Los Angeles County Fair  September 3 - October 2, 2011

Address:  1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona, CA 91768  Admission: $12 -17 adult, plus $10 parking (subject to change)  - lacountyfair.com

Los Angeles County Fair is one of the oldest, largest fairs in California. Its success comes from the sheer size of Los Angeles County. It spans hundreds of miles from the ocean to the mountains and includes agricultural enterprise among the 10.5 million residents (Los Angeles County often adds 500,000 new residents in a year!)

The event includes horse racing with onsite wager betting, a huge draw to horse race fans. The fair is held each year at Fairplex in Pomona, a year-round meeting space venue. Parking often is a problem during the fair, which has outgrown the facility's capability to handle parking well, especially during special discount days. If you can go at the right time and don't mind the wait, be patient to get into the fair and have a great time.

The Los Angeles County Fair includes a carnival with midway game booths and all the latest extreme thrill rides, plus vendors with every kind of food, displays, shows, entertainment, competitions, petting zoos, and things you can buy.

One of the exciting events in recent years has been an olive oil contest in which the award-winning olive oil is displayed at the fair.