LAKEPORT, Calif. – Just about anything you can make or grow at home is eligible for entry into competition at the annual Lake County Fair.
The contest entry system is available now at www.lakecountyfair.com , with a final deadline of Wednesday, Aug. 8.
New contest categories are available for fly tying, wine barrel creations, recipes, decorative gourds, and decorated gift boxes, while several contest areas added in 2011 will also return, including the salad in a wheel barrow contest, new categories for honey and olive oil, and a number of new classifications of flowers.
All together, nearly three thousand competitive classes are offered, with prize money available in nearly all of them.
Exhibitor Contest Handbooks are available starting the middle of June in a variety of locations around Lake County, including the Greater Lakeport Chamber of Commerce, the 4-H office, senior centers, the Farm Bureau office, Kelseyville Drug, Rainbow Ag, Hardester's Markets, Middletown Feed, Lakeshore Feed, Riviera Foods, the Clearlake Chamber of Commerce, Pet Acres and the Redwood Empire Fair.
Lake County Fair contest entry forms must be filled out on the Internet. Contestants can access the forms from any computer with Internet access at the fair's Web site, www.lakecountyfair.com .
A high speed Internet connect is required. Computers are available in a variety of places, including schools, libraries and the fairgrounds office. Fairgrounds staff will be happy to assist contestants who visit the fairgrounds office during regular business hours.
Contestants are well advised to avoid the last minute rush and get their entries completed early.
One of Lake County's favorite summertime events, Lake County Fair is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year, making it the largest single event in the county.
Lake County Fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival, and livestock shows, and traditionally occurs Labor Day weekend each year at the fairgrounds in Lakeport.
The 2012 fair dates are Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 2.
The Lake County Fair Board has chosen "Summer's Biggest Blast!" for the theme of the 2012 Fair.
The fair will continue its unwritten policy supporting local talent for 2012, and will feature many bands from the local area.
In addition, the Lake County Fair Talent Competition will take place on Saturday, Aug. 2, on the main stage.
Visitors also can take part in many impromptu talent opportunities, including a paddle ball contest, squirt gun contest, bubble gum blowing contest, hula hoop contest, fruit sculpture contest, and water balloon toss, all activities which will occur during the 2012 event.
A new low cost ticket promotion will debut in 2012, thanks to a partnership with Lake County Can. Visitors to Lake County Fair on Friday, Aug. 31, will receive free admission between the hours of four pm and seven pm if they donate four cans of food.
All food collected will be used to replenish food pantry operations in Lake County.
For more information about the Lake County Fair, residents can check www.lakecountyfair.com for regular updates, "like" the Lake County Fair's Facebook page, or call 707-263-6181.