Madera District Fair Facebook photo

The Madera District Fair is bringing new experiences and a new policy for fairgoers this year as part of its efforts to create a positive, family-friendly experience for all guests this summer.

The fair, which will run Sept. 4-7, will feature the theme “So Extra” this year.

“Our marketing team has gone to great lengths to try and create extra opportunities for the fair itself,” said Barbara Leach, the Madera District Fair’s new CEO since December.

 

New youth admission policy

One major change is a new youth admission policy.

Following incidents over the past several years, the Madera District Fair will require all youth to be accompanied by a parent or guardian 21 years of age or older after 7 p.m.

Minors will be required to present a state-issued or school ID card upon request, with minors in violation to be detained until their supervising adult is present.

Minors already inside the park prior to 7 p.m. will be checked by security and law enforcement to maintain the new policy.

“Part of the responsibility of the adult supervision is to stay on the grounds with their minors and juveniles in the event that we need to take further action to correct behavior that we’ve been experiencing the last couple years of the fair, particularly last year,” she said. “We are really dedicated to our mission statement at the Madera District Fair, and that is simply to have a fun, family-friendly, safe venue.”

She added that they have received a warm response to the policy, with some commenting that they would prefer the curfew implemented even earlier.

“We’re hoping that the community responds responsibly, and if we need to take things further, we will,” she said. “At the end of the day we want happy families, happy folks, happy guests that love visiting their Madera Fair annually.”

 

Festivities gearing up

The Sunrise Ferris Wheel Experience is a new,  ticketed event that will give guests the opportunity to experience a beautiful sunrise from high above the fairgrounds.

“We’ve learned by doing media early in the morning, at 6:30 on the ferris wheel, it is absolutely beautiful,” she said. “We extended that to our fair guests last year, really on the downlow, and this year, people are begging for it.”

She added that the organizers are excited to offer “not your ordinary fair experience” this year, with a few extra surprises for guests taking their traditional “loop” around the fairgrounds this year.

In addition to new promotions and events, this year will once again feature the Table Mountain Concert Series presented by Estrella Jalisco, kicking off with Blue Oyster Cult, American rock band Sugar Ray and country artist Joe Nichols.

The concert series will also feature a lineup on the final day, Sunday, Sept. 7, that is still being finalized.

Thanks to a partnership between the Madera District Fair and Valley Children’s Healthcare, this year’s fair will be free to all children under 12, and all guests will receive free admission on Thursday, Sept. 4.

“You can’t get a free corn dog, but it’s certainly in this financial climate, a very affordable fair,” she said. “We’re doing everything we can on our part also to still provide a cost-effective entertainment venue for all families.”