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LAKEPORT, Calif. – The home of the Lake County was filled with activity on Wednesday as the final preparations for the opening of the event were under way.
The Ferris wheel towered over the midway as other carnival rides were assembled. Nearby exhibit halls were filling with arts, crafts, flowers, baked goods, photography and other items created by local residents. Vendors were putting up booths to line the fair's main pathways.
In the livestock buildings, 4-H and FFA members were tending to their livestock in preparation for shows and the weekend Junior Livestock Auction.
“We're looking forward to a great year,” said Lake County Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons, who was busy overseeing the final preparations. “The weather is going to be fantastic.”
The fair, which runs from Thursday, Sept. 1, through Sunday, Sept. 4, averages an estimated 40,000 annual visitors, according to Persons.
He said the first Lake County Fair was held in 1880. However, the events weren't held annually until the fair moved to the current fairgrounds at 401 Martin St. in 1948.
The kickoff to the fair takes place on Thursday evening, with the annual Lake County Fair Parade.
Starting at 5:30 p.m., the parade will make its way from Natural High School on N. Main Street, traveling south until it reaches Martin Street, and then traveling to the fair's main gate, where the opening ribbon cutting ceremony will take place. Everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the fair.
This year's fair parade grand marshal is Ginny Craven, founder of Operation Tango Mike, a group which over the past several years has sent thousands of care packages to members of the military stationed overseas.
Fair organizers hope to bring this year's theme – “Make Some Magic!” – to another large audience, and so far indications are that it should be a strong year for attendance.
Persons said presale ticket sales – which ended on Wednesday – have been brisk. A steady stream of visitors were making their way into the fair office Wednesday afternoon to pick up tickets ahead of the fair in order to beat what are expected to be long lines.
Also up “by quite a bit” this year are commercial spaces, said Persons, and the number of animals entered in the livestock division also has grown. So far spaces in the exhibit halls for fair contest entries appear to be on par with previous years.
