A more than fair event this year

Sweet home Costa Mesa, where the sky is so blue and the Orange

County Fair is through.

OK, excuse us for having a little lyrical fun, but this year’s

fair probably will be remembered most for taking a big step toward

reversing the long-standing image that the only entertainment fair

organizers can muster are acts that are as stale as a 10-day-old,

10-pound bun.

Not anymore.

Immediately after last year’s fair, organizers of the 2002 event

worked hard to bring in interesting artists to perform, the result

being an overall increase in attendance for the two-week

extravaganza.

Part of the success of this year’s endeavor comes from having more

money to throw at fresher talent. The fair increased its budget for

bands and comedians by 16% this year, providing folks such as Steve

Beazley, the fair’s deputy manager, with more than $1 million to

spend.

The cash infusion helped to provide a show every night and the

ability to book popular bands like country rock’s Lynyrd Skynyrd,

1970s classic bands Heart and Styx, the 1980s phenoms the B-52s and

Huey Lewis and the News and, for the younger crowd, the Indigo Girls

and Save Ferris.

Comedians Weird Al Yankovic and Carrot Top were also popular

draws.

But aside from the musical acts, the fair continues to be a top

attraction year after year with its carnival rides, animal exhibits,

craft displays and smorgasbord of delectable goodies to eat.

Truly, the fair’s ability to draw even more people in its 110th

year of existence is a testament to its popularity in a county that

increasingly has little ties to the event’s rural roots. Coming up

with relevant entertainment and keeping true to the fair’s good

old-fashioned brand of fun is a big task, and we commend organizers,

led by General Manager Becky Bailey-Findley and the fair board, for

their success.

Indeed, there were no major catastrophes or injuries or arrests

this year and, as usual, it was a fun time had by all the thousands

of visitors who attended each day.

Our only gripe is the extra pounds we need to shed after a steady

diet of fair food.