VENTURA COUNTY FAIR OFFERS CHANCE TO EXPERIENCE THRILLS, CHILLS.Byline: Michael Coit Daily News Staff Writer One of the coolest places to hang out this weekend is the Ventura County Fair, with fare ranging from rodeo cowboys and draft horse teams to a chili cook-off and VIPs baking lemon pies. The fair's 12-day run will end Sunday, and officials are counting on cooler beach temperatures to continue luring families from inland areas to beat the summer sizzle siz·zle intr.v. siz·zled, siz·zling, siz·zles 1. To make the hissing sound characteristic of frying fat. 2. To seethe with anger or indignation. 3. - and boost attendance sagging due to an earlier starting date. ``Although those of us who live at the coast are whining about the heat, it's 20 degrees cooler for folks from the east end of the county and the Valley,'' said Terri Raley, fair publicist. Judging from ridership on special Metrolink trains running weekend days from Chatsworth, more fairgoers are coming from farther away. There were 6,400 riders the first weekend - up 1,100 from last year - and the train will run again today and Sunday. Metrolink also added a train this year that leaves the fair at 10 p.m., so fireworks fireworks: see pyrotechnics. fireworks Explosives or combustibles used for display. Of ancient Chinese origin, fireworks evidently developed out of military rockets and explosive missiles and accompanied the spread of military explosives westward to fans can catch the nightly sparkling splendor. ``Obviously, this is a way of enjoying the fair without the hassle of driving,'' said Peter Hidalgo Hidalgo, state, Mexico Hidalgo (ēthäl`gō), state (1990 pop. 1,888,366), 8,058 sq mi (20,870 sq km), central Mexico. Pachuca de Soto is the capital. , Metrolink spokesman. ``Especially with the temperatures we've been having and the fair being right on the beach and the crowds, it makes it easier to enjoy the fair.'' Saturday's tasty highlights include the 18th annual chili cook-off sanctioned by the International Chili Society - no beans allowed - and the VIP lemon pie contest. Given that Saturday is Beef Day at the fair, the Ventura Cattleman's Association will offer tasting around the lunch hour. Those seeking something stronger can watch sturdy teams of draft horses draft horses see draft animals. pull weighted sleds, or the local edition of the World Professional Arm-wrestling Championships. Then there is the cow chip Noun 1. cow chip - a piece of dried bovine dung buffalo chip, cow dung, chip droppings, dung, muck - fecal matter of animals toss, a fund-raiser for the Junior Fair Board at a dollar a toss. Bill Haley's Comets featuring Al Rappa, the band's bassist since 1956, will perform two night shows. Sunday will open with the 3rd annual cheerleading The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. Please [ improve this article] or discuss the issue on the talk page. competition. Agility of a different kind will be on display when young riders race against the clock through a course of mounted broom sticks. Carriage, Fresian and draft horses will show all day, with singing impressionist Johnny Counterfeit providing the evening entertainment. The fair's grandstand should be packed both days for the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Associations The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) is an organization whose members compete in rodeos around the United States. The PRCA sanctions rodeo venues and events through the PRCA Circuit System. rodeo, with Sunday's events billed as ``A Salute to Mexico.'' ``The closing weekend is always a busy weekend,'' Raley said. That could be especially true this year. The fair started a week earlier so Best of Show winners could compete at the state fair and to avoid overlapping with early school starts. But the early start also has contributed to attendance being down about 6 percent, Raley said. ``It's still a great bargain family entertainment event,'' she said. FAIR INFORMATION The Ventura County Fair will run through Sunday at Seaside Park, at the west end of Harbor Boulevard Harbor Boulevard is a major divided street in central Orange County. It runs from Costa Mesa through Santa Ana, Anaheim and La Habra before it ends at Fullerton Road in Rowland Heights just over the Los Angeles County border. in Ventura. Gates will open at 11 a.m. and will close at 11:30 p.m. today and midnight Sunday. Tickets are $6 for adults, $3 for children ages 6 to 12, $3 for seniors ages 55 and older. Children ages 5 and younger are free. Parking is $5 at Seaside Park. There is free parking with shuttle bus service from Ventura High School Ventura High School is a secondary school located in Ventura, California. It is a California Distinguished School which was founded in 1889. Famous Alumni Include: Eric Turner (Cleveland Browns), Jamal Wilkes (Los Angeles Lakers), Tyler Ebell (National High School Heisman), on Main Street, the Buenaventura Mall on Mills Road, and the Ventura County Government Center on Telephone Road. CAPTION(S): Photo, Box PHOTO Riders on the Grand Wheel at the Ventura County Fair get a bird's eye view of the sun's setting. Michael Owen
BOX: FAIR INFORMATION (see text) |
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