Memories – You Got ‘Em, We Want ‘Em

Hey, happy new year! I know it’s almost March but better late than never. And what a great year this is going to be! In case you haven’t heard, the L.A. County Fair is celebrating its 90th anniversary AND we are opening on Aug. 31 – the earliest date ever for the Fair. We have big plans for our opening birthday weekend celebration, but more on that as we get closer.

Right now, we want to hear from you. Kristy, our intrepid social media guru, is compiling Fair memories, and she needs your help. You’ve probably already noticed the historical Fair photos she has been posting on Facebook. Aren’t they great? It’s fun to see what the fairgrounds used to look like 40 and 50 years ago. And the clothes people wore – men in suits and ties and women in dresses, stockings and heels! So formal. I love it. Can you imagine riding Techno Jump in a suit?

Put your eyes to Kristy’s appeal for Fair memories:

One of my favorite things about working here at the Fair is the stories of “yesterday” I get to hear.  From a random Fair guest telling me of her first kiss on the Ferris wheel in the 1940s with her future husband to a fellow employee talking of the days before we had a website (unfathomable to my young mind).  But now I want to hear your stories, the amazing memories you’re willing to share with me and with the world!  I know we all remember our first Hot Dog on a Stick.  Or how about our first Fair where we could partake in the adult beverages?  Every Fair we create memories and I want to hear them.

I’ll go first. Growing up, the Fair was a family tradition for me.  I have never missed a year of the Fair (even before I worked here).  There’s a photo of me at all of 11 months old buried deep in one of our photo albums from 1989, me in dad’s arms with a Clydesdale standing majestically behind us.  The look on my face is pretty awesome too, it’s sort of a cross between horror and awe.  I can imagine myself thinking, “What in the world are they feeding this guy?”

I’ll be posting stories similar to this from myself, other team members and Fair guests on Facebook.  Do you want to be a part of this fun anniversary celebration?  Send me your stories!  It can be as short or long as you would like it to be.  Just email them over to Dahlstrom@fairplex.com and you may be featured anywhere from Facebook to our e-blasts.  I’m looking forward to hearing all your amazing memories!

OK, you heard Kristy. Start remembering, reminiscing and writing!

Almost to 500! Become Our Facebook Fan!!

L.A. County FairWow, we’ve almost met our initial goal of 500 Facebook friends. We’ve grown to 444 fans, a big chunk of those just within the past few days. We need 56 more – once we hit 500, the Los Angeles County Fair Association will donate $500 to the American Red Cross. All you have to do to be a hero and help save lives (the ARC motto for donating blood), is become a fan of the L.A. County Fair - we’ll do the rest!

 

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 C”mon, what are you waiting for?

75 Days and Counting…

See full size imageI am not kidding you! There are only 75 days left until opening day of the 2009 L.A. County Fair! What happened to spring? It was just here. This past Sunday was the official start of summer, and you know what that means here on the grounds of Fairplex. It’s go time! So, in honor of this being the 75th day and counting, I begin my countdown list of what we have to look forward to as the L.A. County Fair gets closer, 75 days closer. That’s 70, plus 5 more. That’s 76 trombones, minus one. That would be a diamond anniversary if we had been married for 75 years (75 years of marriage(!) – better be more than one diamond! Sorry, I digress). OK, here is a short list:

- Hot Dog on a Stick (what? you expected me to start with cute, cuddly animals? Hello! Did you forget who is writing this?)

- Cute, cuddly animals: ok, if you can recall, right behind Hot Dog on a Stick, I love, love, love all the animals we have during Fair, whether it’s the cute puppies at Bark Park or the soft, beautiful rabbits. I even love the huge rodent capybara.

- Big animals: Watusi cattle and their massive horns.

- Dinosaurrrrrrrs! I am so excited about Jurassic Planet, one of our new exhibits. It is all things paleo! We’ll have a T. Rex, Apatosaurus and a Muttaburrasaurus, which some smart-alecky 10-year-old mega genius pointed out that I was pronouncing wrong. Saw-ree!

- Food, fabulous food: besides HDOS, everything ooey, gooey, sticky, fried, frosted, toasted and deelish! This is one time when battered is a good thing.

- End of Summer Concert Series: holy cow! I cannot tell you what the lineup is, but you are gonna be so excited!

Ok, that is just a few. Things are heatin’ up here, so stay tuned! Don’t forget to follow the Fair on Twitter!! And Facebook!

A Fair-Weather Friend

facebookWhat’s better than a friend who comes bearing the best in Fair-time gifts? Mackinac Island fudge, Hot Dogs on a Stick, super-absorbent chamois, great entertainment, Monster trucks, dinosaurs, horse racing and everything deep fried. And the answer is that same friend on Facebook.

Yes, even the L.A. County Fair has a Facebook page. We post all the latest 2009-color-logo-with-datesand greatest info on the upcoming Fair. You can also see photos and connect to our various blogs (including this super spectacular one. Hey, maybe the Fair-ey Blogster should start her own page!). Fairplex also has a page, too.

So, what are you waiting for? Add the Fair as a friend!