Free fair days

Danette Goulet

FAIRGROUNDS -- Splat. Screech. Giggle.

Those were the predominant sounds of one of the free events for

children at the Orange County Fair. It was the Sunny Days, Water Sprays

Contest, a water balloon toss for children.

“I’m not going to catch this, I just know it,” said Niles Schambers,

9, right before he missed a red balloon filled with water that flew his

way.

It’s often all or nothing, big bucks or freebies at the Orange County

Fair. It may cost $3 for a lemonade and $6 for a basket of potato chips,

but there’s also plenty to be had for free -- especially if you’re a

child.

Sure the kiddie rides cost a bit, but if you can drag them away from

the cotton candy and snow cones, the flying elephants and bees, there are

tons of fun activities for children.

Just head down memorial way, to the Kids Park. There, in the shade of

huge yawning trees children can play in a giant sandbox or make their own

puppets for a puppet show.

They could also visit Picasso’s Place, where easels are set up at

ground level with quality paper and a vast array of markers.

Overseeing the artist’s paradise is Tom Jorgenson, a.k.a. Picasso Van

Rembrant.

“That’s my character name,” he confided.

In Picasso’s Place, children are allowed to sit and create at their

own pace, he said.

“Over there, they go on rides and get all sugared up, here they can

just sit and work at their own pace,” he said. “It’s a relaxing quiet

time, for them and their parents.”

Sporadically he will put on a stage show and teach children how to

draw cartoons using the letters of the alphabet.

If children are looking for a bit more activity, there are contests

and games held all day at the Kids Stage.

If they don’t want to get too messy, they can limbo under bamboo rods,

bowl with grapefruits or try their hand at a lemon toss. If they want to

get into the thick of things, children can enter the Jello-toss contest

or the Orange Face Fluff Contest.

That one involves throwing puffed cheese balls at the whipped cream

beard on a partner’s face. Whatever team has the fullest, orangest beard

at the end wins.

For the inquisitive mind, there is also an interactive science tent.

In there, the walls are covered in games with buttons to push and

knobs to twist.

Children can make aluminum foil boats and calculate how many marbles

can be placed inside before it sinks.

It is also the home of the giant tub of bubbles. A wading pool filled

with soap and huge bubble wands tempts adults to play, as well as

children.

Magic shows, musicians, arts and crafts are just a few more of the

free for all in the children’s corner.

“It’s a nice place parents can bring their kids without spending a lot

of money,” said Carolyn Dawson, a fair worker.