A Ventura County Fair with Ocean Air
Nine years ago, shortly after Nate and I started dating, we set out for an evening adventure in Ventura, CA. While sitting on a blanket next to the Ventura Pier, we could see the Ventura County Fair ferris wheel lights twinkling, hear hints of the band playing on the grandstand stage, and after the sun set we were treated to the fair’s wonderful fireworks show.
This year we made it inside the fairgrounds and we had a blast! I grew up singing at the Iowa State Fair and the National Cattle Congress, so I always feel a bit nostalgic spending a day at the fair. I cherish those childhood memories and the opportunity to revisit them…even out here on the west coast.
Billed as “A County Fair with Ocean Air”, The Ventura County Fair grounds are located right across the street from the beach...so you can make your day at the fair a beach day getaway as well. The fair began in 1875 with a primary focus on horse racing. That original influence is still evident today, whether you enjoy the PRCA Pro Rodeo, the livestock exhibits or my personal favorite, the draft and carriage competitions.
While fair food isn’t a part of my normal day-to-day diet, it is a fun treat and there are so many options...from Dodger dogs to funnel cakes, they have it all here. You can even sample gourmet food and wine pairings at the “Bounty of the County” contest. I treated myself to multiple ice cream cones. 😉
Nate and I always enjoy a little friendly competition, so we had to try our hand at the carnival games. I won myself a little stuffed fish throwing darts, and Nate may have won a slightly bigger prize breaking plates. I’m happy to say all those years he spent as a pitcher came in handy so he could win me the plush puppy I was eyeing! 😉
My favorite part of any fair has to be all the fun midway rides. As a child I always wanted to go on the fastest spinning, highest flipping carnival rides over and over again…and as an adult I still enjoy every ride! I was impressed with how quickly the lines moved and how fast I could hop from ride to ride.
One of my favorite moments of the fair this year had to be watching the sun set from the top of the giant ferris wheel as the evening carnival lights twinkled over the Pacific Ocean. I admired from above as kite surfers flew across the waves and the last hint of sunlight disappeared for the day.
The 144th Ventura County Fair is running daily from 11am to 10pm through Sunday, August 11th. You can find all the details, including pricing, parking and grandstand performers at https://www.venturacountyfair.org/fair/. If you can’t make it to the beach this week, the Los Angeles County Fair opens August 30th in Pomona and runs through Sept 22.
What are your favorite fair memories?
