Attending the Ventura County Fair with Kids in Tow

The week long Ventura County Fair is held every August at Seaside Park in Ventura with a parade on the first Saturday. While the fair can be tons of fun for young and old alike, it can be stressful for parents. Sun and crowds pose risks for small children and the lure of junk food and the midway can be demanding and expensive for parents of older children. Here are some fair survival tips.

• Bring sunscreen and hats. Shade is at a minimum in the outdoor spaces, the building provide a shade option, but are often crowded and seating is in high demand. Some of the tables in the food court area have umbrellas.
• Bring your own water and healthy snacks. There is no limit to what you can bring to the fair except for what you can carry. Drinking fountains are scarce, but can be used to refill water bottles.
• Hit the fair early. The buildings, the Commercial Building especially, get crowded early and can be hard to navigate for small children or a parent with a stroller. The Home Arts Building is normally less busy and can be a nice respite. Lots of beer is sold at the fair and smoking is allowed it most outdoor areas so that is something to keep in mind when navigating the main thoroughfares. More than one cigarette butt was flicked in the direction of my stroller this year.
•  Breastfeeding is allowed at the fair, as it is allowed in all public spaces in California. There are no nursing rooms, but there are benches in many of the buildings that could be used to nurse in a shady location. The happiest nursing mother I saw at the fair this year was sitting on a shady bench amidst the horticulture displays. 
• A sponsored changing room was available at the fair. It is a popular spot that has two changing stations with cloth covers, so bring your own blanket or changing pad.
• There is a lost children pick-up tent, but it is best to designate a meeting area and time with older children, in the event of separation. Be sure and make it specific.