Fresno is currently plastered with the phrase “Big Times Are Back”. The Big Fresno Fair is right around the corner and have been preparing to put on a show with attractions both new and traditional, starting today.
Some changes to expect will be an added bridge between the Meyer’s Water and Wildlife Tree and Catfish Falls, located in the Table Mountain Rancheria Park. The Pirates in the Park pirate ship and Fort Fresno playgrounds will still be there as well.
The Greenhouse which replaced the reptile room will be in the same area, but the reptile exhibit will once again be brought back as the Rainforest Adventure, located in Kids’ Town. A mural dedicated to the cattlemen and women of Fresno will be added to the livestock pavilion.
Located in the Sports Zone will be the bull riding attraction, the ESPN booth, as well as an added video game area.
The kids section of the carnival has now been moved to the area in between the horse racing tracks, by the parking lot in the same area. This change has allowed for more rides to be added to the regular carnival section, as well as helping prevent crowd congestion by allowing families with younger members to enjoy the kid rides in a separate area.
Every year, the Big Fresno Fair brings new changes and attractions as well as keeping the ones that crowds have already come to love. However, one might wonder what the people who put on the Fresno Fair are up to when the event isn’t going.
“You work at the fair? What do you do the rest of the year?” is a question that Lauri King, the Big Fresno Fair Deputy Manager, is asked quite a bit. “We get asked that by so many people,” said King. “To pull off an event like this, it takes an entire year.”
As soon as the fair ends, the crew takes about 30 days to wrap up the event, checking up on things like how much revenue did that year’s fair bring in and what attractions were more successful than others, critiquing certain things in order to contribute to the planning of the next year’s fair. This time is also the budget season, where they find out how much they’ll be able to spend the following year.
Next come the conferences, one in December and another in January. December is the International Association of Fairs in Las Vegas, with many attendees from all around the United States, as well as Canada. In January is the Western United States of Fairs. These conferences are where many ideas for the next fair come into play.
“We’re looking at entertainment, and we’re looking at different theme ideas. New concessioners, new vendors,” said King. “That’s where a lot of our planning really starts.”
Between the months of February and July, the fair grounds are used as rental facilities. However, July is when “we really start ramping up”, as ticket sales begin coming in and plans start to happen.
“Once September rolls around, it’s go time,” said King. “You usually find that we don’t take days off from September to the end of the fair. Labor Day weekend is that last weekend you have off at this business.”
The process for setting up the fair follows checking many lists for various departments. Each section of the fair has its own attractions and plans different from that of another. These lists are checked multiple times, making sure every department from maintenance to agriculture has everything it needs. They also follow various calendars to help make sure they are where they’re supposed to be at certain times.
During the weekend before, submitted work for the Home Arts department and Juniors department are judged, and the winners are named with ribbons displayed by the time the fair begins.
Exhibitors and concessioners begin moving in around two weeks before. Some of the exhibitors and concessioners are at the Bakersfield and LA county fairs until the very last day of those events, and then pack up and start setting up at Fresno the next morning, the Monday before the fair starts. This same day is the day all FFA and 4-H begin bringing in their livestock. Because of all this, Monday is a very busy day. From Monday to the end of the fair, there is always a crew on the grounds 24/7.
Tuesday, the day before the fair opens, is still a work day. However, Tuesday to Wednesday morning is an inspection time where many things are checked on and they make sure the fair is in good shape and ready for the crowds.
And finally, at 2 p.m. Wednesday, the Big Fresno Fair opens to the general public. However, during all this planning, building, and enjoyment, there’s always something for the crew that puts on the fair to work on.
“That’s the fun about this job,” said King, “No day is ever the same.”