge. It’s only once a year. Then go see the show, walk back to the carnival – try the Bungee Jumper if you dare – and stay for the fireworks and then head home, exhausted.”
The fair is open daily 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekdays, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. on weekends and Tuesday, Aug. 7. The commercial building closes at 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Carnival wristband days ($25) offer unlimited rides 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. on Aug. 2, 6, 7 & 9. For information, call 648-3376 or visit www.venturacountyfair.org.