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Looking at one of the most overlooked aspects of the Fair – the 52 beer stations.

A Look at the LA County Fair
There's Concerts, Rides, Food – And Beer!

The carnival atmosphere of the Fair shines at night, framed by a beer station.

The Los Angeles County Fair is one of the biggest annual events in the entire Southland, attracting nearly a million and a half people during its four-week run each fall.

For many, the attraction is not just the attractions – or the rides – but the food. Fair food, some of it as bad for the body as it is good for the taste buds. Fried Klondike bars. Fried peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. Chocolate-covered bacon.

Held at the Pomona Fairgrounds – the 2011 event is Sept. 3-Oct. 2 with admission $12 on weekdays, $17 on weekends – it features concerts, shows, shopping, entertainment. And beer.

The dynamic Danielle pours a Stella at one of the 52 beer stations.

Lots of beer, in fact. This is probably one of the most overlooked aspects of the LA County Fair. It's the perfect place to grab a cold one, walk around the massive grounds and explore the event. Or take a break by having a seat at a bar. Soak up the suds as much as the sunshine and atmosphere.

This Bud's for you!

There are 52 – that's right, fifty-TWO – beer stations at the festival. These vary from small Draft Beer Depots to sit-down bars, both inside and outside. Budweiser has even rolled in a huge portable bar that has music and plasma TVs. So when the ladies want to check out the shopping, the guys can roll up, relax and even take in a ballgame.

Back in 2010, fair officials actually lowered the price of beer by a buck. So now it's $8 for a 20-ounce domestic draft, $9 for a premium choice (22-ounce souvenir glasses are $10 and $11, respectively).

There is a great variety of beer stations at the fair.

In addition to the beer stations, there's even a somewhat plush, lounge-style area featuring an indoor bar pouring dozens of award-winning brews and an outside area that somewhat resembles a German biergarten.To be sure, nobody is going to close their eyes and envision themselves being at Oktoberfest. but it does create a bit of a party atmopshere for those intersted in more than just rides and junk food.

There are so many beer stations, it's impossible to walk for more than five minutes without stumbling into one. The choices are many – Budweiser primarily pours Bud, Bud Light, Michelob Amber Bock and Stella Artois, but also offers a few other selections (the wheat Shock Top is quite popular). It's even possible to beer station surf, so to speak, and find a Kona Longboard (though not at the Longboard bar). All told, Anheuser-Busch goes through nearly 3,000 barrels of beer in the month of the fair.

Of course, this being in California, there's is also a wine tasting bar.

In addition to beer, there's stations of margaritas and even a wine-tasting section ($3 for an award-winning taste, $11 for a flight of five).

Add to this the nightly concerts, motocross and demolition derby events, and the LA County Fair presents a pretty pleasant party scene.

A look at the crowds during Labor Day Weekend in 2010.

The LA County Fair is a hugely popular event, attracting some 1.4 million people. The event openeds on Labor Day Weekend and brings in nearly 250,000 people on those three days alone.

While the days can be warm – and always Southern California sunny, of course – the Fair takes on somewhat of a different personality at night.

For one, it's about 15 degrees cooler. It's also when all those carnival signs and rides light up, providing a true look – and taste – of life in America at a county fair.

What's a fair without food, right!?.

Fair Facts

• 2011 Dates: Sept. 3-Oct. 2 (Wed-Sundays)
• Admission: $17 (weekends, $12 weekdays)
• Ride tickets: $5 for 10 tickets, $10 for 40 tickets, $50 for 100 tickets, $100 for 200 tickets.
• Beer prices: $8 20-ounce domestic draft, $9 premium. 22-ounce souvenir glass prices are $10 and $11.
• Parking: $10, $15 preferred, $25 valet
• Hours: Fridays noon-midnight; Saturdays 10 a.m.-midnight, Sundays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., Wednesdays noon-10 p.m., Thursdays noon-11 p.m.
• Events: Concerts (The Beach Boys, Sept. 5; Lee Ann Rimes, Sept. 30; REO Speedwagon & STYX, Sept. 25; Doobie Brothers, Sept. 22 & more), sports activities (Demolition Derby, Monster Truck Madness, freestyle motocross)
• Location: Pomona Fairplex, 1011 West McKinley Ave. [MAP]

Photos of fun things to see and do at the LA County Fair.

© 2010. All rights reserved.

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