From the land of fried and frozen food

By Rebecca Wicks

Ventura Breeze, Aug. 11, 2010

My four-year old went to the fair for the first time two years ago. She has been a ride junkie ever since. Last summer she proclaimed she was going to get married at the fair. This year, armed with our pre-purchased ride tickets we headed out to the fair on opening day – because that is what serious fair goers like ourselves do.

We met some friends because while rides are fun, rides with other giggling four-year old girls are just that much more exciting. The girls rode cars, airplanes, helicopters, boats, swings…you get the idea. We snacked on cotton candy and ice cream. We saw animals. We perused exhibits. All in all, the fair did not disappoint.

Here are some of the highlights – in order – according my four-year old.

1. The caterpillar ride was good, but not as fast and missing what she thought should have been a bigger drop than she would have liked.
2. She was ecstatic to learn she was 42 inches (measured officially by the auspicious carnie manning the carousel) clearing her for solo non-adult accompanied missions on rides.
3. She won a panda bear playing a water gun game which she promptly named Pandy.
4. Getting ice cream with mommy. How much did I love that I made the list?
5. The four-day old baby pigs. “Mama, were they born for the fair?”

Now, from a mommy’s perspective here are some highlights and observations.

1. Fair food is a beast of its own. With no place on the U.S.D.A.’s food pyramid, virtually everything at the fair is fried, frozen, yellow or contains more than your daily allowance of sugar. You know it’s bad when the fair Website actually recommends you bring antacids. By the way, fried Twinkies are so yesterday. Go for chocolate dipped bacon instead.
2. All fair rides are designed to make you dizzy and nauseous. They all spin. Some spin in a straightforward manner, for example the carousel, while others are more like poorly weighted tops spinning awkwardly from one side to the other.
3. Carnies are as aggressive as ever. My favorite was the gal trying to convince me that giving my four-year darts to throw wasn’t going to end poorly.
4. If you love rabbits, pigs or cows the fair is the place to go. In their respective areas for example you will see rabbit after rabbit after rabbit in numbers upwards of 100.
5. No one was happier than me when the carnie measured my daughter at 42 inches. That spinning dragon ride looked like bad news to me.

Lastly, here are some tips for a speedier, thriftier trip to the fair with young children.

1. Get there early. This seems like common sense, but there are nearly no lines for rides from 11 a.m. to noon.
2. Don’t park in the fairgrounds parking lot. Not only will you save yourself $10, but the line to get into the parking lot generally stretches down Harbor to C Street and beyond. If you get there early exit Sanjon Rd. head for downtown and look for street parking near Figueroa, Santa Clara and Juniper Streets. Or, avoid the crowds and park at any of the fairground shuttle sites.
3. Consider going on Aug. 12 when a ride wristband costs only $25. With smaller rides averaging $2.50 each, if you go on more than 10 rides (which a four-year old can do in less than an hour) you’ll easily make your money back.
4. Pack a lunch and beverages. Save your money for treats and rides.
5. If your kids are old enough, enjoy the fair during the day, get your hand stamped and come back in the evening for fireworks at 10 p.m.