LAKEPORT, Calif. – The last-minute touches are nearing completion for the Lake County Fair, which opens Thursday evening.
On Wednesday work was under way at the fairgrounds, located at 401 Martin St. in Lakeport, with workers assembling rides and concession booths.
The fair will run from Thursday, Aug. 30, through Sunday, Sept. 2. This year’s theme is “Summer's Biggest Blast!”
Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons said preparations are on track, with a lot to look forward to at this year’s event.
There are a number of new food vendors this year, the fair’s commercial exhibits are sold out – and are almost entirely local businesses – plus, “The weather is supposed to be fantastic,” he said, with daytime highs estimated to be in the 90s.
On Thursday evening, the fair parade – the kickoff event for the fair – will start at Natural High on Main Street in Lakeport at 5:30 p.m.
The parade will travel south on Main Street, ending at the main gate at the fairgrounds on Martin Street with the ribbon cutting. Everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the fair.
This year’s parade grand marshals are members of the Lake County Military Funeral Honors Team.
The team, which has paid tribute at the final services for more than 800 Lake County veterans, will lead the parade, and at the main gate will cut the ribbon declaring the Lake County Fair open for another year.
Persons reported that the team will lead the parade with a color guard, a marching unit and the team's commanders.
On Friday, the fair is partnering with Lake County CAN for an inaugural canned food drive to help feed Lake County’s hungry.
Those who bring four cans of food to the fair between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. will gain free fair admission. Persons said the goal is to fill 10 pear bins – the equivalent of about two tons – with food for local food pantries.
One of the fair’s main events is the Junior Livestock Auction, which takes place beginning at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 1, in the Baldwin Pavilion.
“Livestock is arriving and it appears the number of lots for the Junior Livestock Auction will be up, so we're hoping to set another record for the sale on Saturday,” Persons said.
This year there are more than 4,000 exhibits entered in the fair’s many competitions and a variety of musical acts – including several based in Lake County.
There also will be the Lake County Invitational Bomber Race on Thursday evening, a freestyle motorcycle high jump with mud drags on Friday evening, California State Finals of the WGAS Motorsports Tuff Truck and Buggy Races on Saturday evening and the demolition derby – with a bigger, enhanced purse for the winners – on Sunday evening, Persons reported.
Persons said that fair prices remain unchanged from last year.
Regular admission prices are $10 for a regular ticket, $6 for a senior over age 60, and $6 for children ages 6 through 11. Children under 6 years old are admitted free every day.
In addition, children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, Aug. 30 only, for "Kid's Day."
For more information, visit www.lakecountyfair.com or check out the fair’s Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/pages/Lake-County-Fair/138978582794813 .
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
2012 Lake County Fair Schedule