The Santa Clara County Fair is returning to its roots next week
with reinstated fireworks shows, larger animal competitions, more
on-stage entertainment and the most carnival attractions its
offered in years.
San Jose – The Santa Clara County Fair is returning to its roots next week with reinstated fireworks shows, larger animal competitions, more on-stage entertainment and the most carnival attractions its offered in years.
“We’re going back to our traditional fair roots,” said fair manager Ray Lueckeman. “We don’t have a small fair anymore. We are bringing in entertainment at the same level and marketing at the same level as we have in the past, before we started shrinking.”
The Santa Clara Fairgrounds Management Corp. will run a five-day event this year, from Aug. 1-5, topping last year’s scaled-down version which ran for three days. Organizers hope the expanded event catches the eyes of busy Silicon Valley residents who’ve neglected the fair in recent years.
They’re shooting for more than 80,000 people to attend. Last year, less than 35,000 went.
“We’re going to have something going on at all times,” Lueckeman continued. “The entertainment level is much greater than it has been in several years … a lot more animal acts, a sea lion show, a dog show, a lot of musical acts. From the minute you walk in, there will be something going on.”
Blues bands are booked to play everyday starting at 1pm, and headline acts include Elvin Bishop, Gregg Rolie, Sha Na Na, Starship with Mickey Thomas and Jamie O’Neal.
Organizers are also bringing back carnival rides and fireworks shows that were canceled last year.
Exhibits manager Delana Romero said more animals, vegetables and arts and crafts have been entered this year compared to last year. A total of 728 cattle, horses, swine, goats, sheep and other large animals have been entered. Additionally, 277 rabbits, cavies, pigmy goats and poultry have been entered into competitions.
“We go to the grocery store and we buy our milk, but we don’t realize what goes into raising these animals,” Romero said. “It’s more than just having a cow in a pasture.”
Fairs have been held in Santa Clara Valley since 1856. The fairgrounds location became permanent in 1939 when the 95-acre Macomber Ranch was purchased for $35,000. The first county fair was held in 1941 with an attendance of 55,000 people.
In 2000, the county announced plans to build a musical venue at the site, prompting fears that the fair might go away for good. Supervisor Don Gage was quick to suggest the event should move to South County where the region’s agricultural roots remain strong. But plans for the theater were scrapped.
Last year, the event was at a crossroads after drawing its lowest attendance ever. But Santa Clara County supervisors stepped up with a $4.5 million investment to repair leaky buildings and make other improvements to the grounds. The money includes a $285,000 subsidy to boost this year’s entertainment budget, add fireworks shows and expand the event from three days to five.
COUNTY FAIR
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Dates: Aug. 1-5
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Hours: 4-10pm, Wednesday Aug. 1; 10am-10pm, Thursday-Sunday, Aug. 2-5.
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Parking: $8
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Admission: $8 for adults, $5 for children 6 to 12 and seniors 65 and older. Children 5 and under are free.
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Five-Day Pass: Adults $20; children and seniors $12.
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Fairgrounds Address: 344 Tully Road, San Jose.
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Phone Number: (408) 494-3100.
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Web site: www.thefair.org
