The Kern County Fair is back in full swing. The fair opened on Sept. 18 and will be opened until Sept. 29–offering two weeks worth of rides, shows, music, and food. Although the fair is always a pleasant sight to see, this year’s fair feels like more of a strain on my wallet compared to past years of fun days in the sun.
“Expensive,” said Alban Sixtos, a 17-year-old leaving the fairgrounds with his girlfriend after the sun went down. And he’s not wrong. For the price of an adult ticket, it costs $15 at the gate or $11 if purchased online and that isn’t including the $10 for parking. All in all, if two people wanted to go to the fair together, it would cost around $40-$32 just for entering and parking. This is excluding the price of wristbands for rides that vary between prices from $37 on Monday to Thursday and $42 on Friday to Sunday. While on the surface these prices seem inconsequential, however, they can really stack up, especially for couples and families who want the full experience, costing up to $106 for couples and $190 for families on the low end.
In spite of the cost for entry, what really matters, especially for big-backs like me, is food. And let me tell you, these prices are ridiculous. Snacks at the fair are usually on the cheap end range costing $6-12 for a pizza or jumbo corndog. However, for an actual meal at the fair, it would cost between $15-22 for a sandwich or burger, and that is not including drinks and a side. It is also important to note that although there are free wristbands to identify alcohol consumers, the price for alcohol can range between $10 to $15 depending on whether it is a mixed drink, canned beer, or wine box. It doesn’t help that food can often be a hit or miss.
One of the first meals I had was a cheeseburger from “Chillin’ and Grillin’ 2” BBQ stand, and this burger was subpar at best, especially for the price of $26 with fries and drink. In all honesty, I had better at Frosty King for way cheaper. The only other meal I had was a baked potato from the boy scouts stand that cost $12 with the works. Now let me tell you, this baked potato was absolutely delicious and felt like my soul was being fed in the process. I suggest that you be wary of food options and stick to more inexpensive and generic meals, especially if you want to avoid disappointment and a hole in your wallet.
Although not all things have to be doom and gloom at the fair as this year’s shows were fantastic. They were eye-grabbing, comedic and so inviting to the audience. The drumheads, a drumming performance group, were jumping into the audience and pulling members from the crowd in to dance or play a set on their drums on stage. The Wilder show, a juggling performance, had audience members throwing knives at the host while he juggles on a unicycle. Even wild life got into the action with the “Great American Duck Race,” which allowed audiences to race ducks against each other, and an FFA contest showing off prized farm animals.
The fair was also hosting their classic exhibit we all know and love throughout the years, showing off collections, quilts, and artworks submitted by the Kern Valley residents, showing off the blooming creativity.
“We enjoy coming and looking at the exhibit and knowing that the same things will always be here [rides, exhibits, food]. We look forward to coming back next time,” said Shauna Chatham, a 43-year-old woman with her husband.
The fair is a sensational experience this year and is a must-go while it is still open for the exhibits and shows. However, I would like to warn you to watch your wallet and set a budget before you end up blowing the equivalent of Disneyland tickets just for a couple of wristbands and a full stomach. I highly suggest that you make most of your purchases online and eat before and after the fair to avoid the heavy prices for stand food and bring a couple water bottles to beat the heat.
The Kern County Fair is located at 1142 S P St, Bakersfield, CA 93307.
