Neon carnival lights illuminate the sky as the ambient smell of popcorn and corn dogs fills the air. A balloon pop can be heard as a kid wins a teddy bear that might be bigger than they are.
This weekend, the parking lot at Earl Warren Showgrounds is transformed into a space that will attract thousands of people over the coming days.
The Santa Barbara Fair and Expo is back in town as another Spring comes to a close and Summer creeps around the corner.
Every year the fair brings rides, games, food, local art work, and live animals to Santa Barbara for a festive weekend (or two). For only the second time, the fair will run for two consecutive weekends, this weekend Thursday through Sunday and May 1-3.
“It’s the ultimate celebration of community,” said Ben Sprague, CEO of Earl Warren Showgrounds, “it’s a chance to all come together for one reason, to have fun.”
The Midway Carnival features over 30 rides and carnival games. Though many of the classics remain unchanged, such as Starship 3000, the Zipper, Turbo, the Hawaiian Express, some rides have undergone a makeover. The house of mirrors is now called “Las Vegas” and is fitted with flashy Vegas themed decorations.
The fair will feature exhibits of local artwork and crafts inside the Palm Cove. While the livestock section of the fair will feature goats, sheep, pigs and other animals. Each day of the fair, the Alaskan Racing Pigs will set to the track, jump hurdles, and compete for victory.
New this year is Rodeo 101, which gives kids a chance to learn to rope and learn about the history of rodeo ahead of the Santa Barbara Rodeo in late July.
Beyond the flashy lights and the amused screams of fair-goers on rides, Sprague sees a bigger future for Earl Warren Showgrounds. He wants to turn the space into a community hub, a place that people would go to once or twice a week rather than just a couple of times a year.
“A place for Santa Barbara to come together,” is what CEO Sprague envisions. At the pre-fair dinner, plans were presented about a massive overhaul of the showgrounds, with a reimagined event center, sports fields, arenas, and amphitheater spaces.
Sprague mentioned that once upon a time, major bands and musicians such as The Doors and Led Zeppelin played at Earl Warren.
For the fair this weekend, free off-site parking accompanied by a free trolley ride is available. The trolley will run from Hope Elementary School to the fair every 30 minutes. On-site parking for the fair is $20.
