Ralphs Food Drive Fridays became Ralphs Feel Good Fridays as generous Fairguests donated 57,605 cans of Ralphs brand canned goods to support the Los Angeles Regional Foodbank. Volunteers from Victory Outreach in Ontario staffed the entrance gates to collect canned goods and issue free Fair admission to donors.

The goal for the food drive was 40,000 cans; we met that goal in week three and, at the end of the food drive, exceeded it by more than 40%! A big Fair thank you to donors, Fair gate staff, volunteers and sponsors!

The winner of the L.A. County Fair’s annual High School Marching Band Competition will be crowned tonight at 6 p.m. in front of the Millard Sheets gallery. The big news this year is the winner gets to march in the 2011 Tournament of Roses Parade!! How exciting is that?!

Vying for the title are Kaiser, Upland and Diamond Bar high schools.

The L.A. County Fair’s favorite emissary, Thummer, brought a little light into the lives of children at Pomona Valley Hospital & Medical Center and Casa Colina Rehabilitation Center when he stopped by with some stuffed animals, courtesy of Ray Cammack Shows (RCS), the folks who bring the carnival to the Fair each year. Nice work, Thummer! Thanks, RCS! 

An autographed poster of Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift?  Going once…

A private dinner or weekend getaway? Going twice…

A basketball signed by President Barack Obama?  Sold!

These impressive items, along with hundreds of themed baskets and other selections will be available for auction on Oct. 1. For the past 18 years, fans of the Child Development Center at Fairplex have joined together to support the high-quality preschool located right on the L.A. County Fairgrounds through the auction, this year themed Literacy for Life.

More than 200 young children go to the preschool  throughout the year, gaining a foundation that will lead them to success in school and in life. 

The evening begins at 5:30 pm at the Sheraton Fairplex and in the tradition of the past 18 years, promises to be a fun-filled evening for a good cause!

Tickets are still available by visiting the event website  – don’t miss out on this annual tradition and see what kind of incredible finds you can win!

If you haven’t seen it, the original Batmobile from the 1960s Batman television series is on display at the NHRA Museum here at the Fair. If only the Dynamic Duo were sitting in it. Call me odd, but Adam West - sigh! Holy young girl’s heart fawning over a man in tights Batman!

Riddle me this Bat fans - who played the Riddler in the television series? The first to email me at contests@fairplex.com will win a Fair sweatshirt. Include your name, complete address, phone number, and size. Good Luck Bat fans!

California Classics Car Show is in the infield of Fairplex Park today at the Fair. There are some real beauties out there - shined, polished, with sparkling chrome. It’s amazing how much people love their cars (as I do - love their cars that is). You can see the pride of ownership.

We have everything from an early 1970s bright orange Bronco (way cool) to a yellow Cobra with enough horse power to get me in soooo much trouble!! Come out and take a look.

If you are a car buff you will want to head out to the Fair tomorrow for the second annual California Classics Car Show on the infield of Fairplex Park. Bet on the ponies and admire a nice set of wheels all in one location. The Car Show runs from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Classic older cars, newer cars, muscle cars even a Bronco will be on display. The show features car clubs from throughout Southern California. The show is free with fair admission.

For the last five years, the Foundations at Fairplex and the Rotary Club of Pomona have joined forces during the Fair to raise funds for community programs and give one lucky Fairgoer the opportunity to drive home in a beautiful classic car!

For just $20, you too can purchase a chance to win a 1966 Corvette Convertible at the raffle booth on Palm in front of Building 6.  For the last two years, the winner of the car purchased just ONE ticket.  Stop by and check out this amazing ride for yourself – someone is going to win, and it could be you! 

The winning ticket will be drawn on closing night of the Fair, Oct. 4, at 7 pm, and all of the proceeds benefit local causes like the education programs  at the L.A. County Fair!

A big thank you goes out to all the donors at Monday’s L.A. County Fair/American Red Cross blood drive. We had an overwhelming response with more than 155 donors saving 297 lives through their donations!!! That is fantastic. Donors received a free ticket to the Fair - and the gratitude of many.

It looks like a T-Rex, it walks like a T-Rex, it roars like a T-Rex - as least, as far as I know. The Los Angeles County Natural History Museum brought its very life-like baby T-Rex puppet to the Fair today to visit Jurassic Planet. Fairguests were mesmerized (some a little too much - I heard some screaming). Take a look:

Pretty cool, huh? The Natural History Museum conducts presentations with the T-Rex and a baby Triceratops Wednesdays through Sundays at the museum. The T-Rex will be back at the Fair on Oct. 3. Don’t miss it!