It’s back, the event that people from all over the Central Valley have been waiting for, the Big Fresno Fair.
It is time once again for spending breezy nights with friends and family, enjoying ride after thrilling ride, showing off your skills at ring toss and other midway games, learning from exciting exhibits, testing your taste buds with all the unique foods the fair has to offer, and above all, having fun.
Many fair-goers would agree, the Big Fresno Fair seems to get bigger every year, always adding new attraction, rides, concerts, and foods. This year shall be no exception. In additional to annual favorites such as livestock competitions and student artwork displays, the Fair is showcasing several new exhibits, such as the Water Tree, which will educate visitors on water conservation, and Wild America, celebrating the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America organization.
In addition to a wide array of new attractions, the Big Fresno Fair will be offering the largest discounts in its history.
“The economy is in the tank, so to speak,” explained Deputy Manager, Stacy Rianda. “So we want to make it possible for everyone to come.” Because of its huge success last year, the Fresno Fair’s $2 Tuesday and $3 Wednesday are back on Oct. 13 and 14. Visitors must bring in receipts from SaveMart or FoodMaxx to be eligible for the discounted entrance fees. They will also receive $5 off the cost of a wrist band for unlimited rides on the carnival.
One of the highlights of this year’s fair shall be the Drought Relief Food Drive. On Oct. 15, between 11:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., fair goers who bring in three or more canned food items will be granted free admission. Proceeds from the food drive will then be donated to the Community Food Bank and The Salvation Army, to benefit families affected by the drought in the Central valley. “It’s really a win, win, win situation,” said Rianda, referring to the mutual benefits of the food drive.
The Big Fresno Fair draws in crowds of well over 500,000 people each year and contributes more than $60 million to the local economy. “The fair is a huge economic impact [to the Central Valley],” said John C. Alkire, CEO of the Fresno Fair. “We don’t want to give anyone an excuse not to come this year.”
Besides contributing to the drought relief effort through donations, the Big Fresno Fair also plans to educate visitors through its new Water Tree exhibit. The new exhibit will feature an aquarium of fish native to the Central Valley, videos about water conservation and drought, as well as pictures and tips about how to save water.
Another fun and educational attraction which is set to open is Wild America, a three-part exhibit. The first part will be Brad’s World Reptiles, which will display all kinds of reptiles and mammals from North and South America. The second section will be devoted to the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America and will feature several hands-on activities. The last section will be the Pop Laval exhibit, showcasing photography that is native to the valley, from the early 1900’s of the Boy Scouts organization and Yosemite Valley.
Of course, the Big Fresno Fair wouldn’t be the same without all deep-fried foods. Among the regulars, this year brave visitors to the fair will have the chance to try a deep-fried Twinkie and even a whole, entirely deep-fried cheeseburger. If this sounds too decadent for the average fair-goers, there are healthier options available such as fruits and salads.
The Big Fresno Fair is open Oct. 7 to Oct. 18. Gates open at 11:30 a.m. on Monday through Friday, and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Gates close at 11:00 p.m. on Monday to Friday, and at midnight on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, call (559) 650-FAIR, or go online at FresnoFair.com.