LA Fair's Can't Miss Attractions For Kids
With the LA County Fair in town from September 4th through September 27th, 2015, there's a lot you can do with your kids. From rides and attractions to farm exhibits and educational experiences, the fair offers something for kids of every age and interest. Budget-conscious, parents will be happy to know that kids five-and-under receive free admission every day the fair operates, with kids 6-12 single-day admission starting at $8.
Los Angeles County Fair
1101 W. McKinley Ave.
Pomona, CA 91768
(909) 623-3111
www.fairplex.com
Kiddie Carnival
Kids who don't meet the height requirement for the bigger, more intense rides (which there are plenty) can have fun at the Kiddie Carnival, where they can drive their own farm tractors, get a Moto X experience, quad runners, and VW bugs. Kids under 42″ can also ride the double decker Venetian carousel with adult supervision. A new Merry-Go-Round and Pelican Splash water ride will be added this year. Carnival tickets are sold in bundles or parents can choose unlimited ride wristbands for the full experience.
The Farm
The LA County Fair returns to its agricultural roots this year with a massive expansion to The Farm area, adding four more acres of crops and interactive guest experiences. With a mission to teach lessons about sustainability, healthy eating, crop growing, and the basics of food production, The Farm is a great place for family fun and education while visiting the fair. In the Big Red Barn, kids will enjoy milking demonstrations, the largest petting zoo in the state, and the chance to observe the adorable baby animals. An interactive farm show keeps the kids laughing, smiling, and educated (they won't even know it!), while Max's Wild West Wildlife Show and annual pig races are other best bets for the younger crowd.
Trains
If your child loves locomotives, the Railroad is the place for you. Considered the oldest (it may even be the largest!) miniature railroad of its kind in the United States, the hand-built and hand-operated train was built in 1924, has more than 9,800 feet of track and can run more than 30 trains at one time! And if train geeks want to see real trains — not miniatures — the LA County Fair train exhibit houses eleven full size train locomotives to explore up close. Kids can explore real dining and sleeping cars, examine an authentic historical train depot built in 1885, and blow the whistle in a giant engine! Choo Choo.
The Circus Is Coming
At Esmeralda's Traveling Circus, at their new home right off Broadway, the Hollywood Aerial Arts and Mango & Dango acrobats perform astonishing and amazing tricks high in the air. A Flying Trapeze School and Barnaby's Circus School will also give you lessons if you're interested in juggling twirling in the air yourself. New this year, don't miss the Conjurer, inspired by the coin-operated fortune teller machines of old; this interaction will wow your children (and you!) with mysterious magic tricks and mind reading demonstrations.
Explore America's Great Outdoors
Families won't want to miss America's Great Outdoors, a 1 1/2 acre hands-on outdoor experience that gets your kids active while teaching them about protecting, respecting, and connecting with nature. Kids will love the GO WILD Nature Magic Show and testing their fire prevention skills with Smokey the Bear. Live animals (including wild horses, burros, and reptiles) are on display throughout the area. Families could spend an entire day exploring the five themed lands and educational opportunities afforded here.
Go on Safari
Visit Mojo's Wild & Crazy Lagoon to meet Mojo the capuchin monkey and his friends including macaws, parrots, peacocks, and cockatoos; armadillos, lemurs, camels, kangaroos, porcupines, and zebras; as well as hundreds of reptiles, insects, and spiders. Animal interactions throughout the exhibit include feeding carrots to camels, touching reptile armor, touching tarantulas and other creepy crawly spiders, millipedes and insects. Live shows round out the exhibit.
