The L.A. Pet Fair, the largest pet expo and sale open to the public, keeps getting bigger and bigger. Three shows – Pet Expo USA, APEX – The Aquarium & Pond Expo, and Reptile Super Show – will be taking over three buildings here at Fairplex, Saturday and Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. One ticket lets you into all three.

Just added is Vladae, The Russian Dog Wizard, an international star in the dog training field. He’ll be at Pet Expo USA in Fairplex 6. Vladae speaks five languages, one of them “doglish.” People call him “The Russian Dog Wizard,” a miracle worker, or just “Vladae 911″ because he is able to help with their dogs when others fail.

Vladae will be joining other celebrities at Pet Expo USA, including Shorty Rossi of Animal Planet’s “Pit Boss,” Linda Blair, founder of the WorldHeart Foundation; Larry Thomas (the “Soup Nazi” from “Seinfeld”), Mackenzie Phillips, Megan Blake, and Max Wasa. And there will be plenty of four-legged celebrities, too. For more info, check out petexpousa.net.

APEX – The Aquarium & Pond Expo in Fairplex 7 will be literally a “Water World” with fresh-water, salt-water, and outdoor pond displays. Fish, coral and plants will be available for sale, along with dry goods and equipment. The APEX FinZone has a marine animal touch tank for kids of all ages. More info: aquariumpondexpo.com.

Reptile Super Show in Fairplex 9 offers thousands of lizards, snakes, turtles, frogs along with all the supplies and accessories. More than 200 vendors from all over the world will feature the largest selection of captive-bred reptiles and amphibians. Visitors can learn from experts about breeding reptiles (with eggs hatching during the show). Huge snakes and even a two-headed turtle will be showcased. Find out more at reptilesupershow.com.

A two-day pass is available Saturday for $20 for adults, $12 for ages 12 and under. One-day admission is $12 for adults, $8 for ages 12 and under. Attendees will receive a coupon for $5 admission good any weekday of the Fair.

Learn more at lapetfair.com or call (619) 281-PETS.

Did you know carrots aren’t just orange? They can be black (actually deep purple), pink, and white. And mint can come in all kinds of flavors, including chocolate mint? Imagine, a candy bar in a leaf … delish!

That’s just what about 50 kids from Pomona Hope, a local non-profit community organization, learned when they visited FarmView Farms’ community garden Tuesday afternoon.

Emily Peine, director of programs at Pomona Hope Community Center, organized the field trip. Pomona Hope has its own community garden in which the children help out, all under the supervision of lead gardener Drew Rushlow, who helped set up the visit.

Don DeLano, Fairplex landscape supervisor, led a tour through the garden for the children and their teen and adult leaders. The group saw an amazing variety of fruits and vegetables growing on the 1/4-acre farm – lots of lettuces, herbs (thyme, dill, tarragon, chives, and more), radishes, peppers, chili peppers, eggplant, tomatoes (of all colors and sizes), squash, peaches, olives, and so much more.

Many of those vegetables became ingredients for the al fresco dinner the group enjoyed after the tour. David Tieg, head chef at McKinley’s Grill at the Fairplex Sheraton, regularly harvests seasonal fruits and vegetables from the garden to offer the freshest ingredients on his diverse restaurant menu.

Garden guests enjoyed grilled eggplant, squash and tomatoes; a green salad packed with just-harvested veggies and a tomato salad using several varieties of the red fruit; carnitas; hand-made corn tortillas grilled on the spot; refried beans and rice; all topped off by a peach crisp dessert using juicy fruits right off of trees in the FairView Farms orchard.

Not only were little tummies full of delicious fresh foods by the end of the evening, young minds were full of ideas for their own gardens.

See more photos of all the fun on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/fairplex.

Fairplex will be the center of the ever-lovin’ pet universe the weekend of Aug. 7 and 8 when the L.A. Pet Fair presents three shows – Pet Expo USA, Reptile Super Show and APEX Aquarium & Pond Expo. It’s open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

You get to enjoy all these shows for just one admission price – $12 for adults, $8 for ages 12 and younger (and you’ll get a special discount admission to the L.A. County Fair, too).

Pets that swim, fly, crawl, walk, jump or slither will be showcased. The latest pet paraphernalia, celebrity appearances, numerous drawings for products, and several adoption organizations make this show a must-see. Plenty of entertainment will also be part of the show, so bring the family (but please don’t bring your pets, they’re not allowed).

Pet Expo USA presents all things dogs, cats, equine and more in Fairplex 6. Celebrity appearances include Shorty Rossi of Animal Planet’s “Pit Boss,” actors-animal advocates Linda Blair, Larry Thomas (the “Soup Nazi” from “Seinfeld”), Mackenzie Phillips Megan Blake and Max Wasa. Talented four-legged entertainers include skateboarding bulldogs, dancing dog teams, “Chopper” the Biker Dog and exotic animal shows.

Fairplex 7 will be home to APEX – The Aquarium & Pond Expo, offering fresh- and salt-water aquariums, planted aquariums, outdoor ponds, fish, coral, plants, plenty of family fun and more.

The Reptile Super Show takes over Fairplex 9 with thousands of lizards, frogs, snakes, turtles, and supplies. More than 200 vendors from all over the world will offer the largest selection of captive bred reptiles and amphibians, and experts will discuss topics such as reptile breeding (and you can watch eggs as they hatch).

Learn more L.A. Pet Fair at www.lapetfair.com or call (619) 281-PETS.

If you missed it the first time, my fiendish friends, we are holding another monster audition on Saturday, July 17 for Nightmare at Scareview Farms. Scareview Idol will be from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in FairView Farms’ barn area. Practice your screams, menacing voices, creepy walks and zombie stares then fly on over to Fairplex and see if our judges find you frightening enough to hire. We really are dying to meet you! By the way, these are paid positions!

Nightmare at Scareview Farms returns in October with five intense, horrific mazes to scare guests to death, including The Bride of Pitchfork, Cleopatra’s Tomb, Transylvania Terror, Skull Island and Zombies of the Grave. The event runs Thursday – Saturday, Oct. 14-16 and 21-23 and Thursday – Sunday, Oct. 28-31, from 7-11 p.m.

De-stress your wedding planning at Here Come the Brides – The Elegant Bridal Experience this Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. at Avalon here at Fairplex.

Get there early to qualify to receive a free wedding band set given to the first 250 future brides (or grooms-to-be) with a coupon they received by registering at www.herecomethebrides.com to get $2 off admission.

Admission is $10, $8 with coupon, and free for military personnel with ID.

Here Come the Brides – The Elegant Bridal Experience features fashion shows of bridal wear, displays of beautiful wedding cakes, honeymoon travel planners, makeup and hairstyle demonstrations, money-saving specials, and more. Contests and giveaways add to the fun.

Each bride-to-be will get free copies of Brides Southern California, The Knot Weddings, Premier Bride, Los Angeles Weddings, Orange County Bride, The Wedding Guide, Bodas USA, and Latino Bride and Groom and other local wedding publications while supplies last.

Parking is available at Fairplex Gate 1 on McKinley Avenue. For more information, visit www.herecomethebrides.net or www.fairplex.com.

Model trains bring out the child in everyone, and The Great Train Expo will be a great way to discover your inner kid. One thing for sure, you’ll be “choo-chooing” on your way home from the show!

The Expo is making its inaugural visit to Fairplex this weekend, July 10 and 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. The national, traveling show offers everything and anything a railroad enthusiast could want.

Some 200 to 500 tables of dealers offer HO scale, N scale, Lionel (O gauge), G gauge, Z scale, American Flyer (S gauge), hobby tools, die-cast vehicles, train whistles, scenery items, railroadiana slides, t-shirts, videos, railroad gift items, books, photos and much more.

Model railroad layouts will be operating, including the Fairplex Garden Railroad, a huge, permanent G Scale layout. And there will be a riding train for children to enjoy.

Hands-on exhibits get you right into the action, along with demonstrations, and workshops for beginning and experienced modelers. If you’d like to sell an old toy train, you’ll be able to get appraisals and possible offers from multiple dealers.

It all happens in Fairplex Building 9 with parking available at Gate 3 on McKinley and Gate 9 on White Avenue. Tickets are $7 for adults and free for children under 12 and admission is good for both days. For more information about the show, visit trainexpoinc.com, or www.fairplex.com.

The Fourth of July goes KABOOM! literally this Sunday when Fairplex hosts its 24th fireworks spectacular. Monster trucks and freestyle motocross get crowds cheering and the stupendous fireworks are the grand finale.

Get your tickets now at the kiosk at Fairplex Green Gate (located at Gate 1 on McKinley Avenue) or online. Tickets range from $14-19.50, and it’s free for ages 2 and younger.

Gates open at 5 p.m., and a great way to begin the celebration is to head over to the Top of the Park to enjoy the KABOOM! Buffet. Served until 9 p.m., the buffet offers scrumptious salads, sides including three-cheese macaroni, barbecued roasted potato wedges & sweet corn; entrees that will hit the spot – grilled chicken, grilled Cajun sausage, brisket carving station. And of course, succulent desserts. It’s just $25 for adults and $8.95 for children 12 and younger.

Presented by Toyota, Coca-Cola and Sauza Tequila, KABOOM! opens with FMX riders delivering the colossal speed, moves, jumps and spins.

Then the dusty big boys of Monster Trucks take over, led by Bounty Hunter, Playing for Keeps, McGruff, Obsessed and Obsession. Drivers navigate these behemoths weighing between 9,000 to11,000 pounds perched on 66-inch tires kicking up the dust and excitement levels exponentially.

The breathtaking fireworks extravaganza begins at 9:15 to cap all of Fairplex’s Fourth of July fun.

Parking is at Fairplex Gate 17. General parking is $9, preferred is $12. For more information, call (909) 621-3111 or visit www.fairplex.com.

If you have what it takes to frighten people off their feet, stop by Fairplex on June 26 for an open audition for our Halloween attraction, Nightmare at Scareview Farms. We’re holding a Scareview Idol-type of audition and we are in need of ghouls, zombies, pirates and monsters! So get your creep on and try out.

Auditions will be at the Big Red Barn, home to Scareview Farms come October, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Enter at Gate 1 and you’ll be directed to the parking lot. All you need are your bloodcurdling screams and scary voices – costumes will be provided.

Scareview Farms will have five haunted mazes this year. Our resident psycho, Pitchfork the menacing farmer, is looking for a bride, so be careful! He may literally take your hand in marriage.

Actually, the dogs are coming to us. More than 8,000 dogs will be here at Fairplex by tomorrow for a howlin’ good time at the annual Mission Circuit Dog Show. The show is a Memorial Day weekend tradition with 160 breeds represented. Who will get crowned best of show? Well, come on over and find out.

The show is open to the public and admission is free. It is a sanctioned dog show, so canoodling, or is that canine-oodling, with the dogs is not allowed. But admiring from a few feet away is, so come out, and if you are researching a dog, see what breed is to your liking. The American Kennel Club will be here throughout the holiday weekend offering tips on dog care, training and how to choose the best dog for your family. Several vendors are here selling the finest in doggie delights, from beds to colors to carriers.

I was out there earlier today and saw a couple competitions. The Neapolitan Mastiff (above left) was fascinating – big, huge, but the young female pup (who was ginormous already) was very graceful. However, I fell in love with the West Highland White Terrier (above right), who was so incredibly cute!!

If you do, there is a great show this weekend you do not want to miss. The West Coast Historical Militaria Collectors Show is Friday and Saturday here at Fairplex. There will be more than 100 vendors with 300 tables full of military antiques and collectibles from all time periods and countries.

You can find a vast array of artifacts, uniforms, gear, books, edged weapons, trench art, artwork, photos and so much more. Special with this show is costumes and props that will be available from the HBO WWII mini-series The Pacific. Sacred Sword Inc. will be here with props and Eastern Costume will have uniforms and gear from the show.

Admission is $7 for adults, $2 for kids. The show is very interesting and can be an eye-opening history lesson for kids.