HOT TIMES AT THE RAMONA COUNTRY FAIR CONTINUE THROUGH SUNDAY

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By Miriam Raftery

 

August 25, 2017 (Ramona) – Midway rides, crafts, critters, fair foods from funnel cakes to bacon-wrapped hotdogs,  kids activities and more are all part of the fun at the Ramona Country Fair, which continues tomorrow from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.  From 1 to 6 p.m. Sunday you can also enjoy the Ramona Bluegrass Festivals on the Main Stage, plus a Gymkhana equestrian show in the arena from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.  

We visited  today, arriving to the aroma of slow-cooked, barbecued meats and the sights of butter slathered corn on the cob.

Sipping on an ice-cold lemonade shortly after the gates opened,  we watched children frolick amid giant bubbles, pet a therapy horse from Heart and Hooves Therapy, and gaze longingly at the Midway rides, waiting for the fun to begin.

There are a variety of rides ranging from a Ferris wheel to a giant slide and even a mini-roller coaster, plus those ever-enticing Midway games where you can try your luck to take home a giant stuffed giraffe, teddy bear or other animal.

You can also look at some real creatures provided by the Kreepy Kreatures Reptile Show, which includes not only snakes, but also tarantulas, much to the fascinating of youngsters checking out the sights.

We perused vendors such as fabulous glass sculptures by Al Caspersen of Borrego Springs, including eagles, dragons, and more. I couldn’t resist taking home a blown-glass bighorn ram with platinum horns. 

Another creative artisan there is Tom Grubbé, whose pine needle creations  are truly extraordinary. The art form, which he describes as “old as the human race” has been embellished by Grubbé with shells, antlers, gourds and more.

You can also shop for colorful Mexican apparel , jewelry, a variety of other souvenirs, and home improvements such as solar. 

Two candidates running for Congress against Duncan Hunter had booths at the fair.  Democrat Pierre Beauregard’s volunteers chatted with voters, while Republican Andrew Zelt had a “Dump Duncan” sign and was charging passersby to hurl balls for a chance to dunk Zelt’s son  in a dunking tank full of water—a prospect the boy must have relished on this sweltering summer day. 

The Ramona Valley Vineyards Association was on hand to promote the upcoming  and first-ever Ramona Grape Stomp September 9th; Teri Kerns from Ramona Ranch Vineyards stopped by to show off her new cowgirl boots and demonstrate her high-kicking stomping style. 

Admission to the Ramona Country Fair is free, and parking is  just$5. You can buy unlimited ride tickets for $20, making this a bargain for families who want to enjoy an old-fashioned country fair without the higher prices of the annual County Fair at Del Mar.

For more information and a full schedule of events for the Ramona Country Fair, visit http://ramonachamber.com/ramona-country-fair/.


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