The Big Fresno fair is back in town and so are all the familiar sights and sounds that come with it. The smell of pigs roasting on spits and ears of corn smoking on a grill, even the smell of corn dogs begging to be dunked in ketchup.
Carnies can be heard yelling “Step right up!” to anyone within three feet of their booths. The fair offers something for everyone. No matter what your interests you’ll find something to catch your eye.
FOOD
The Fresno Fair offers a wide variety of deep-fried delights; delicious, if not healthy. The traditional favorite, corn dogs, has been given new life this year with the introduction of what has been dubbed “World’s Largest Corn Dog”; measuring ten inches and costing between $5 and$10, depending which stand you buy it at. Near the Industry/Commerce building a shop can be found selling most unusual (and unhealthy) treats. Deep Fried Twinkies, Deep fried Cola (how one deep-fries cola is a mystery) and Krispy Kreme Chicken Sandwiches are just a few lard-tastic items on the menu.
Anyone willing to ingest that much grease into their systems should plan to bring plenty of antacids, and possibly consider liposuction.
KIDS
For the younger crowd, who become easily bored with artwork, spa sales and horse races, there are some new additions to the ground this year. The most easily noticed is the new playpark near Paul Paul Theater, sponsored by Table Mountain Casino.
The park includes Fort Fresno, Pirates in the Park and Catfish Falls, a large pond with flowing waterfall where kids can actually grab a pole and try their hand at fishing. The pond is stocked with 600 fish, 200 catfish and 400 bluegill. There is one albino catfish and the lucky child to catch it will receive free tickets to next years’ fair for their whole family.
Also for the kids is the familiar, barn-like Kid’s Town, home to Mary Lee’s Make-and-Take crafts, Farmyard Follies and the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs. These quick little piglets have been making tracks at the fair for years and this year some new rookies step up to the starting line including Spiderham and the crowd favorite, Harry Porker. Right next door a new show, Farmyard Follies, entertains and educates kids about animal behavior. The show features several pygmy goats, a llama, a fallow deer named Daisy and even a wallaby (CUTE!!!)
EXHIBITS
Every year the buildings on the Fresno Fairgrounds fill with art and agriculture exhibits and merchants selling everything under the sun for prices that would make even Bill Gates flinch. A popular favorite is the G&M Mine exhibit featuring a fluorescent black light display themed, this year, in pirates.
In fact nearly everything at the fair this year incorporated pirates somehow, including a pirate skull-and-crossbones painted on each entrance to the Animal Birthing Center. If anyone from the Disney Corporation visits don’t be surprised if they decide to sue.
The newest exhibit this year is the “Treasures of the Nile”. Examples of ancient Egyptian sarcophagi and a giant sand castle shaped to look like the head of the Sphinx take up half of the large building next to Kid’s Town. The other half of the building houses Brad’s World Reptiles. Snakes from many countries as well as turtles, tarantulas and even a small crocodile inhabit glass terrariums.
In the art gallery amateur (and professional) photographers can try their hand at Fotech’s “Shoot the Fair” digital photo contest. But the most moving scene was not a photograph but a metal crocodile, named Bindi. Named for his daughter, it was created as a touching memorial to famed wildlife conservationist and beloved “Croc Hunter” Steve Irwin.
RELAXATION
For those who tire of walking, or just can’t keep up with the kids, there are plenty of opportunities to sit and rest. The Chukchansi Pavilion Community Stage has performances throughout the day and plenty of benches and grass all around. Horse racing is also a popular rest spot.
What better way to relax than to win a few dollars? The wine garden provides a shaded retreat to enjoy some food and good music. Wine and beer are available at a bar for those with proper ID. The most coveted seats of course are the vibrating “Footsie Tootsie” foot massagers found in various places around the grounds.
ANIMALS
For animal lovers the fair is an ideal place to see all kinds of soft-and-cuddlies. Many small lambs can be seen sleeping with their mothers in individual pens. Some of the older lambs are placed in a larger pen with other lambs and mothers.
A group of piglets can be seen with their mother, a very very large sow. The chickens themselves are not that interesting but the chicks in the incubated unit are absolutely adorable. Fairgoers can watch a cow being milked at various times during the day in a large chamber.
Right next to the Animal Birthing Center is the SPCA adoption unit. Puppies and kittens stare longingly out of their cages, waiting for the one who will take them to their forever home.
FUN & FROLIC
Driving down Kings Canyon, the sight of the ferris wheel towering over everything around it excites the young and young-at-heart. Once inside the gates a cavalcade of lights and sounds entices all within the vicinity towards the carnival grounds.
Carnies wheel and deal trying to attract those naive enough to think they have a chance at winning. Once they make eye contact they never let go. The rides at the fair have seen little change over the years; however this year sees the addition of a new large attraction. It is a log ride, similar to Splash Mountain at the Disneyland Resort. Riders sit in their small boat and are conveyed up a small incline then promptly dropped down a small hill to a splash zone at the bottom.
Admittedly it lacks the thrill of its larger counterpart but for the younger generation it provides a “fair” amount of fun. Perhaps the most spectacular sight of the whole event comes at the close of day. When the sun has retired for the day and all the lights come on. Beautiful colors sparkling, end on end, into the dark of night, bidding farewell to those who still linger as the gates are closed and the fair says “Good Night”.
