Today was the last day of the 17 days devoted to the LA County Fair. Now I know for many of you in other parts of the country the "county fair" came much earlier in the summer-- say July or August. But in LA-LA-land they just love to be different, so they wait until 90% of the kids are back in school before they start the county fair. Strange isn't it?
Because a majority of Los Angeles County is urban, because the developers have cut down nearly every citrus tree or chased out every dairy farm for another dreaded housing development, the fair is a definite mix where urban meets rams headlong into rural, with catchy taglines like "Teach your kids where Gucci Sweaters come from." Or "Teach your kids where lattes come from." <cringe> For those of us who grew up knowing how to milk a cow,with or without a milking machine, we tend to roll our eyes and head straight for the classic fair. We tend to steer clear of the countless carnival crap and vendors trying to sell us everything from a new Hummer HII, which we've dubbed the UAV (urban assault vehicle,) to hot tubs, and tattoo artists, who have a waiting line longer than the one for the Ferris wheel. Ah yes... Welcome to LA's version of the County Fair.
The interesting thing about the LA Country Fair is for all of it's obscene hype-- it works. Many of the vendors, artists and volunteer educators who work in the Ag' areas who show the school kids where cheese and ice cream really come from, it is a mix of fun and friendly people who come to get away from the normal LA freeway commute.
For Doug and me the Fair is just a couple miles from home and with the deeply discounted season passes nearly less than the price of a good meal dining out, it's an excuse to get out at night, walk and be stimulated by something other than the TV or a movie. For us there is a distinct adult flavor to the Fair we've cultivated over the years. Where else would you go to sample wine from over 150 wineries or beer from over 100 breweries, while listening to strolling Dixieland bands? You can do all this while viewing exhibits from nearly every major landscape group of merit in LA and more. When we get bored we can go watch one of several excellent bands and entertainers who are included in the ticket price, while munching on some excellent BBQ or Fair Cuisine, like artichoke hearts. And the neat thing about it is-- since we live close by we can go back several times during the run of the Fair, and see nearly everything while getting some excellent exercise in the night air. Tonight with the boom of the final fireworks the 80th LA County Fair closed it's run at Fairplex. We'll miss the nightly excuse to go wander around the grounds, meet artists like Robert Marble and Charlie Keeling, (an excellent glassblower,) friends and get off the damn couch.
The End of the Fair 
