Fair offers five days of family fun

Fair offers five days of family fun
By Sarah Rohrs/Times-Herald staff writer
Posted: 07/22/2009 01:00:10 AM PDT

Workers from Butler Amusement place fences around the Lolly Swing, a ride that was owned by Michael Jackson and came from Neverland Ranch. The Solano County Fair opens today in Vallejo. (Chris Riley/Times-Herald)
Whether it will be rocker Eddie Money, wiener dog races, carnival rides, or livestock shows, officials hope large crowds will twirl the Solano County Fair turnstiles beginning today.

The five-day Solano County Fair kicks off at 11 a.m. with a short ceremony at the Vallejo fairgrounds including a color guard, short remarks and the singing of "Happy Birthday."

A touch of the late Michael Jackson will be present. On hand during the fair's five-day run is a kiddy carnival ride called a "Lolly Swing Ride," once ridden by children at Jackson's Neverland Ranch near Santa Barbara.

Fair officials said the ride is stationed next to Gibson Hall on the Vallejo fairgrounds and is geared for young children, and may have been at the Alameda County Fair that ran July 1-19.

To mark the fair's 60th birthday, seniors 60 and older will get in free today. Called Solano Derby Day, today's first day will have much activity at the horse racing arena with mint juleps, $1 hot dogs and souvenirs.

The fair could see its last days of horse racing, although fair general manager Mike Paluszak said an official decision won't be made until later.

Admission prices are the same as last year. Tickets will allow participants to attend horse racing and celebrity venues, including "American Idol" runner-up Kimberley Locke, Con Funk Shun, War, and Hispanic stars Los Mismos.

Paluszak expects about 60,000 to attend this year's fair, 5 percent more than in 2008.

"It's a little bit
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of a trend from last year and, if the weather cooperates, it sounds like it might be bigger," Paluszak said. Vallejo's weather is expected to range from the mid-70s to low 80s during the fair's five-day run.

Though many are struggling financially, organizers are hoping people will pick the fair for some local fun rather than taking out-of-town trips.

In the last several years, the fair has tried to beef up attendance through a combination of big name entertainment, a shorter run and showcasing Solano County's agricultural exhibits.

Last year, there were two weeks of horse racing, including five days while the fair was in full swing. However, Paluszak said that was shortened since horse racing did not do well after the fair closed.

This year's fair also will not showcase big events in its sports arena, such as the Demolition Derby and the Lucha Libra World Power Wrestling shows held last year. Paluszak said these events are expensive to stage and were not well attended.

Since 2005, the fair has tried a number of things to find success.

In an experiment that turned the sprawling Vallejo Fairgrounds into a near ghost town, big name entertainment was kept off the stage.

Instead, the fair focused on family entertainment and agricultural displays.

But after attendance plunged, organizers reversed course the following year, booking Gladys Knight and other big names. They also cut the fair in half from 10 days and shared horse racing with the Sonoma County fair.

Though hit by triple-digit heat, fair attendance in 2006 rose nearly 15 percent, suggesting fair-goers favored the big acts.

In 2007, attendance remained about the same.

Last year, it appeared the fair had hit somewhat of a stride by posting a 5 percent attendance hike with good turnouts for B.B. King and Keith Sweat. Nearly 52,450 people attended.

The highest total attendance in recent years was 114,000 in 2002.

Though some periodically insist the fair's demise is near, Paluszak said the venue is here to stay.

Both Solano County and city of Vallejo officials have both approved conceptual development plans that include a lake-sized water feature, embellishment of the existing fair, a multi-purpose arena, exhibition hall, sports fields, lodging, restaurants and retail stores.

Contact staff writer Sarah Rohrs at srohrs@thnewsnet.com or (707) 553-6832.

IF YOU GO

Solano County Fair

Wednesday to Sunday

Vallejo Fairgrounds

Cost: $8, adults, $4, children and seniors, and free, 5 and under. Parking, $6.

For more details and daily schedule go to www.scfair.com/sc/.