Editorial

Last year, it set records in attendance and revenue. And this year,

Orange County Fair organizers don’t expect anything less. In fact, they

expect a lot more.

Here’s hoping that comes true.

It was only a couple of months ago that fair officials were

considering a possible move for this Costa Mesa landmark to the closed El

Toro Marine base -- now that any hopes for an airport there seem to be

dead.

So what better way to convince fair officials to stay put than to put

on the best show ever?

One big step forward has been the efforts by fair organizers to secure

top musical acts and expand the concert series to every night.

In years past, the names of fair performers have often been

forgettable ones, but this year the fair increased its budget to sign

bands by $100,000 and wound up with a lineup that boasts Huey Lewis and

the News, Lynryd Skynyrd, Heart and Styx, top bands from the 1970s and

1980s that still enjoy a strong following today.

In addition, fair officials say that while the old favorites like the

Ferris wheel and animal shows will stick around, they plan to have more

extreme rides at the Ray Cammack Shows carnival, which they believe will

draw even bigger crowds.

To deal with those throngs of people and in light of the homeland

security measures that have come into play since last September’s

terrorist attacks, the fair also has beefed up security this year by 10%.

Costa Mesa police will have a strong presence working in tandem with

fair security and Orange County sheriff’s deputies.

As we said before, last year’s fair set records for attendance and

revenue. The take at the gate was $3.4 million higher than in 2000.

There’s no reason to believe this year’s event won’t break even more

records.

In fact, with this year’s theme being water, we look forward to the

fair living up to its billing and making this annual shindig a “big

splash.”