California State Fair 2010

The first thing that pops into one’s mind when they think about the California State Fair is HOT, followed quickly by “crowded” and “expensive”.   Going to the Fair also brings back memories of childhood and the fairs of days gone by.  Whether it was the BIG State fair or the smaller, local county fair, it was an exciting time.  It was a time for families and neighbors to meet and sometimes compete in the events the fair offered.   The women entered their prize recipes and best handiwork, all hoping to bring home the Blue Ribbon.  Young aspiring farmers presenting the livestock that they had carefully nurtured over the last year.  There were tractor pulls, rodeos and many other tests of strength and endurance.   In the past, the State Fair represented the best of the best that your state had to offer.
Today, many of the fair-goers look more to the outrageous foods that are unique to fairs and carnivals.  There was a time, not so long ago, that the highlights of the fair’s gastric offerings were corn dogs and cotton candy.  Today, it almost feels as though the venders strive more for outlandish and shocking.  In this year’s fair, venders offering true culinary delights like Paella with shrimp didn’t “fair” well, but instead, things like chocolate covered bacon and deep-fried candy bars seemed to grab all the attention.   Go figure.
One of the highlights of the California State Fair that has shown only slight changes over the years, are the exhibits.  There are the same exhibits of livestock, where farmers and ranchers show off their best investments. Maybe not as exciting as the extreme rides on the midway, but still fascinating for this city-girl who rarely gets to see nature’s creatures up close and personal. A personal favorite for this writer is watching the small children’s awe and wonder at the petting zoo.   For many of these children, it is the first and possibly only time they will ever experience animals other than the family dog or cat. Priceless.
Strolling through the exhibits, at first glance, there were several fine examples of art, crafts and woodworking.  It was even more impressive when you stopped and read the placard with the name and age group of the participants.   In the exhibition hall titled “Youth Art & Design,” there were many surprises.  A beautiful quilt hung on display, the stitching perfect, the blocks perfectly squared and the seamstress, a mere 10 to 12 years old!  On one pedestal, sat a stunning glass bowl, the placard said the artist was in the 5 to 9 year old group.  What?  A little boy made this amazing piece of art that you would expect to see in a high-end art gallery!  Once you stopped and began reading the information on the placard, you can’t help but be extremely impressed with the quality of work that these young people produced.
Another standard at the fair is the entertainment.  Gone are the days of has-been country and western singers, today the entertainment ranges from big name stars to up-and-coming urban street bands.  This year’s hit was a group called, “Streetbeat”, a young group out of Los Angeles whose instruments included garbage cans, water bottles and old plastic containers.   This band had a unique sound that seemed to appeal to young and old alike.   Entertainment ranged from hypnotists to fire dancers and just about anything you could think of in between.
The scope and range of the exhibits, events and entertainment is awe inspiring.  It would take a daily visit for the duration of the fair to see and experience all that the California State Fair has to offer.  Even though this writer only had the opportunity to visit once, it was easy to see that as many changes as the traditional State Fair has seen, one thing remains the same, the display of talent, dedication and hope for the future of California. It is still the best of the best in California.  If only Grandma and Grandpa could see it now.