LAKEPORT, Calif. – Lake County's premiere family event, the Lake County Fair, opens this Thursday, Aug. 29, and runs through Sunday, Sept. 1.
The Lake County Fair is one of Lake County's favorite summertime events, and is enjoyed by nearly 40,000 people each year.
The fair features a variety of entertainment, food, exhibits, a carnival and livestock shows.
This year's fair theme is “Find Great Treasures!”
Special features for the 2013 Fair include the People's Choice Wine Tasting and Awards, a canned food drive, the annual Junior Livestock Auction, and thousands of exhibits entered in various competitions.
Fairgoers also can expect appearances by a variety of local musical acts and attractions on two stages, as well as clowns, magicians, and other strolling performers.
Fiesta Latina activities will take place on the Theater Main Stage area on Sunday, September 1st, and are presented by Robinson Rancheria Resort and Casino.
Events in the grandstand arena include the Lake County BMX Bicycle Madness trick show and motorhome crash on Thursday, the Lakeport – Ukiah Bomber Challenge final race on Friday, the WGAS Cal State Tuff Truck Finals on Saturday, and the Masters of Destruction One Shot Truck Derby and burnout contest on Sunday, sponsored by the Lake County Tribal Health Consortium.
All grandstand shows start at 7:30 pm.
Local participants also are encouraged in the demo derby, the tuff truck races, and the burnout competition.
Live local entertainment occurs continuously on two stages. The Theater Main Stage will showcase national touring act Twice As Good on Saturday at 8pm. Other local acts, including the LC Diamonds, Snake Alley Band, the “E” Ticket Band, and the Mark Weston Band, will also play the main stage. The Mediacom Stage will host a variety of acts including Travis Rinker, Michael Barrish and the Cherry Road Gang.
A fair parade, the kick-off event for the annual Lake County Fair, takes place beginning at 5:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29.
The parade starts at Natural High in Lakeport, travels south on Main Street, and ends at the main gate to the fairgrounds with the ribbon cutting ceremony.
Upon arrival at the main gate, everyone who enters the parade with a float will receive free entry to the fair.
Fair buildings and grounds swell to bursting with the thousands of displays made, grown, or raised for entry by talented residents both young and young at heart. Entries for judging in the fair include most types of fine arts, home arts and crafts, photography, amateur wine and beer, many types of agriculture and floriculture, livestock, small animals, and horses.
Walk on contests this year include a hula hoop contest, a water balloon toss, an on-the-spot fruit sculpting contest and a bubble gum blowing contest. Horse and wagon rides will be provided free by Calpine Corp.
The annual Junior Livestock Auction takes place on Saturday, Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. in the Baldwin Pavilion. Businesses and individuals are invited to bid on the prize-winning livestock raised and exhibited by local youth.
Various livestock species are displayed throughout the fair, including swine, beef, sheep, goat and horse exhibits from local 4-H and FFA exhibitors. Small animals are represented as well, with chickens, turkeys, rabbits and cavies all residing in the barn areas.
Also in the Baldwin Pavilion, the annual Round Robin contests pit the best showmen and showwomen in each species against each other to be named the best showperson of the fair. The Round Robin takes place at 6 p.m. on Saturday, immediately following the Livestock Auction.
Regular admission prices for the 2013 Lake County Fair remain unchanged since 2011. 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.
Children through age 11 are admitted for $3 on Thursday, Aug. 29, only, for “Kid's Day.”
A special admission program is in place for Friday, Aug. 30. Anyone who brings four four cans of food to the gate between 4 p.m. and 7 p.m. will receive free admission, with the food benefiting local food pantries through Lake County CAN.
The Lake County Fair is located at 401 Martin St., Lakeport.
For more information visit www.lakecountyfair.com .