The famed Ferris wheel returns as a Solano County Fair staple. (Photo by George Johnston)

It was a perfect day. The temperature was neither unbearably warm to walk in or chilled to the point where several layers would need to be worn. A nice breeze would even come in from the northwest if someone need to cool off for a second. It was a perfect weather for a fair.
On Aug. 5, Solano County hosted the fifth day of its annual fair. Cities from all over Solano County like Benicia, Fairfield and Vacaville were all there to represent the best each community had to offer. Citizens from all over the county came to the fair to win prizes at booths, have thrills on carnival rides or try exotic food such as alligator on a stick.
Christina Reed has been going to the fair nearly 15 years. Reed and her companion were at the fair this year to see her uncle’s band perform. While killing time before the show, Reed went around and saw the fair’s attractions. She wanted to see her friend present their animals at the livestock showcase. Reed could not find her friend but enjoyed walking over to the fairgrounds’ Mccormick Hall and seeing the artisan quilts on display. Reed said she would not stay long at the fair after her uncle performed but would not leave the fair without buying kettle corn, an annual tradition that could not be broken.
“I miss the horse racing, but other than that it’s nice fun family atmosphere,” she said.
Rosemary Thurston has been going to the fair since she was a little girl. She has lived in Vallejo for over 40 years, and her father was president of the fair board of where she lived. Thurston currently represents Benicia as a trustee for the Solano Community College Governing Board.
“I think the fair is a really good idea because it showcases local talent like even in the back where the kids have raised own animals to auction them off to raise money,” Thurston said. “I just think it’s a really good, positive thing for the community. Fairs are always fun”
John Ricketts spent his day at the fair volunteering to man the Fairfield Solano County Library’s booth. Ricketts and the library’s goal at the fair was to help increase reading, literacy and library attendance within the county. Each year of the six years Ricketts has volunteered at the booth has been different.This year’s booth a space theme of NASA and Solar Eclipse information.
Another volunteer at the fair was Karen Lowe. Lowe, a commissioner of the Vallejo Sister City Commission, was at the fair overseeing a booth to raise awareness of the Vallejo Sister City Commission. Lowe said the Sister City Commission is a part of Vallejo and a part of the fair, like everyone else in Solano County.
According to Lowe, the booth always got busier later in the day when families would come by and maybe recognize a sister city flag on display.
“I’ve been doing the fair as a participant for entering things for the past 14 years, so I know a lot of people associated with the fair like the 4-H program and my kids always entered things,” she said. “We love it.”

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