The board of directors of the Santa Maria Fairpark deeply regrets having to make the painful decision to cancel the 2020 Santa Barbara County Fair for the first time since World War II. The Fairpark board and staff have been monitoring state and local health directives and making adjustments to event programming in hopes that the event would occur, but the health and safety of patrons, staff, and volunteers must be the first priority. 

In acknowledging the Fair’s impact on the community, Santa Maria Fairpark CEO, Richard Persons said the board weighed the decision carefully. 

“The board of directors and staff recognize the significance of the economic impact this cancelation has on the community at large and on sponsors, industry partners, exhibitors, patrons and the Fairpark itself, and waited as long as possible to make this devastating decision,” Persons said. 

Persons said that the board noted that nearly 60% of the Fairpark’s annual budget is derived from the Santa Barbara County Fair, and the cancelation of the event jeopardizes the ongoing viability of the Fairpark operation.

The decision to cancel the event was made during a regularly scheduled board meeting on June 2, in accordance with the state-of-emergency Executive Order N-33-20 issued by Governor Gavin Newsom, as well as the follow up directives from the State’s Public Health Officer Dr. Sonia Angell, under California Government Code Sections 120125, 120140, 131080, 120130(c), 120135, 120145, 120175 and 120150.

The Fairpark board has formulated a refund policy for vendors, exhibitors and sponsors of the Santa Barbara County Fair, and staff will begin implementing that policy. Additionally, the Fairpark will soon announce plans for a virtual livestock auction to support exhibitors who have animal husbandry projects based on the Santa Barbara County Fair.

The Fairpark board and staff remain hopeful that large gatherings will be permitted later this year and continue planning for events to occur in the fall, including the West Coast Kustoms Cruisin’ Nationals, currently scheduled for October 2-4, the Santa Maria Fall Fest scheduled for October 23-26, as well as dozens of smaller gatherings scheduled in the fall. 

About the Santa Maria Fairpark

The Santa Maria Fairpark serves as the hub for major events and community activities on California’s Central Coast. The state-owned facility hosts the annual Santa Maria Valley Strawberry Festival, which attracts more than 70,000 people and is home to its headlining event, the Santa Barbara County Fair, which is attended by more than 150,000 people. 

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Contributing Writer

A young boy’s desire for a pet goat sent his family for a ride on a long, winding learning curve that has ended with a business operated by 12-year-old Jack Dowhower and his 9-year-old brother, James.

James Dowhower, left, stands with his goat Sage, his brother Jack, and Jack’s goat Luna.

Jack and James have started a little company, The Brothers – Farm Fresh, making goat’s milk soap, but not without a lot of family time and effort.

Last year Jack asked his parents for a goat, and not just any goat, but a specific one that wasn’t easy to find. He hadn’t considered making soap or starting a soap business. He just wanted a goat.

“If you want a goat, Jack, you have to join 4-H,” said Beth Dowhower, the boys’ mother. “We knew nothing about goats at the time.”

“My son was adamant about wanting only a black goat with white floppy ears. We looked all over, called a whole bunch of breeders and couldn’t find one anywhere. Last year was not a good season for baby goats. We did find one, but it was a male, and we didn’t want a buck because they have an odor that is less than pleasing,” she said.

“We eventually found one and Jack named her Luna. We didn’t know at the time that goats need buddies. Goats are generally very social animals; they get bored and lonely when alone. So we found a friend for Luna and named her Sage. She will be James’ goat when he is old enough to join 4-H.”

“My husband, Andy, built a beautiful redwood pen for them in our tiny back yard. Unfortunately, this particular breed, called Nubian, are quite demanding. Just like little human babies, they let their needs be known, loudly,” she continued. “As soon as they’d see us in the house, they’d start screaming for attention.

“The goats were so loud we thought they may disturb our neighbors, so we decided to take them over to Grandma’s. Now they are in a pasture along with a horse. The beautiful pen has been turned into a chicken coop.”

After acquiring the goats, Dowhower learned that dairy goats were not raised for sale at the 4-H yearly auction. Nubian goats are bred just for dairy, she explained. The milk has a high butter fat content and Nubian goats are great producers of milk.

However, their two goats are dry yearlings, so they don’t produce milk at the moment. They will begin to produce next year, after they are sent out for breeding in October. Until then, the boys get the goat’s milk locally.

4-H clubs hold many yearly fundraisers, and they boys felt they could make and sell goat’s milk soap. So Jack learned how to make it from one of his 4-H leaders.

“I was taking copious notes as the leader was showing Jack and one other student how to make the soap,” she said. “I took a bar home and loved it so much we decided to start our own little business,” Dowhower said.

“I’m learning more about blood lines, so we are looking for another female goat to show at American Dairy Goat Association (ADGA) national shows, beyond what we’re doing with 4-H,” she added. “We will be traveling up north to Willits, California … to see if there is a goat there who is of show quality.”

The boys seem to have struck gold with their small-batch, hand-made soaps. They set up a little table in front of Santa Ynez Feed and Mill just before Mother’s Day and made almost $100.

“James has turned out to be quite a sales person, while Jack is more of a creative hands-on person, making the soap — with my help, of course,” Dowhower said.

“Each soap bar has a different recipe, which Jack oversees. He also names each of the soaps. Once made, the soap bars have to cure for six weeks, until they are ready to be sold. Our prices are very reasonable, $5 a bar; $3 for wholesale.”

“What was exciting for us is that the owner of Lucky Hen Larder in Santa Ynez bought our soap for her store. That was our first big sale,” she said proudly. “Then the boys sold a quantity to Plenty Boutique in Santa Ynez and then they filled their second order to Blair Fox Cellars in Los Olivos.”

The boys are saving their money for a big purchase down the road, or for college, or vet bills.

“The money goes into a large Mason jar at the moment, but I plan on opening an account at the bank for them,” she said. “They are learning how to save their money and not squander it on toys or impulse purchases.”

“We are slowly starting to take bigger step towards merchandising on-line, starting a website and eventually becoming involved in social media,” she said. “It’s another learning curve.”

“Making soap is fun for us,” said Dowhower. “I didn’t think it would be so addictive and so educational. It’s a great experience for my boys. Their soap won Best in Show … at the 4-H Exhibit Day on May 18. It was their first time entering the show. So we have decided we are going to enter our soap at the Santa Barbara County Fair.

“All of this is new to us,” she said. “It is definitely a learning experience, and we’ve had some technical failures, like when we added some rose oil into the mix and the whole batch seized up and had to be disposed of. But it is great fun for me and the boys. And we’re really proud of them.”

For more information, email thebrothersfarmfresh@gmail.com or call 805-720-7657.

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The Santa Barbara County Fair celebrates its 128^th year from Wednesday through Sunday, July 10-14, at the Santa Maria Fair Park. The fair will be open every day from noon to 10 p.m.

Admission at the gate will be $12 for adults and $9 for children and seniors. Children 5 years or younger are admitted free. Admission to evening concerts is included with a ticket to the fair.

Wristbands for daily unlimited carnival rides are $35. However, on Wednesday, all carnival rides will cost only $1.

Here is a schedule of the main events. For complete information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com.

THEME DAYS

Wednesday, July 10 – Carnival Dollar Day

Carnival tickets will cost $1 per ride. Ashanti will be performing at 7:30 p.m. on the main stage.

Thursday, July 11 – Senior Appreciation Day

Senior admission will be only $1, and other tickets will also be half price before 3 p.m. Clay Walker will be taking the main stage in the evening.

Friday, July 12 – Agriculture and Cattleman’s Day

Admission will be half price before 3 p.m., and TLC will perform on the main stage at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, July 13 – Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day

Free admission for military and law enforcement with a valid ID. Main stage entertainment will be Maddie and Tae.

Sunday, July 14 – Fiesta Day

The day will be filled with “fiesta” themed entertainment.

LIVESTOCK SHOWS

Saturday, July 6

9 a.m. – Rabbit and Cavy Show, Rabbit Meat Pens Showmanship

Monday, July 8

8 a.m. – Market steers and replacement heifers (weigh-in and pregnancy testing) at Beef Barn Scale

8 a.m. – Sheep and Goats at Frank Marciel Pavilion

8 a.m. – Market Swine at South Hog Barn Scale

5 p.m. – Farm Supply Quiz, Jam 2019 at Budweiser Minetti Arena

Tuesday, July 9

8 a.m. – Breeding Boar and Market Goats (4-H, FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

8 a.m. – Swine Showmanship (FFA, 4-H) at Auction Barn

11 a.m. – Breeding Sheep and Market Sheep (Hampshire, natural color, cross-bred, all other breeds) (4-H, FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

Wednesday, July 10

8 a.m. – Goat Showmanship (4-H, FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

8 a.m. – Breeding Swine, Market Swine (4-H, FFA) (Hampshire, Yorkshire, Duroc, cross-bred, all other breeds)

9 a.m. – Breeding Beef (4-H, FFA) at Fields Bradley Pavilion

10 a.m. – Market Beef (4-H, FFA)

11 a.m. – Sheep Showmanship (FFA, 4-H) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

5 p.m. – Pee Wee Showmanship followed by Sheep/Goad Costume

Thursday, July 11

8 a.m. – Beef Showmanship (FFA, 4-H) at Fields Bradley Pavilion

9 a.m. – Dairy Goat Show (4-H, FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

1 p.m. – Pygmy Goat Showmanship (FFA, 4-H) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

5:30 p.m. – Supreme Drive at Auction Barn (market beef, swine, goats, sheep)

Friday, July 12

8 a.m. – Replacement Heifers (4-H, FFA) at Fields Bradley Pavilion

9 a.m. – Sheep Auction

Noon – Small Stock Auction (rabbits, champions)

5 p.m. – Replacement Heifers Auction

Saturday, July 13

8 a.m. – Junior Livestock Auction (swine, champions, beef, goats)

8 a.m. – Large Livestock Auction

1 p.m. – Rooster Crowing and Hen Cackling Contests

Sunday, July 14

9 a.m. – Small Stock Knowledge Bowl

10 a.m. – Small Stock Round Robin

10 a.m. – Swine Costume

Noon – Adult showmanship (beef, swine, sheep)

3 p.m. – Large Stock Round Robin

The post County Fair schedule of events appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The Santa Maria Fairpark Board voted Tuesday, Feb. 19 to accept the recommendation of the California State Veterinarian to cancel the poultry show scheduled for the 2019 Santa Barbara County Fair. The move is a precaution in light of an outbreak of virulent Newcastle Disease, a disease of birds that can also be contracted by humans.

The decision impacts the turkey and chicken meat pen competitions, as well as all breeding poultry competitions. The Santa Barbara County Fair joins a number of other county fairs and poultry organizations in following state recommendations to cancel Southern California poultry shows in Imperial, Los Angeles, Orange Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties.

Santa Maria Fairpark CEO Richard Persons said the board decided to accept the recommendation now in anticipation of youth making purchases of poultry they plan to show at the Santa Barbara County Fair in July. 

“The youth livestock program has always been at the heart of the Santa Barbara County Fair,” Persons said. “But in light of the outbreak and the recommendation of the State Veterinarian, we felt it prudent to do our part to protect poultry production on the Central Coast.”

Virulent Newcastle Disease is a highly contagious respiratory disease of poultry that spreads quickly, and can also be contracted by humans. It is nearly always fatal to birds, and can cause flu-like symptoms in humans. It has been positively identified in backyard flocks and commercial poultry operations in Southern California. The current outbreak started in May of 2018, and more than 60,000 birds have been euthanized to date as a result. People who identify sick or dead poultry or wild birds should call the State Veterinarian’s sick bird hotline at 866-922-2472.

Other livestock events are expected to proceed as usual during the Santa Barbara County Fair, which runs July 10-14 at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

For more information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com or Facebook.

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For five fun-filled days in July, thousands of people celebrated “Cowboys and Carousels” at the Santa Barbara County Fair during long summer days filled with rides, food and other attractions, and cool nights spent dancing and listening to outdoor concerts.

Of course, the biggest activities for local youth are the 4-H and FFA livestock competitions. This year’s Santa Ynez Valley winners included:

• Eddie Munoz, Los Alamos Grange, 4-H Hampshire Reserve Breed Winner
• Summer Fanning, Lucky Clover 4-H, 4-H Yorkshire Breed Winner
• Grant Solem, Lucky Clover 4-H, 4-H All Black Reserve Breed Winner and 4-H Reserve Champion Steer
• Liana Erenberg, Santa Ynez 4-H, 4-H Reserve Champion Market Goat
• Charlie Hollister, Los Alamos Grange, 4-H Champion Heifer and 4-H Local Bred Champion Heifer
• Grace Morell, Lucky Clover 4-H, 4-H Reserve Champion Heifer
• Ruth Beckmen, Lucky Clover 4-H, 4-H Reserve Local Bred Champion Heifer

While official numbers are not yet in, attendance was comparable to previous years, and carnival sales were up over last year, fair officials said. The fair typically draws more than 150,000 people.

Highlights of the fair included evening performances by Smash Mouth, Trace Adkins, Kool and the Gang, and Sheila E.

Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein, Fables of the West, the Beastie Creatures, and Something Ridiculous kept audiences entertained as they strolled throughout the grounds.

The Live Shark Experience gave audiences a closeup look at nurse sharks, along with some educational facts. The Cowboys and Calliopes interactive exhibit gave families insight into the sounds that opossums, hedgehogs, peacocks and porcupines make — and a chance to see them close up.

Chef Landry’s Cajun Comedy Kitchen packed shows with the chef’s hilarious stories and samples of jambalaya and gumbo.

For more information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com or follow the Santa Maria Fairpark on Facebook.

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The 127^th annual Santa Barbara County Fair will be open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday, July 11-15, at the Santa Maria Fairpark at 937 South Thornburg St.

Admission each day is $12 for adults, $8 for children and seniors. Children 5 and younger are admitted free. Admission to the evening concerts, except for Sunday night, is free with paid admission to the fair.

Wristbands for daily unlimited carnival rides are $35; all rides cost $1 on Dollar Ride Day on Wednesday.

Here is a schedule of the main events. For complete information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com.

THEME DAYS

Wednesday, July 11 – Carnival Dollar Day

Carnival tickets are $1 per ride. The night’s concert at 7:30 p.m. will feature Smash Mouth.

Thursday, July 12 – Senior Day

Admission for those 62 and older is $1. There is half-price admission before 3 p.m. and the stage entertainment that evening is Trace Adkins.

Friday, July 13 – Agriculture and Cattleman’s Day

Main stage entertainment is Kool & the Gang.

Saturday, July 14 – Military and Law Enforcement Day

Active-duty service members and their immediate family members are admitted free with identification. Destruction Derby starts at 6 p.m., and main stage entertainment is Sheila E.

Sunday, July 15 – Fiesta Day

Fair-goers can enjoy the “Fiesta” themed entertainment, including a concert that features music by top Hispanic group La Buena. Tickets for the concert can be purchased from La Miramar in Santa Maria at 805-349-0186.

LIVESTOCK SHOWS

Saturday, July 7

8:30 a.m. – Rabbit and Cavy Show, Rabbit Meat Pens judged

9 a.m. – Showmanship

Monday, July 9

8 – 11 a.m. – Market Steers at Beef Barn Scale

8 – 11 a.m. – Sheep and Goats at Frank Marciel Pavilion

8 a.m. – 3 p.m. – Market swine (south barn, north barn) at South Hog Barn Scale

9 a.m. – Turkey Meat Pen Judging

9 a.m. – Chicken Show

5 p.m. – Farm Supply Quiz Jam at Minetti Arena

Tuesday, July 10

8 a.m. – Breeding boar and market goats (4-H/FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

8 a.m. – Swine Showmanship at Auction Barn

9 a.m. – Turkey Showmanship

9 a.m. – Chicken Showmanship

11 a.m. – Breeding sheep (4-H/FFA) and market sheep (4-H/FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

Wednesday, July 11

8 a.m. – Goat Showmanship (4-H/FFA) at Fields Bradley Pavilion

8 a.m. – Breeding Swine, Market Swine at Auction Barn

9 a.m. – Breeding Beef at Fields Bradley Pavilion

10 a.m. – Market Beef at Fields Bradley Pavilion

10 a.m. – Rabbit, Poultry and Cavy Costume Contest followed by Mini Member Costume Contest

5 p.m. – Pee Wee Showmanship followed by Ladies Lead and Sheep/Goat costume at Frank Marciel Pavilion

Thursday, July 12

8 a.m. – Beef Showmanship at Fields Bradley Pavilion

9 a.m. – Dairy Goat Showmanship followed by show at Frank Marciel Pavilion

10 a.m. – noon – Mini Member Showmanship, (Rabbits and Cavy followed by poultry)

1 p.m. – Pygmy Goat Pee Wee Showmanship, 4H/FFA Showmanship, followed by show (4-H, FFA) at Frank Marciel Pavilion

5:30 p.m. – Championship Drive at Auction Barn

Friday, July 13

8 a.m. – Replacement Heifers at Fields Bradley Pavilion

Noon –  Small Stock Auction

2 p.m. – Dog Trials at Budweiser Minetti Arena

5 p.m. – Auction Replacement Heifers at Auction Barn

Saturday, July 14

8 a.m. – Junior Livestock Auction

Sunday, July 15

10 a.m. – Knowledge Bowl – Round Robin – Small Stock Show Ring

10 a.m. – Swine costume at Auction Barn

Noon – Adult showmanship of beef, swine and sheep at Auction Barn

3 p.m. – Large Stock Round Robin at Auction Barn

The post County Fair opens July 11 for 5 days of fun appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

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Summer Fanning, 14, plans to be a veterinarian when she gets older and her sister Grace, 12, plans to be a horse trainer. Meanwhile, they love spending time with their animals.

Like hundreds of other local youth, the sisters from Santa Ynez have spent the past eight months raising and training the animals they will show in the upcoming Santa Barbara County Fair.

“We started helping our older siblings before we were allowed to be in 4-H, and we love being around the animals so much,” Summer said.

“Taking care of animals teaches us responsibility and that the animals depend on us to do it properly,” Grace added.

The sisters, who are part of Lucky Clover 4-H Club in Santa Ynez, will each be showing a heifer and a pig during this year’s fair, which will run from July 11-15 at the Santa Maria Fairpark.

Big-name music acts include Trace Adkins and Kool & the Gang. Attractions include carnival rides, petting zoo, pony rides, a Destruction Derby and, as always, “fair food” such as churros, cotton candy and popcorn.

The Fanning sisters spend roughly four hours a day washing, grooming, feeding and cleaning up after their animals. They plan to sell the animals at the fair and put their profits into their bank account after all the expenses are paid. They will then wait until August to buy new animals and start all over again for next year’s fair.

“We are saving money for college, and this process also teaches us how to manage money,” Summer added.

She has participated in 4-H for the past nine years and Grace for the past five. They started out showing turkeys. They said they love fair week when they get to camp with all their friends and run around the fairpark early in the morning.

The sisters have taken home many awards, including a few first places at the fair, but they are hoping one of them wins the Grand Champion this year.

Prizes are also awarded in contests for homemade pies, jelly and jams, quilts, wine, photography and horticulture. Agriculture education booths are also set up by local groups such as the Santa Barbara County Cattlewomen.

To see a full schedule of events or to buy tickets, log onto www.santamariafairpark.com.

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For some fairgoers the entertainment, fair food, and live entertainment make the Santa Barbara County Fair memorable, but for others it’s all about the rides. The Santa Barbara County Fair runs July 11-15, and this year Helm and Sons Amusements will bring a number of new rides, including some that have a special connection to Santa Barbara County.

Several rides from Santa Ynez Valley’s Neverland Ranch—the property once owned by pop singer Michael Jackson, who died June 25, 2009—will once again entertain audiences. According to Helm and Sons Amusements vice president, Corey Oakley, there will be three rides from Neverland: the Zipper, the Lolli Swing, and the Spyder.

The rides have a long history with Helm and Sons. It started when the grandfather of current owner Davy Helm owned a ride called The Wave Swinger. Michael Jackson attended an event where the ride appeared and fell in love with it, Oakley said. He asked the elder Helm if he could buy it. Instead Jackson was offered a lease.

After that arrangement, Helm and Sons had responsibility for procuring and upkeep of rides at Neverland under a non-disclosure agreement that expired upon Jackson’s passing.

The amusement operator owns six rides from Neverland and Oakley said a lot of people enjoy the significance of enjoying a ride that once was a part of the Neverland Ranch.

In all, Helm and Sons will have 32 rides and attractions at the Santa Barbara County Fair.

New rides include a kiddie roller coaster called the Little Dipper; a kiddie ride called the Krazy Train, made of fire truck, semis replicas; and the Himalaya, which Oakely called a super spectacular ride.

Oakley said that Helm and Sons really wants to focus on atmosphere. “We’re trying to be a little different and try to create a theme park atmosphere,” he said. That even extends to having continuity in the music played at each ride.

There will be an old school Band Organ in the kids’ area for ambience. In the main carnival area, you can also catch a performance by the Royal Circus, a family of five performers who present a circus-type show with a high wire act, comedy, and magic. The show lasts 20-25 minutes and is free.

They’ll also add to that ambience with various passive experiences that invite visitors to sit back and enjoy. An example of that includes the Dancing Waters attraction, something he likens to a miniature version of the dancing fountains at The Bellagio in Las Vegas. Visitors can sit back and watch the water dance to music.

Oakley said that Helm and Sons tries to incorporate changes like these each year to keep things fresh and make sure visitors enjoy their time at the Fair. “We always need to stay a step ahead,” Oakley said.

For more information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com or Like us on Facebook.

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Kool & the Gang, performers of hits including “Ladies Night,” “Cherish,” “Jungle Boogie,” and “Celebration,” will perform Friday, July 13 at the Santa Barbara County Fair.

The group has earned two Grammy Awards, seven American Music Awards, and has sold more than 70 million albums worldwide. It has also had 25 Top Ten R&B hits, nine Top Ten pop hits, and 31 gold and platinum albums.

The group developed their signature instrumental sound and fierce horn arrangements in 1969 with their self-titled debut album, and then refined that sound throughout the 1970s with a series of hit albums that wowed not only fans but such contemporaries as James Brown and Nina Simone.

Those years also produced the immortal party anthems “Funky Stuff,” “Hollywood Swinging,” and the platinum smash “Jungle Boogie.” They are also responsible for hits including “Higher Plane”; the classic “Summer Madness,” which was featured on the Grammy-winning movie soundtrack of “Rocky”; and “Open Sesame,” which was featured on the top-selling movie soundtrack of all time, “Saturday Night Fever.”

By 1979, Kool & The Gang had released their first platinum album with “Ladies Night.”

In the 1980s the band released the double-platinum album “Celebrate,” driven by the international monster hit “Celebration,” which spent six weeks atop the R&B chart, became a No. 1 pop single, and was played as the American hostages returned from Iran.

The band re-entered the Billboard R&B chart with 2006’s “Steppin’ Into Love.” That same year they received the Chairman Award for lifetime achievement in record sales from the National Association of Recording Merchandisers.

The band remains one of the most active touring bands, performing hundreds of shows every year, including a 2012 national tour with Van Halen and multiple television appearances.

For more information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com.

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Sheila E., who turns pop, jazz, and Latin sounds into energetic hits, will perform July 14 at the Santa Barbara County Fair.

She is the Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter behind hits that include “The Glamorous Life” and “A Love Bizarre,” but also a world-class drummer and percussionist who has worked with Beyoncé, Ringo Starr, Marvin Gaye, Prince, Herbie Hancock, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie, Gloria Estefan and George Duke.

“Sheila E. expertly blends a variety of musical styles and delivers them in a dynamic performance. We’re looking forward to the energy she’ll bring to her performance at the fair,” said Santa Maria Fairpark CEO Richard Persons.

Her collaboration with Prince helped launch her to stardom. Their Purple Rain recording sessions — including her vocals on the 1984 classic “Erotic City” — helped launch her solo career.

Her debut album, “The Glamorous Life,” spun off the Grammy Award-nominated top 10 hit of the same name along with a second top 40 single, “The Belle of St. Mark.” While a drummer, songwriter, and musical director for Prince’s backup band, she released three solo albums.

She has also released two Latin jazz albums under the name E Train, has acted in films, and published her autobiography, “The Beat of My Own Drum.”

Concert admission is free with admission to the fair, which will run from July 11-15. This year’s theme celebrates “Cowboys and Carousels.”

For more information, visit www.santamariafairpark.com or Like the fair’s Facebook page.

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