Carnival & Fair News

Celebrating 150 years overlooking the blue Pacific Ocean, the Ventura County Fair celebrated its anniversary this summer. Themed fair-ever young this year, the Ventura County Fair, which began in 1874, brought back its famous Ferris Wheel overlooking the ocean, fried fun food, and even brought new changes this year to its 62-acre Seaside Park location. Despite its venerable age, the fair's theme this year was “Fair Ever Young.”

Fair admission was priced at $15 for adults and $10 for kids, with discounts offered during pre-sale. Special admission prices were offered on Youth Day, First Responders & Military Day, and Senior day as well as for Food Share Friday. On Monday August 5th, admission was just $5 before 5 p.m.; August 1 and 7 were carnival ride wristband days. Admission tickets were sold online and in automated kiosks at the fairgrounds, a strategy which lessened lines and allowed for smoother entry.

Fair interim co-CEO Heidi Ortiz released admission numbers only to the state fairground board, not to the public, as the numbers are still unverified to be “sure they're accurate,” per Ortiz.



Preliminary unofficial data released to the California Department of Food and Agriculture that provides fair oversight, appeared to show that attendance fell this year by around 79,000 guests over last year's high point of 333,000 visitors. However, the same data revealed that revenues rose to around $9.5 million versus last year's $9 million. But all numbers are still being verified according to Ortiz. The revenue increase appears to be due in part to a new VIP ticket option available to concert goers. The carnival, parking, and junior livestock auction all had a small drop in revenue.

Ortiz noted that the fair's sales of alcohol were $300,000 higher than last year. And while the fairgrounds' sales manager Jason Amelio said that parking brought in around $55,000 less than projections, shuttle ridership rose by about 22,000 guests from 2023 figures.

While the officials may be waiting on releasing this year's final numbers, fairgoers deemed the event a hit.  Free music and comedy were an integral part of the fair's 12-day run which concluded on August 11th. The event also featured a nightly drone show, featuring over 300 drones instead of fireworks.

A '90s-era celebration served as the fair's big entertainment opener. The I Love the 90s Tour, featured Vanilla Ice, Tone Loc, and Freedom Williams among other performers. All concerts were available with free seating on a first-come, first-served basis. However, a new VIP ticket program was added this year, allowing fairgoers to purchase reserved seating close to the stage for acts which included Ludacris, Dustin Lynch, comedian Gabriel Iglesias, Brantley Gilbert, Sublime with Rome Farewell Tour, Los Tucanes de Tijuana y Tapy Quintero; tribute acts such as Queen Nation, Sweet Tina: Tribute to Tina Turner, Led Zeppagain, and tribute bands paying homage to  to Fleetwood Mac, Foreigner, Selena, and Elvis. Also performing were The Outlaw Mariachi, Spazmatics, and a Salute to Bruno Mars, among many others. Iglesias alone drew approximately 5,500 attendees.

CBF Productions partnered with the fair to add new entertainment options such as the VIP experiences for music lovers, with amenities that included special food selections, a VIP bar, lounge seating, and a turf floor. The concert series itself was sponsored by Chumash Casino Resort.

A robust independent midway also drew fair attendees with its fun and thrills. Rides were provided by carnival providers including RCS, Kastl, and Helm and Sons. There were three Ferris Wheels, the adrenaline-lift of rides such as the extreme Hyper Loop, as well as the Zipper, Evolution, and Tornado. There were kiddie rides and family rides too, with choices such as a  Tilt-A-Whirl, and Merry-Go-Round. Popular games included a basketball toss and a balloon race.



Regardless of the ride provider, new this year for the fair were ride and game credits issued on to a card, which replaced the use of paper tickets. Farewell to lost tickets, and hello to shorter queue lines.

Also new this year was The Patio, a two-story coffee-shop offering a variety of brews, freshly- made beignets, and even some family-friendly fun such as a cornhole game.

The Youth Artwalk and Shop was a new showcase for vendors inside the Youth Building, where visitors could also say hi to a sloth named Pretzel. An updated garden area located outside the fair's floriculture building served as the spot to taste craft wine and beer from the local Ventura County region. One of the Ferris Wheels and a big screen showing the live grandstand concert performances were set in this area.

Next to the grandstand itself a pre-show party site, Tito's Pre-Party, which allowed music fans to consume a drink, enjoy a photo booth, and hear live music prior to the start of the evening's big concert.

Not new, but returning this year, was the Junior Fair Board, high school students who held events such as karaoke, the Diaper Derby crawling baby races, and a pie-eating contest; the Lions Club Bingo tent also made a return, featuring, of course, Bingo games.

The rodeo was a strong draw for fairgoers with five shows scheduled over a period of three days, August 9-11. Tickets cost between $8 and $10 and evening events were close-to sold out.



Food choices were many and varied, with popular eats including deep-fried Oreos, bacon-wrapped hot dogs, street corn, tacos, the fair's renowned spiral fries with chili and cheese, a fruity pebble funnel cake, giant turkey legs, and Churro ice cream sandwiches. There were deep-fried French toast sticks, crispy cheese curds, pizza, cotton candy, and new to the fair this year, the chicken wings with varied sauces at The Wing Shack. The fair also hosted a giveaway contest for a six-pack of the region's renowned Old West Cinnamon rolls as a promotion.

Of course, animals and agriculture were both a strong draw at the fair as well, including the ever-popular Alaskan racing pigs, the junior livestock auction, and baby critters at the fairgrounds' Uncle Leo's Barn. The Lorikeet Encounter allowed guests to get up close and personal with the vibrantly colored birds. And, for even more exotic animal life, there were camel rides.

The fair's marketing campaign was expansive, from social media posts, including giveaways that required post sharing by those vying for a prize, to conventional broadcast media. The fair also held a promotional poster contest for the community.