Fair play for a tiny tot

Marisa O’Neil

The Orange County Fair has rides to thrill daredevils, fried foods to

tempt diet cheaters and musical acts to take Generation Xers back to

their senior proms.

But what about little fairgoers -- little, slightly squeamish ones

at that? I decided to take my nearly 3-year-old son Liam -- a veteran

of Disneyland but otherwise not terribly bold -- to investigate.

We started in the Kiddie Carnival portion, which houses the more

child-friendly rides.

All are broken into height categories, with 36 inches the

shortest. The top of Liam’s head hovered just above that magic line,

leaving a surprisingly large number of rides open to him.

Ride ticket booths have handy -- but not completely accurate --

measuring guides on them. The information booths have more precise

measurements.

Signboards throughout the fair tell you what rides are open to

what heights. Parents can accompany smaller riders on some

attractions, even if a child doesn’t meet the height requirements.

That’s all well and good, if your child actually wants to go on

any rides.

Liam vetoed every one I suggested.

I even tried telling him the flying pink elephants were like the

Dumbo ride. He wasn’t buying it.

Same with the teacups.

He finally decided to go on the kiddie bumper boats, which looked

like a perfect bet. He cried his way from one end of the pool to the

other, until a merciful worker pulled him out.

So, we headed elsewhere for entertainment.

Kids Park has crafts, games and a small stage with contests and

acts for families. It even has a giant, shaded sandbox filled with

toys and surrounded by plenty of seating for parents.

Nearby Centennial Farm has vegetable gardens and livestock that

most city-slicker and suburban children don’t see on a regular basis.

Liam liked the giant, brown-spotted cows from a distance; close-up,

not so much.

But a display of vintage tractors and farm equipment definitely

drew his attention. The only drawback is that it sits behind a

white-picket fence and isn’t for climbing.

Same with the Fair Play building, which houses antique and vintage

toys behind glass, away from busy hands.

“Ooooh,” Liam marveled as he saw a display filled with colorful

toys. “I wanna go in there.”

Surprisingly, he was OK with just looking at the toys, which

ranged from a 1970s-era Little People barn to an Operation game. An

antique Lionel train set positively captivated him.

So, too, did the huge Southern California Lego Train Club display

sandwiched between the Youth in Motion and Floral Pavilion buildings.

Club members used more than 200,000 bricks to create the scene of

harbors, bridges, a city, parks, windmills, an office building filled

with workers and even a Starbucks, with trains running throughout.

Builders also created a Star Wars scene in one corner.

Signs around the display prompt people to look for hidden gems

like a “monkey walker” and a “Hummer rally.”

Liam did five laps around the mini-city, taking in every detail he

could and cooing with delight every time a train passed. Judging by

the crowds of other boys around the display, he wasn’t alone in his

wonder.

And because a fair isn’t a fair without food, we got fresh-roasted

ears of corn to nibble before we left.

It wasn’t fried, sugared or even popped. But it was enough to

please even the finickiest eater.

IF YOU GO

Child-friendly promotions at the Fair:

Kids Days: July 19 and 26, children under 12 get in free.

Ride Specials: Tuesdays and Wednesdays get an unlimited ride

wristband for $20. Thursdays and Fridays, each ride is $1. Both

offers sold until 5 p.m., ride until 8 p.m.

* MARISA O’NEIL covers public safety and courts. She may be

reached at (714) 966-4618 or by e-mail at marisa.oneil@latimes.com.