Memories – You Got 'Em, We Want 'Em

February 23, 2012

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!

7 Comments

  1. My husband and I had our first date at the LA County Fair on Sept 23, 1983, and we were married on Sept 23, 1989. We now live in La Verne up the street from the fairgrounds, and go every year with our 3 boys. I remember as a child going to the fair to buy our Vans shoes for 10.00.

  2. In 1960, my grandmother took me to the fair for the first time. She bought me a sterling pendent and chain from a man who engraved my name on it as we watched. I still have that necklace and cherish the memories of excitement when she put around my neck and went to the next stand and bought me a candy apple (hard cinnamon candy shell). The fair was so much more memorable and exciting in the days of actually watching goods being crafted in front of you. Oh, to be a kid in the 60’s again….

  3. One year we were wandering around near the Grandstand and I mentioned to family, “Let’s see who playing in concert tonite”. It was Weird Al. Awesome concert my girls had a great time. We also can’t go without a little bottle of milk from the on-site dairy. Delicioso … but alas no more Big Slide ..

  4. My memory is that the Fair amusement people ALL last year would not return my calls or paper filled out requests about my ride tickets….they would NOT honor them. I don’t know I’d I will go back this year. My kids were SO disappointed !

  5. I always look forward to the fair. I’ve been going 2-3 times every year for the past 20 yrs. I notice the fair’s a month earlier than usuasl this year. Why so, just out of curiosity?
    Anything new & different this year?

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