Contact: Number: 96-10-5-09
       Contact:  Sharon Autry
       Number: (909) 865-4262

The Los Angeles County Fair Association is committed to a strong philanthropic effort, giving back to the community and presenting a variety of values and discounts to its customers. The Fair delivered on its promises and 1,372,383 guests were in attendance. Fairguests were happy guests with overall customer satisfaction showing increases in all areas.

The 2009 L.A. County Fair filled 23 days, Sept. 5-Oct. 4. With the exception of Labor Day, the Fair was closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Horse racing concluded its 15-day meeting, Monday, Sept. 28.

The Fair opened Labor Day Weekend, an 87-year Fair first with $1 admission, soft drinks and carnival rides and games. The response was resounding, prompting a similar promotion during the Fair’s closing weekend. 

Nineteen cities were saluted during the Fair with parades, community expos, community heroes and a sense of community pride. The participation of strong sponsors allowed guests to take advantage of a variety of discount programs from Season Passes for $24.95, selling nearly 30,000, to AT&T Any Day admission tickets, College Thursdays, McDonald’s Wednesdays, Ralphs Fun Packs, Ralphs Food Drive Fridays, Red Cross and USC blood drives, Dodger Day, $5 after 5 p.m. Wednesday through Friday and Friday’s Day for Heroes.

And more:

• Nineteen cities were acknowledged, and these cities collectively honored 50 community heroes.
  
• FairKids Discovery Club Field Trips were visited by Southern California schools and more than 108,000 youngsters attended the Fair free, an increase of more than 5,000 over 2008.
  
• Blood Drives conducted by the American Red Cross and University of Southern California were enormously successful with Fairguests enthusiastically rolling up their sleeves.
  
• Tournament of Roses officials and the Los Angeles County Fair Association entered a unique partnership that awarded 2009’s L.A. County Fair high school band competition winner a berth in the world-renowned Tournament of Roses Parade in 2011. Upland High School won the competition and the incredible honor. The partnership formed by the Fair association and Rose Parade officials is the only high school band event in which the winner is assured a spot in the Tournament of Roses Parade.
  
• Ralphs Canned Food Fridays accounted for nearly 60,000 donated cans for distribution by the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank. While some folks just came and dropped off cans, guests with five Ralphs brand products received free Fair admission that day.
  
• Dodger Day brought in a full house of fans sporting Dodger blue, anxious to greet sports legends Steve Garvey, Maury Wills, Bill Russell, Tommy Davis and Ron Cey, who bantered with guests and signed autographs. Proceeds from the day benefited the Dodger charity of choice, ThinkCure, an organization that raises funds to accelerate collaborative research to cure cancer.
  
• Fridays were Day for Heroes, with active and retired military, reserves, police, fire and paramedics along with one guest attending the Fair that day for $1. The proceeds were donated to USA Cares. The L.A. County Fair partnered with Operation Lap Wrap, providing handmade quilts, with squares signed by guests, then donated to USA Cares for distribution to wounded soldiers upon returning stateside.

Fun Facts:
• 28,658 – Soft Drinks
• 8,091 – Burgers
• 7,125 – Hot Dogs
• 6,068 – Corn Dogs
• 4,343 – Dip Sandwiches (Beef, Turkey, Pastrami)
• 530 – Dino Ribs
• 102,000 – Hot Dogs on a Stick
• 19,000 – cupcakes
• 5,000  - deep-fried S’mores
• 10,000 – deep-fried Twinkies
• 16,000  --  deep-fried Oreos
• 4,000  -- deep-fried White Castle burgers
• 2,000 lbs. – deep-fried frog legs
• 3,000 – deep-fried avocados
• 6,000 – deep-fried zucchini wienies
• 600 vendor spaces – more than 10,000 products
• Three calves, 17 goats and 12 sheep were born in FairView Farms with many youngsters and adults witnessing the miracle of birth
• 3,152 – guests experienced  the Ejection Seat
• 140,000 – guests rode the sky rides
• 61,000 – guests rode La Grande Wheel
• 72,000 – guests rode Crazy Coaster
• 73,000 – guests rode Hydro Slide

        Dates for the 2010 L.A. County Fair are Sept. 4-Oct. 3. For more information visit lacountyfair.com or  Fairplex.com.
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