Our Day at the L.A. County Fair

All these years in Southern California, and we had never been to the Los Angeles County Fair. I've never been much of a fair kind of guy, and Pomona (where the Fairplex is located) seemed like too much of a hike.

But now that I've got kids, the Fair suddenly sounds like a nice excursion. And taking the 210 freeway, Pomona is not nearly as far as you think.

I came to the Fair with one goal in mind: I wasn't going to plop down much money for carnival rides. We live close enough to theme parks that riding a pricey carnival ride seems pointless.

I shouldn't have worried. There was enough to do and see that Blogger Kid didn't even push the issue. Instead, there was plenty of attractions right in his sweet spot: "Mojo's Jungle," featuring live insects, bugs, turtles and a bird show. "Jurassic Planet" features realistic dinosaurs -- so realistic that I'm sure that Blogger Kid believed me when I told him they weren't real.

There's also a huge pavilion with farm animals; a pirate play area; old steam engines; and Garden Railroad -- an acre of landscape with model trains speeding past miniature depictions of early California (such as missions, agriculture and more).



Then, of course, there's all that fried food. And food in general. None of it is anything special -- but there's something to be said for a complete lack of lines, as there are so many food options that no one has to wait. Also, for the adults, the fair features a Wine and Spirits marketplace.

Here are a few more pics from our day at the fair:


Pigs at "Fairview Farms," at the Big Red Barn


Kids dancing at the Plaza de las Américas


"Dead men tell no tales" at "A Pirate's Life"


Dinos at "Jurassic Planet" (title apparently cleared by the Fair lawyers)


Visitors check in


Snookie's Cookies tent -- yes, we got an ice cream cookie sandwich


Master of the pan flute


Sir Knight Blogger Kid at ""A Time Long Ago"


The Fair crowd


The kind of fire hydrant your dog dreams about


Corny bird show at "Mojo's Jungle"


Celebrating Mexican independence at the Flower & Garden Pavillion


Trains! Blogger Kid approves


Pink's on location

The L.A. County Fair continues through Oct. 3. Prices vary for tix; Adults 13+ are $12 on weekdays and $17 weekend. Group discounts are available, and kids and seniors are cheaper (with kids 5 and under free). Parking starts at $10.

Thanks to Daphne Wang and congrats to Franklin Avenue reader Elizabeth, who won tix to this year's Fair from us!

L.A. County Fair
Pomona Fairplex
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768