LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County is gearing up for its new Spring Fair.
The inaugural event opens on Friday, June 14, and runs through Sunday, June 16.
“It was tough picking dates for a new spring event, but this weekend worked the best,” said Fair Chief Executive Officer Richard Persons. “Schools are all out and the last graduation is Friday, June 14. The weather should be great in the middle of June.”
Persons added, “The carnival was available and the fairgrounds calendar had an opening. And there are enough other activities to hopefully draw some tourists to Lake County, like the VW show in Lakeport and Middletown Days in the South County.”
The Lake County Spring Fair is a new event that combines several activities from past years, including a carnival, a home and garden pavilion, a car show and vocational education exhibits.
Other attractions include a variety of food, two stages of local entertainment, motorized grandstand activities, a laser tag building and various commercial displays.
Gates open all three days at 2 p.m., and admission is $5 per person for ages 6 and older. Children under 6 are admitted for free.
Carnival unlimited ride wristbands will be $25 each at the fair, but can be purchased through Thursday, June 13, for $20 at the fairgrounds office.
Parking is $5 per car, and benefits the Kelseyville High School softball program.
Local acts on the stages include an opening night performance by Twice As Good who will take to the Theater Main Stage at 8 p.m.
Before Twice As Good performs, the Snake Alley band will be on the stage for several sets on Friday afternoon and evening.
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The Theater Main Stage will host the Lake County Diamonds on Saturday, and the Mark Weston Band on Sunday, with several sets each day. The Mediacom Gazebo Stage will host the Cherry Road Gang for several sets all three days.
In addition to the musical acts, Fill-up the Clown will be strolling the grounds performing magic tricks, creating balloon animals, and generally creating laughter. In addition, a face painter will be active near the carnival entrance from the grandstands area.
Events in the grandstand arena include mud bogs on Friday evening, tuff truck and buggy and ATV races on Saturday evening, and an invitational auto race on Sunday evening. All grandstand shows start at 7:30 p.m. Local participants are also encouraged all three nights, and entry can be made through Lakeport Speedway at 707-279-9577.
Phil Lewis Hall will host a variety of home and garden displays, and a collection of 2012 Lake County schools vocational education projects will be on display. Fritch Hall will host a laser tag emporium open to the public.
“We tried to keep Father's Day in mind during planning for the event, so the laser tag is something dads can do with their kids. There is a small fee, but dads don't have to buy a wristband and ride the rides with the kids,” said Persons.
Other activities with dads in mind are the home and garden displays, along with two days of car shows.
“We've invited anyone with an antique, classic, or custom car to display it on Saturday, and anyone with a Corvette to display on Sunday,” said Persons.
Show cars, along with the driver and one passenger, will be admitted between noon and 2 p.m. Both days. They can enter the fairgrounds from C Street, and should RSVP to the fair office at 707-263-6181 or to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
Cars will be on display from 2 p.m. Until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Car clubs participating in the event include the Mt. Konocti Antique Auto Club, the No Name Car Club, the Clear Lake Car Club, the Lake County Model “A” Club, and the Corvettes of Lake County.
Food for the event will include traditional fair staples like corn dogs, cotton candy, hamburgers and ice cream. A variety of less traditional but fair-style fried dough, including mini doughnuts and doughboys, will be available with a variety of toppings on either.
Asian, European, and Mexican foods along with a wide variety of drinks and beers are available as well. Kettle cooked popcorn in a several flavors will compete for attention with fried cheese on a stick, fried asparagus and fried zucchini. Smoked ribs, pork schnitzel, bratwurst, kielbasa, and a variety of kabobs will round out the fare.
More information about the Lake County Spring Fair can be found at www.lakecountyfair.com or at the Fair's Facebook page.