Fair Opens for a Last Fling at the Old Stand

The 1988 San Fernando Valley Fair will open with a rock ‘n’ roll oldies concert at Cal State Northridge on Wednesday and will close Sunday with a silent farewell to the college campus.

Fair officials expect 90,000 visitors to the five-day fair, which will feature agricultural and horticultural exhibits, livestock competitions, concerts and carnival rides.

The fair, which has been held on the university’s Devonshire Downs fairgrounds since 1975, probably will be relocated next year to the Pierce College campus in Woodland Hills, said Mel Simas, program coordinator for the 51st Agricultural Assn., which operates the fair.

CSUN officials plan a $200-million academic and commercial development on the present site, Simas said.

Pierce, which hopes to become the permanent home of the annual event, has offered fair organizers the use of 30 acres for six weeks each summer, said Pierce President David Wolfe. The fair “would complement our agricultural program, which needs all the help it can get in terms of publicity,” Wolfe said.

The 30th Anniversary of Rock ‘n’ Roll concert Wednesday will include such groups as The Coasters, Buffalo Springfield Revisited and Bad Finger.

Other entertainment includes the Spanish singing group Menudo on Thursday, the Rick Dees Comedy Show on Friday; John Kay and Steppenwolf on Saturday and country star Moe Bandy on Sunday. All performances start at 8 p.m.

The fair will be open from 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Wednesday, noon to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

Admission is $4 for adults and $2 for children and senior citizens 55 and older. Parking is $2.

Before 6 p.m., entry will be free Thursday to senior citizens, and Friday to those 18 and younger.