Ramona Country Fair Is Ready to Open for 35th Year

By Ruth Lepper

Vince Franano is optimistic that all is running smoothly for the opening day of Ramona Country Fair.

Everything is on schedule and, if his estimations are correct, between 15,000 and 20,000 people will trek through the fairgrounds Aug. 4-7.

Franano is chairman of the 35th annual event, sponsored by Ramona Chamber of Commerce. Working on the committee with him is Tracy Turner, who is in charge of the vendors that will set up booths to sell their wares.

Turner has at least 90 vendors signed up and has room for 20 more spaces. There will be a wide variety of food choices, as well as an ample selection of souvenirs and necessities for sale.

Fair vendors will offer something to please everyone’s fancy, such as handmade jewelry from Simply Southwest of Alpine; horse blankets made by Beth Cahak; life-size carved bears by Richard Harris; and fossils and petrified wood from Stewart Cheek. All are from Ramona.

Another booth will be set up for fairgoers to create their own candles, with a selection of 20 fragrances to choose from.

For the younger fairgoers, there will be arts and crafts projects and a place to play with toys, along with a puppet show by Amy Spivey.

A couple of contests are sure to attract people of all ages: a watermelon-eating contest takes place at noon Saturday and a jalapeno-eating contest is at 1 p.m. Sunday. A pinata for the children will be the center of attention at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, followed by a “time-to-get-wet” community water fight at 2 p.m.

The food booths will include such favorites as hot dogs, hamburgers, kettle corn, fried onions, sausages, funnel cakes, ice cream and floats, barbecued pork and ribs, as well as barbecued tri-tip beef and chicken, Mexican food, snow cones, nachos, corn dogs, Indian fry bread, turkey burgers, lemonade, fruit drinks and Hawaiian shave ice over ice cream.

Gin Boughner has scheduled a variety of performers who will take the stage throughout the four days: Ramona Community Theatre; Ramona-Julian Dance Academy; Ramona Council of Arts Unlimited; karaoke with Pete Pattynama; singer Christopher Cash; dancers Misty and the Mobys; and the Attitude dance group.

Several bands also will perform at various times: Coyote Moon; Spurious Emission; Junkies & Thieves; Uplift; and Shakey Jake Band, among others.

Carnival rides will be set up by Christensen Amusements. Wristbands for unlimited rides may be purchased in advance for $9 for Thursday or Friday, and for $12 for Saturday or Sunday. The wristbands will be available at Albertsons, 1459 Main St.; Progressive Technologies, 922 D St., Suite 6; Ramona Pharmacy, 677 Main St.; and the chamber office, 960 Main St. The wristbands will cost $12 and $15 on the days of the fair.

A parade will not be held this year because of higher costs involved with staging it, planners said.

Admission is free for the fair; parking is $1 and will benefit local youth organizations.

Franano said there will be contests for canning, baked goods, arts and crafts, photography, science projects, agriculture/horticulture, homemade wine and beer, and more. Blue ribbons and prizes will be awarded to the winners and all participants will receive ribbons.

For information about vending spaces, call Turner at (760) 765-4758 or (760) 787-1752. For information about entertainment, call Boughner at (760) 789-4316. For general information on the fair or to find out about entering the contests, call the chamber office at (760) 789-1311.