Sep 5, 2009 10:51 am US/Pacific
Start Up The Frier! L.A. County Fair Opens Today
POMONA
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From deep-fried hot dogs to ice cream nachos, your tummy is bound for a roller coaster of a ride at the Los Angeles County Fair!
CBS
Starting Saturday, the Los Angeles County Fair begins a 23-day run at the Fairplex in Pomona.
This year the fair's organizers are offering a plethora of discounts to draw crowds.
Admission will be $1 for people entering between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. through Monday. Also during Labor Day weekend, the cost of 22-ounce soft drinks will be reduced to $1 from 1-4 p.m., while carnival rides, games and select food items will be priced at $1 from 4-7 p.m.
Admission prices remain unchanged. The weekday price is $12, $9 for adults age 60 and over and $7 for children ages 6 to 12.
On weekends, the admission price is $17, $14 for adults age 60 and over and $12 for children ages 6 to 12. Children under 6 are free throughout the fair.
The price of a season pass has been cut in half to $24.95.
A pair of promotional efforts will be offered during the four Wednesdays of the fair's run. The admission price for adults age 60 and over will be reduced to $6, while a $20 ticket including unlimited carnival rides can be purchased a participating McDonald's restaurants.
More than 1.3 million people visited the fair in 2008, four percent fewer than those who attended the previous year. Wendy Talarico, communications and public relations manager for Fairplex, said the decline was the result of the economic downturn.
After Labor Day, the fair will be open Wednesdays through Sundays until Oct. 4.
Joining the traditional attractions of carnival rides, concerts, fried foods, wine and tequila tastings, horse racing livestock exhibitions is Jurassic Planet, which features more than 20 robotic dinosaurs.
Another new attraction is Gateway to Africa, featuring the continent's natural wonders. Adjacent to Gateway to Africa is a new atrium, with African-style plants and flowers.
Bark Park returns for a second consecutive year, with Splash Dogs, rescued dogs performing tricks in water, joining the lineup of canine entertainment. Each weekend during the fair's run, various rescue organizations and animal shelters will be offering dogs for adoption.
The fair's End of Summer Concert series begins Saturday with the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame gospel and soul singer Al Green and the rhythm and blues and soul group The Spinners.
Other concert performers include Peter Frampton and Kansas (Friday); Good Charlotte (Sept. 12); Lynyrd Skynyrd (Sept. 13); LeeAnn Rimes (Sept. 19); Ciara (Sept. 26); and The Beach Boys (Sept. 27).
The Zucchini Weenie -- a hot dog placed in a hollowed-out zucchini, then covered in batter and deep fried -- has been added to the array of the fair's deep fried food offerings.
Also new is the Meat Lovers Ice Cream Cone -- soft-serve vanilla or chocolate ice cream rolled in chocolate-covered bacon bits; and Ice Cream Nachos, crumbled ice cream cone pieces topped with ice cream and a choice of toppings.
Horse racing will be held Thursday through Sept. 28, except for Tuesdays and Sept. 14 and Sept. 21.
(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Wire services contributed to this report.)
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