Mark your calendars now because the 2010 Merced County Fair is moving one month earlier to June.

The 119th fair is scheduled for June 15-20, 2010, the third week in June. For years, the Merced County Fair has been held in July but the fair is now planned one month earlier.

The change is necessary because the California State Fair in Sacramento, which has traditionally been in late August through Labor Day, is expected to be moved up to July, said Thomas D. “Tom” Musser, the Merced County Fair CEO. State Fair officials want to take advantage of attracting students and their families on summer vacation before they return to school in August.

“Our carnival rides contractor, Butler Amusements, many of our food concessions and several of our commercial exhibitors have commitments with the State Fair,” Musser said, adding, “Changing our fair dates to June fits well with the carnival route schedule as well as many vendors.”

The added bonus is that holding the fair in June offers the chance for cooler weather, he said. And since the Merced County Fair will take place earlier in the summer, that will allow livestock exhibitors to participate in the State Fair.

For more information, call 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773. Visit the 2010 Merced County Fair’s website, www.MercedCountyFair.com