'WE'RE ON THE MOOOVE' LOGO SET, PLANS AFOOT FOR A.V. FAIR, CONCERTS.

Byline: Peggy Hager Staff Writer

LANCASTER - For the fourth year in a row, local artist Nate Pitkin has been chosen to design the logo for the Antelope Valley Fair.

With the theme of ``We're on the Mooove,'' Pitkin's artwork depicts fair mascot Alfie the Antelope riding in a covered wagon with a cow, sheep and pig.

Chickens hang on to the rear of the wagon with a quarantine sign - reflecting the fact that fair poultry shows have been canceled because of a statewide outbreak of a fatal poultry sickness called exotic Newcastle disease.

Pitkin's previous artwork depicted the themes ``H2O Best of Show,'' ``Space Suits and Cowboy Boots'' and last year's ``A Fair to Remember.''

A local graphics designer, Pitkin works at Bonn's Printing in Lancaster. The first two years, he won the fair's logo contest.

``We just basically asked him to do it the last two years,'' said Dan Jacobs, Antelope Valley Fair Manager. ``He's done such a good job. ... Every one he's ever done, we just loved.''

In a change from previous years, the fair will not allow overnight camping before fair concert tickets go on sale Saturday. Starting at noon Friday, customers can pick up a numbered wristband from the fair box office. They may return at 6 a.m. on Saturday to line up to buy for tickets.

All customers should be in place by 7 a.m. Saturday. If they are not present when their number is called, they will lose their place. Numbered wristbands will be available from noon to 5 p.m. May 2 in the fair office and then throughout the night from the security guards on duty.

``We've been looking at (camping for tickets) a few years,'' said Jacobs. ``It's always gone OK, but we're just afraid.''

Many other venues no longer allow camping for tickets. ``That used to be the only way you could get tickets,'' he said. ``As times change, we started thinking we may have to change with the times.''

Jacob estimates that 80 to 90 people will have an opportunity to purchase their tickets at the fairgrounds before the tickets go on sale with Ticketmaster at 10 a.m. May 3.

``We're trying to please everybody,'' Jacobs said. ``We know we can't, but were trying to give them the opportunity.''

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(color) Alfie the Antelope drives a covered wagon filled with livestock in the logo for this year's A.V. Fair.