Off to a rockin’ start

Lolita Harper

It was ripe. It was rockin’. And it was just a shade lighter than

red.

Opening ceremonies at the Red, Ripe and Rockin’ Orange County Fair

marked the fair’s 111th year Friday with music, food and lots of

festivities. The first 111 fair-goers were in free, and the rest were

treated to a very bright celebration on the Heritage stage.

About a dozen 20-somethings in short, shockingly pink skirts and

white tanks tops tied at the waist danced around on roller skates in

front of the stage, where the Hodads played a medley of ‘50s tunes.

The carhops, who are also waitresses at Frisco’s Diner, glided around

on their pink skates, twirling their fuzzy dice and showing off their

sequined garters.

Three-year-old Ashley Cusack got in on the action. Dressed

appropriately for the rockin’ red theme -- Ashley had on cherry-red

Capri pants and a white T-shirt with hearts on it -- she stole the

show when she joined in the hand-jive number. Grandma and grandpa,

who had brought the toddler from Fullerton, harassed a half-dozen

press photographers to snap a photo of their little star.

Holly Nelson of Mission Viejo was at the fair bright and early

Friday to find out how her projects placed in the fair contest. The

7-year-old entered an Irish fruit bread, a drawstring bag, a painting

of a bird house and another painting of Gull Lake. Holly and her

mother, Rhonda, stopped at the Heritage stage to check out the

opening ceremonies. Holly gave it a thumbs up.

“I was telling her we used to eat at Frisco’s,” Rhonda Nelson

said. “I just love those pink roller skates.”

After a few more minutes of gazing at the festivities, Holly

tugged at her mom’s hand.

“You just can’t wait any longer, can you?” Rhonda Nelson said and

then left with her daughter to check the results of her entries.

Becky Bailey-Findley, chief executive officer of the fair, said

the longer run of this year’s fair -- now 21 days instead of 16 --

allows more attractions to rotate in and out of the venue. There are

new rides, wonderful exhibits and, of course, the revival of the

Pacific Amphitheatre, which is hosting a full-blown concert every

night.

Bailey-Findley, who was at the opening ceremony in her official

capacity, said she can’t wait until she is off the clock.

“I really want to try that sky ride,” she said about the chair

lift that gives fair-goers a bird’s eye view of the city. “You get to

see so much more than just the fair, and at night, it will be just be

gorgeous.”

Just across the walkway, mother-son duo Carrie and Brandon

Kingsley were celebrating opening day with fake tattoos. Brandon

touted a colorful dragon on his left bicep, while his mother wore a

less aggressive peace character.

Rueben Smith, president of the Orange County Fair board of

directors, said Bailey-Findley and her team did a “phenomenal job” on

the entire set up, but one specific attraction was calling his name.

“I’m going after one of those deep-fried candy bars,” Smith said.

* LOLITA HARPER writes columns Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and

covers culture and the arts. She may be reached at (949) 574-4275 or

by e-mail at lolita.harper@latimes.com.