It’s time to check out the Merced County Fair, but for now head to the Merced Civic Center instead of the fairgrounds. A special show of historic photos, posters, exhibits and other memorabilia is on display at city hall now through July 31.
   "We thought it would be nice to remind everyone of how the fair has played a role in people’s lives, and the community’s history," said Cheryl Davidson, the chief executive officer of the fair. "The fair is in its 111th year and it’s still going strong."
   The actual fair will be July 16 through 21 at the Merced County Fairgrounds, 900 Martin Luther King Jr. Way, with the usual heaps of food, fun, entertainment and exhibits. This year’s theme, "Nuttin’ But the Best," salutes the county’s nut growers.
   The Civic Center exhibit is a bit of a time machine. One of the photos on display shows the latest electronic wizardry of the Fifties – the television. Another recalls the glorious days of the Lennon Sisters of Lawrence Welk fame. And one photo of a hamburger-eating contest is sure to inspire people to reach for a Rolaids.
   "The exhibit captures the fun of the fair, along with the intensity and artistry that has always been shown by the exhibitors," said Joan Sortini, Executive Director of the Merced County Arts Council. The Arts Council coordinates the displays in the Civic Center and has been a partner with the fair for many years in award-winning artistic ventures.
   "The fair has been a part of many people’s lives," said Davidson. "There are a lot of farmers and ranchers today who showed an animal or project as FFA members or 4-Hers when they were younger. And thousands of people have won ribbons for their art work, photographs, jams, jellies, baked goods and crafts."
   The downtown exhibit recalls some of the rich history of the fairgrounds.
   During World War II the fairgrounds housed several different Army units and was the transit center for Japanese-Americans who were sent to Colorado to be interned during the war.
Merced College got its start at the fairgrounds, with classes being held in every available room. The journalism class even used a vacant beer booth as a photo lab. Graduation ceremonies were held in the spring, then everything would be boxed up until late summer to be unpacked once the fair was finished.
   The Grandstand has been the site of horseracing, high school and college baseball and football games, along with the car racing and rodeos of today. Many a Homecoming Queen was crowned at the fairgrounds.
   "The fair has always reflected the times, whether it was the musical entertainment or the exhibits," Davidson said.
   One photo on display shows a local Boy Scout troop’s exhibit demonstrating how to be prepared for a nuclear attack. Another picture captures a time when the aqua ballet was the big hit at the fair, as swimmers performed their synchronized routines in a huge swimming pool constructed just for their tour.

   The exhibit is on the ground floor of the Civic Center, 678 W. 18th St. in Merced. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and some evenings when the City Council and other agencies meet.

   The entertainment lineup for the Fairgrounds’ Outdoor Theater is: Ty Herndon, Tuesday, July 16; Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo, Wednesday, July 17; Tracy Byrd, Thursday, July 18, The Neville Brothers on Friday, July 19, BlackHawk on Saturday, July 20 and WAR closes the fair on Sunday, July 21.
   The line-up at the Grandstand will be: Auto Racing, Tuesday, July 16; Destruction Derby, Wednesday, July 17; Motorcycle Races, Thursday, July 18; 4X4/ Tractor Pull, Friday, July 19; Rodeo, Saturday, July 20 and Bull Riding, Sunday, July 21.
   Admission is $8 for adults, $3 for children 6 through 12 years and children under 6 years get in free. For information, call the fair office at 722-1507 or email to Info@MercedCountyFair.com or fax at 722-3773.

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