SANTA CLARITA WOOS VALLEY FAIR : CITY LOOKS TO ADD TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.

Byline: Amy Collins Daily News Staff Writer

Hoping to snatch the Valley Fair from the San Fernando basin, Santa Clarita is setting its sights on adding one more major event to its list of attractions drawing tourist dollars from outside the area.

A year-round entertainment facility might even be built in Santa Clarita to accommodate the fair, city and fair officials said Thursday.

``There is nothing concrete. It's very preliminary,'' said Dale Coons, the fair's manager.

The 50-year-old Valley Fair drew 50,000 visitors last year to the Los Angeles Equestrian Center, where the fair has been held the past five years and is scheduled again for June 5-8.

``It's been a good location. I have a good working relationship with them. But we have always looked for a permanent location since we left California State University, Northridge,'' Coons said.

John Danielson, parks and recreation manager for the city of Santa Clarita, said the city approached fair organizers several years ago when they were gathering information for a parks and recreation master plan.

Valley Fair organizers later toured the Santa Clarita Valley and last year indicated they would consider the area as a permanent home.

Danielson said the city directed the fair organizers - the state's 51st Agricultural District - to the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce, where a public-private partnership is among the options being discussed.

``The city's involvement is wait-and-see,'' Danielson said.

Luring the fair to Santa Clarita would add to the list of regional tourist attractions that include the Cowboy Poetry and Musical Festival, the Santa Clarita International Film Festival and the Santa Clarita Marathon.

``But this would be even broader in scope because it would be a year-round venue,'' said Rick Putnam, Santa Clarita's director of parks, recreation and community development.

He said the events draw people and their money to the community and make it a better place for the residents by spinning off impacts on the schools, businesses, real estate values, and overall economic health.

``Each one of these special events contribute to the health of a community,'' Putnam said.

Danielson said the fairgrounds also would help fill the city's dearth of performing venues.

``That could be a tremendous boon to the performing and cultural arts community,'' he said. ``Whether the Valley Fair comes here or not, we're going to have to address those needs.''

The Valley Fair was called the San Fernando Valley Fair until last year, when it changed its name to be more inclusive. Entertainment events have included rodeos, livestock shows, carnival rides, western dance exhibitions and arts and crafts.

The 51st district encompasses all of the San Fernando Valley, with borders east of Burbank, south at Mulholland Drive, west at Ventura County and the northern boundary stretches up the Golden State Freeway to Gorman, Coons said.