Maricopa County Fair Easter Event 2017

I have to admit this was one of my favorite memories at the fair, because it was my first Official Maricopa County Fair Easter Event at the fair grounds and I got to participate in the egg hunt for each of the groups of kids through adults. 

The ages are set up from 5 to 10 years old, 11-17 years old, and 18 and older. 

There were 3 different Egg Hunts, and they gave away $5,000 in cash prizes PLUS dozens of other prizes like Easter baskets, Carnival tickets, T-Shirts, Toys and Candy along with a few bicycles. 

I loved that everyone that found an egg, also got a prize, the turn out was spectacular! 

We got to lay out the eggs for the kids and watch that they all got one for their little baskets and get in line for their prizes. The lawn was so colorful and their little Easter outfits looked right out of a postcard!

Once the prizes were given, the second egg hunt began in the arena for the teenagers. 

They waited for the "GO" and went out on the ground (not in the bleachers) looking for their egg and went to the prize line for their treasures. I like that the eggs has a code inside so the person that found the egg didn't know what their prize was until they got to the table. So they waited in the line anxiously. I loved clapping as they got their prizes and left into the fairgrounds. 

After the teens left the adults did the same thing, it was fun watching the adults look at all the eggs on the ground and mentally pick out their favorite one, and since it took a little longer to get the adults all organized, they all started chatting about their favorite eggs and what could be inside. They were as excited as the children.

It was quite a day for the Easter Egg Hunt Fair day. Everyone took their new prizes with them on the grounds and ate, watched shows, rode rides and played games. 

It was a really fun day to be a part of, and I am so glad I was there to see it all!!

Riverside County Fair

73rd Annual Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival marks the first fair of the season for us and it is one of my favorite events to attend. They have a great group of strolling acts, and entertainment, and people on stages all day long. You can spend the entire day and watch those shows and see something new throughout the day.

Of course, I loved the magic show, and the pirate show was funny. The bird show was so cute, and then karaoke. I also got to see some live exotic animals as well.

I loved that they moved the shows to the pageant stage for a try, it was a fun middle of the road area to sit and watch. I love all the seating and umbrellas to sit under.

I would love it if there was a lot more focus on the dates, like the chocolate festival we attended, we could try all foods with chocolate somehow infused or added. At the date festival they do have a magnificent date shake to try. MMMM, I got one and so did my friends.

I love seeing the camels and animals around the petting zoo. I got to see adorable cows and goats, I love the bunnies, and even found a few llamas. My favorites are the camels and horses, but I didn’t see any horses this year.

I did get to ride on the free train a few times around the fair, I love that train taking you from the food vendors to the rides, it was such a relaxing ride and so much fun listening to the music bands along the way.

I also got some coffee and a Chili Verde Bowl for lunch it is delicious and made hot and fresh, Rose’s has some of the best food on the whole fair grounds.

Another thing I love about this fair are the vendors, they have tons of great things to buy and one of the best place to find quality and fun items that are hard to find elsewhere, so this Is one of my favorite gift shopping experiences.

The rides are always a blast, the Carnival added a new ride, the Mega Flip from Holland. I love a good swinging ride with twists and turns all over the place. The children rides are in another area, I like it when a fair separates the two sections of rides, the kids always know what they are the right height for, and can ride easily and all day long.

There is a lot of seating for eating and resting. There are a lot of places to look around and see the arts, quilts, photos, fine art paintings, hobbies and student art. The 4-H kids had their animals in yet another building.

This is in Riverside, CA. And if you can go, try to park in the back, it is a lot easier to get out of after an amazing concert lets out, you can go left to town or right to the neighborhood and still get to your destination a lot easier.

Maps and Schedules

I know this should be rudimentary, maps let visitors know where the locations of stages, restrooms, first aid, and vendors are located.
A lot of fairs take time color coding buildings or stages, bigger fairs even create zones for their kids area or food vending.

In a lot of ways, I wish this was one of the most important things that fairs would focus on.
A common thing that happens is a fair that wants to rearrange the stages to see what works for foot traffic and people attractions, noise control or even bringing attention to a new display on the grounds.
But they don't update the maps, so people are generally wandering around looking for a stage that doesn't exist. Missing shows unintentionally, frustrating the guest and sometimes the performers.

As soon as a stage gets discussed/built, the map should change as well. With today's technology, that isn't a difficult task, I am sure even the smallest fairs can cut and paste. Also, signs should match the names of the stages. I appreciate sponsorship's to the stages, it is a huge help financially, but the map should also reflect that name change, some guests will ask the information desk for a stage, and it is hard to find if the name is different than the new stage name.

Additionally the information people should be well versed on the buildings and stage locations. I appreciate the volunteers, if they have an updated map, it helps them give the guests a great experience.

Schedules, then, in my opinion, should be the second most important part of the fairs responsibility to the guests.
The majority of families only get to go to the fair once a year, and they want to make the most out of the time and money they have saved to be there, and to have the schedules to map out their day.
That said, the schedule should be easy to read, and the times accurate.

I think that signs for the schedules is a brilliant idea too. A fair wouldn't have to print 1000's of paper maps and schedules if it was clearly marked around the grounds or even sandwich boards in front of the stages.

Of course having a fair app is also really handy, if the map and schedule are accurate.
A few of the fairs have gone this route, and we keep downloading the new apps to see the best one to use.

So far they are pretty successful. 

Also a big help, an updated webpage. There are still a lot of us web surfers that like to look up entertainment acts, concerts and times online in advance.
It helps us plan what day to arrive to the fair, especially if we can only go once.
The pages should be updated to reflect the new map, stages, and sponsorship's.
I like it when they have opening times and closing times.
It is also helpful to have the correct driving address and phone number, a lot of fairs are good about this, and it is appreciated for us out of state guests.

I really appreciate any map, the photo of the Riverside County Fair map was hanging on the wall, we snapped a picture on our phone and found each desired location. It was fantastic. 

If these two services were written or printed for the guests, the fairs would give their families the best experience possible. 

Magic: Shawn Eric

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Speaking of magic,  have you seen Shawn Eric's magic and coins?? He does an awesome version of T. Nelson Downs coin star. 

He has a great routine with a lemon.  

Actually a couple of routines.  

I especially love a great shell game.

What I really love about Shawn Eric's magic is his cards,  oh my word!! He has baseball magic with cards that you have to see. I mean that sincerely. 

Shawn Eric does a street show as smooth as I have ever seen.  He draws you in with his stories and keeps you at the magic table for a long time hoping for more magic. 

On the stage he brings his volunteers up and makes them feel immediately comfortable. He'll have you thinking one thing is going to happen,  and then you'll see another magical moment all at once. 

I have seen Shawn Eric perform at several fairs,  he'll be doing the Silver Dollar Fair soon too. 

If you can't travel, you can see him at the Rustlers Rooste doing his magic!!

Shawn Eric Official

Brandon Keiffer's Trains

 The Rawhide Express

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Brandon works as a train engineer and he is a great asset to the fairs in many ways. 

His train will pick you up in a location, often at the front of the fair, and he will take you through to another destination on the grounds all the while telling you about shows and events, as well as vendors foods to try or buy. 

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His train has a speaker system allowing him to drive and talk, and each car has their speaker to hear his descriptions, and he gives you ideas about where to go when you get off the train. His train signs are so cute with their little RR Crossing, and it is easy for the kids and adults to see and line up for at each location. 

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His rides are free, compliments of the fair. Isn't that great? 

His rides are family friendly, and the little doors have a small chain to secure you inside, it isn't a fast ride, so you can relax and see the things you might just walk past. 

I also love that the vendors will wave back when you reach out to them. 

We got to see a lot of smiling faces. 

I loved having him as a guide, I finally found my favorite ice cream vendor on one of the trips around the fair. 

I have been on his train a few times, and would enjoy going back on the next time I see him. 

You should try and find him too, he has a great service to tired little feet at the end of the day. 

Godfrey the Magician

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The first thing I look for in the fair program are magic shows.

I love all things magical; coins,  cards,  ropes,  magic wands,  rabbits, top hats, things appearing,  things disappearing, levitation, swords in a box,  swords in a basket, cups and balls, you name it, I want to see it. 

I love magic shows!

I will also look for an illusionist, a mentalist, or anyone performing sleight of hand. 

Don't tell me how it's done!!

I don't want to know.  

I like to believe in magic. I like to believe in rainbows and unicorns too. #dontjudgeme

It's so much fun to watch the audiences  look astonished wondering how the magic happened.  I like to be in awe as well. And I will return to a magic show as many times as possible, not to figure it out, but to just enjoy the suspended belief. 

However, Godfrey is my favorite magician, and he changes his magic all the time. I love to watch his coin magic, and his card magic so much. He makes up magic on the spot constantly. I love it when I take a card and stick it back in the deck, and he pulls it out of his pocket or out of his hat. Just like that! He carries his magic in his pockets and can pull out 10 different magical moments in a matter of minutes. The banana illusion is so much fun! I love his dice magic and ring on stick. The stick is clear, he makes the magical mystical X out of the cord, and poof, the ring is gone! But is it?

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His super duper card trick makes everyone so surprised that they forget to applause. No really! Their mouths are open and they shake their heads, how is that even done? 

I love to see his jawbreaker balls for the candy magic show, that is one of my most favorite routines to date, next to Misers Dream. That's another thing, he changes his magic for the themes of each of the fairs, he can do magic for outer space or the Wizard of OZ!

My favorite part of Godfrey's magic, is when the tiny little kids come up to be in the show, and he will stop everything and do magic just for them, and he will get down to their level, even if it means sitting on the floor. He shows them as much respect as he would a fair manager. His show is family friendly and is funny as I'll get out. 

I really love magic, and Godfrey makes it so believable for me.

http://themagician.com

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Photos:
Godfrey at the Mid-winter County Fair 2019
Godfrey at the California Strawberry Festival 2019
Godfrey Strolling at the Mid-winter County Fair 2019

Fazackerley’s Fudge & Candy

 

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Rodney has been making fudge for decades. He makes the fudge on site, and it is fascinating to watch him make the different flavors. The big copper bowl full of the confectioners delight and makes my mouth water. When he stirs the sugar to the perfect melting temperature, the candy is ready. Then he slowly pours it onto the marble slab and then it needs more stirring, back and forth with the paddle. He'll go in circles and then fold it into itself. When he pours it into the wooden molds you know it is ready to set. 

I like to try as many flavors as possible.  

Bucket list!! This is all I had left from my Jalapeno fudge when I thought to take the photo! That is my favorite, while my mom loves his black licorice the best.

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If you'd like to try some,  here are his current flavors. 

Amaretto, Chocolate Macaroon, Cookies and Cream, Black Forest, Vanilla, Chocolate Carmel, Peanut Butter,  Chocolate Peanut Butter,  Rocky Road, Chocolate Raspberry,  Chocolate Mint, Nevada Sand, Maple Nut, Maple, Double Chocolate,  Mississippi Mud, and Chocolate.

He also has Nut Rolls, Cinnamon Candy Apples, Blue Raspberry Candy Apples, Carmel, Sprinkles, Chocolate Chip Cookie Candy Apples and M&M covered Candy Apples, and Cherry Candy Apples.

Popcorn and Cotton Candy. 

Fazackerley's Fudge & Candy

www.FazFudge.com

Candy Maker

Pahrump, Nevada

Ghost Pepper Ice Cream

I love all things spicy and hot.  I like to add spice to my food,  my coffee and my candy.  

And I'll accept any challenge to try hot spicy foods, especially at the fair because they come up with the most novel ideas you never see anywhere else. 

So when I saw the sign for Ghost Pepper Ice Cream,  I knew I had to try it.  

Godfrey,  who also loves hot spicy food,  also wanted to try it,  so off we went to get a bowl.  

My first red flag should have been the age limit sign.  You had to be 21 or older to purchase it... check!

The bowl they gave me was mighty small considering the price,  I chalked it up to being a new fair food... Red flag number two.

They looked at me funny when I asked for three spoons, there were barely three bites of ice cream in the bowl.  Red flag number three. 

We all filled our spoons,  then took a bite.  My mouth was instantly on fire!! It was so hot in fact, that my brain no longer registered that it was cold ice cream.  My forehead broke into a sweat.  

 Suddenly I was glad the bowl was tiny,  we couldn't finish.  That was to date,  the hottest food I've ever tried.  Bucket list..... check.  

LOL 

I'll never eat it again.  

But it's one of our favorite stories to tell,  it makes is laugh every single time. 

And that alone makes the experience worth every penny.