Tank on Empty, Broke and Hot


Conditions threaten fair's success
By Kelvin Wade | | July 10, 2008 16:03

The Solano County Fair, shortened to five days like last year's, is under way. While fair organizers hope to see an improvement over the 28,921 paid admissions for last year's festivities, they may be sorely disappointed.

I hope I'm wrong, but conditions have conspired to keep many potential fairgoers home this week.

While gas prices have dropped a tad, they're still outrageous. Will Fairfield, Vacaville, and Rio Vista families load up their cars and head to Vallejo with these gas prices?

Of course this points to my feeling that the county fair should take place in Fairfield. It's centrally located within the county and we are the county seat, after all. Shouldn't it be here? But that's a column for a different day.

Money is tight. There's a lot of belt tightening going on. To be fair, organizers have done a great job keeping ticket prices the same as they were last year, $8 for adults, $4 for kids 6 to 12 and $4 for seniors over 62. Children 5 and under are free. Military personnel in uniform are also admitted free. Plus, today, kids 12 and under are free. Tomorrow, seniors are admitted free.

But while ticket prices are low, a family factoring in gas, $6 parking, admission, rides, games and food, may just deem it too much of an expense at this time.

Finally, the blistering heat may keep attendance down. It's unfortunate that the fair's opening coincided with a ferocious heat wave. And with the haze from various wildfires and the smog from the usual sources, the hot, muggy air would send anyone scurrying indoors for the cool sanctuary of air conditioning.

Those with respiratory problems should not be out in this weather. Plus, there is the real possibility of heat-related illness.

Despite the drawbacks, it would be a shame to miss the fair, which kicked off with blues legend B.B. King last night. The music keeps on going with country artist Craig Morgan tonight. Tomorrow, R&B and new jack swing pioneer Keith Sweat hits the stage, followed by the pop-rock group Rooney on Saturday and the Latin stylings of Carmen Jara closing the fair on Sunday.

There's a whole lot to do at the fair. There are singing and dance competitions, a Guitar Hero contest, a petting zoo, pony rides, horse races, pig races, livestock shows, reptiles, clowns, arts and crafts and games. There are also interactive robots, tractor pulls, a demolition derby, dancing acts, musical reviews, bands, decadent foods, acrobats, Lucha Libre pro wrestling, and fireworks every night.

The fair wouldn't be the fair without the spectacular rides provided by Butler Amusements. There are rides for little kids, big kids and even adult kids.

Find complete fair details at http://www.scfair.com.

I hope the Solano County Fair can weather what looks like the perfect storm of high gas prices, tight budgets and high temperatures. A lot of planning and effort has gone into this year's fair and hopefully people will attend and, in the words of this year's theme, celebrate Solano. Peace.

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I really do want the fair to succeed but I'm doubtful in these conditions. Evidently, people did show up for the opening of the fair on Wednesday. And I didn't see any news reports that B.B. King died. I certainly thought there was a chance the blues master could've passed out on stage in this heat and smoke and smog.

I included this year's theme poster at the top of this article. It looks like a tipsy Foghorn Leghorn.

The state fair is a little more than a month away and I hope by then, firefighters will have gotten a handle on these fires and Mother Nature doesn't set any more. If we get some mild weather, I'd love to attend the fair.

Check out the DR blog to read about a Fairfield City Councilman receiving death threats.

Nothing new on the Wading In blog.

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