The State Fair opens today in grand fashion with a celebration of the event’s 40th year at its Cal Expo site, coupled with its fun-filled theme, “The California State Fair Goes Hollywood.”

After 59 years at its former Stockton Boulevard and Broadway site, the fair was relocated to its then-new and much larger Cal Expo. With the assistance of then-Gov. Ronald Reagan, the fair opened at this site on Aug. 26, 1968.

In celebration of this anniversary, a commemorative exhibit, showcasing a variety of photographs and artifacts from the four decades of the fair at Cal Expo, will be on display at the California Building.

Fair-y Tales
Since opening the gates to its Cal Expo site, the fair has been home to the creation of many memories for many visitors.

Citrus Heights resident Ann Ragland Bowns, a longtime local artist, recalls participating in the fair during its first year at Cal Expo.

“I was an art demonstrator there [at Cal Expo] in 1968 and that’s what I’m going to be doing again this month at the fair in the art building,” said Bowns, a former art instructor who began displaying her art at the old fairgrounds in 1959. “I love the [Cal Expo] fair and I still love the buildings up there at the Expo Center. The water features are one of the most spectacular and enjoyable things at the new fair and I also like to look at the farm animals. It’s hard to believe that it’s been 40 years. Forty years goes by really pretty fast.”

Greg Kinder, a deputy manager for the fair, said that during his youth, he always looked forward to attending the fair at Cal Expo.

“We would always anticipate the fair,” Kinder said. “The fair was always the buffer before you went back to school. My brothers and family and friends all knew that cotton candy, candy apples, the carnival, horse races and music and other things were a fun way to go and spend the day. A lot of times [going to the fair] was the highlight of the summer.”

Better Than Fair
Continuing its summertime tradition at Cal Expo, the fair will once again feature its usual array of midway rides, cotton candy, corn dogs, barbecued turkey legs, interesting fried foods, art, cultural and agricultural exhibits and animal displays and events.

And with the Hollywood theme of this year’s edition of the fair, there will be plenty of opportunities to explore California’s historic movie industry through a variety of exhibits and other attractions.

Just as it has for the past several years, the Stage Nine Entertainment Store, which presented last year’s Toytopia theme, will be in charge of the fair’s Hollywood exhibit, explained Brooke Converse, the fair’s media director.

“We’re going Hollywood,” Converse said. “One of our entire buildings will be devoted to [Stage Nine’s] ‘Going Hollywood’ exhibit.”

Converse said that although Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will not officially be among the Hollywood celebrities of the “Going Hollywood” exhibit, he should make an appearance at the fair, likely at the opening ceremonies.

Another Hollywood-themed display will be the “Red Carpet Fashion” display, which will present fairgoers with an intimate, up-close view of clothing worn by such celebrities as Helen Mirren, America Ferrera and Carrie Underwood.

Also coming to the fair will be the Towe Auto Museum’s “Cars of the Stars” exhibit, which will feature automobiles that were formerly owned by such celebrities as the Pointer Sisters and Malcolm Forbes, publisher of Forbes Magazine.

As a tribute to this year’s fair theme, every night at 6:30 p.m. the California State Fair Parade will make its way through the fairgrounds with Hollywood-themed floats, as well as marching bands, cheerleaders, police and firefighters and Little League Baseball representatives. A special rededication of the Sept. 11 Memorial will be held on Aug. 19 at 12:30 p.m. The memorial features a steel beam from the trade center and a 5,000-pound granite sphere inscribed with the names of those who died during the Sept. 11 attacks.

The Midway and More
For Indiana Jones fans, the new Indiana Jones film, “Kingdom of the Crystal Skull,” will be brought to life through an elaborate floriculture display in the likeness of a set of this new action-packed thriller.

Among the most unique exhibits at this year’s fair will be the “Rats, Bats and Cats” exhibit—a collection of the “biggest and smallest, ugliest, hairiest and most exotic rodents, flying mammals and felines.” The exhibit includes a variety of educational experiences, photo opportunities and a kitten petting zoo.

Another exhibit coming to this year’s fair will be the “CSI Live” exhibit, which will allow fair guests to take part in recreations of crime investigations. The exhibit, which will be open at various times from Aug. 26 through Sept. 1 on the Laguna Pizza Deck, will present an educational explanation on how crime scenes are investigated through logic and forensic technology.

Entering its 10th year at the fair will be the popular Brewfest, which presents award-winning brews from the Commercial Craft Beer Competition. The event will be held on the north side of the Miller Lite Grandstand on Aug. 22, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

As in past years, the fair’s entertainment stages will once again be jam-packed with a variety of performers, including a music lineup of Air Supply, Weird Al Yankovic, Gary Allan, Smash Mouth, Vanessa Hudgens and the Doodlebops.

“Staycation” in Sacramento
Norb Bartosik, CEO of the California State Fair, said that with the struggling economy and the tendency of more people to take close-to-home “staycations,” as opposed to typical vacations, which require the cost of a lot of traveling, the fair presents a great opportunity for people seeking an economical form of entertainment.

“I think for the money spent and the bargains that will be offered, it will be the best single investment you’ll make for recreation in all of Northern California,” Bartosik said.

Admission to this year’s fair, which runs from Aug. 15 to Sept. 1, is $10 for general tickets, $8 for seniors, $6 for children aged 5 to 12 years old and free for children 4 years old and younger.

As a salute to the Armed Forces, veterans, local, state and national law enforcement and emergency services in all branches of government and private enterprises, the fair has set aside a free admission Armed Forces and First Responders’ Day on Aug. 19 for those with proper identification.

Other admission specials include $6 admission for seniors every Friday before 6 p.m.; free admission on Tuesdays for children 12 years old and younger; $1 midway rides on Tuesdays; and free parking before 4 p.m. on Mondays and Thursdays, except for Labor Day.

For additional information regarding the California State Fair, call (916) 263-3247 or visit the Web site www.bigfun.org.