The Santa Clara County Fair is back with pigs, sea lions and
crossed-fingers for a bigger attendance after last year’s low
turnout.
San Jose – The Santa Clara County Fair is back with pigs, sea lions and crossed-fingers for a bigger attendance after last year’s low turnout.
The spruced-up summertime event opens this afternoon for a five-day run, featuring western-themed stage shows, interactive video-gaming, upgraded rides, hands-on science labs and concerts by bands such as Sha Na Na and Starship with Mickey Thomas.
The gates open at 4pm and close at 10pm today. The event continues 10am to 10pm Thursday through Sunday at the 158-acre Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, 344 Tully Road in San Jose. More than 400 employees and 200 volunteers are involved in the operation.
Butler Amusements is supplying bigger and faster rides this year in an effort to appeal to teens and young adults who may have felt overlooked at last year’s scaled-down fare. As always, there will be rides and carnival attractions for small children.
Jugglers, jamborees and square dancing also will be among the sights and sounds. Seven event stages will provide an ongoing array of entertainment and music.
Organized by the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Management Corporation, this year’s fair includes bigger rides, more animal acts and remodeled buildings as organizers hope to revive a struggling event that saw its worst turnout last year.
An estimated 30,000 and 35,000 people attended last summer during a shortened three-day run.
But this year, organizers hope as many as 75,000 people will show up after booking bigger bands and making improvements such as repaving roads, repainting buildings and repairing bathrooms.
“The grounds look really good,” said fair spokesman Steve Stagnaro, who watched the improvements during the past year. “The main expo hall has been refloored, repainted and re-lit after years of being an ice-skating rink.”
Dozens of South County children belonging to 4-H and FFA chapters will also compete in animal competitions. More than 700 cattle, horses, swine, goats, sheep and other large animals have been entered.
