It’s one week before the opening of the 2023 Stanislaus County Fair and new Fair CEO Kimberly Williams said that everything is running smoothly.
While this will be Williams’ first Fair season as CEO, she has spent the past 10 years as operations manager and then another eight years at various positions at the Stanislaus County Fair, so she is a veteran of the hustle and bustle that goes into getting the fairgrounds ready to welcome the more than 200,000 visitors expected during the Fair’s 10-day run.
“It’s not that much different,” said Williams about going from operations manager to CEO. “I love the fair that's kind of been my thing. I went from operations manager, so laying out everything, to just kind of now overseeing all the departments. I have great people underneath me and so it's been running really smoothly.”
On Friday, Williams was overseeing the placement of the many signs that are placed around the fairgrounds and adjusting tent sizes for vendors and other attractions.
Williams is expecting this year to be just as busy as last year’s fair, which welcomed 270,447 guests during its 10-day run, a 4 percent increase from 2019 (the last fair before COVID restrictions).
“Last year was one of the best fairs we've had in the history of the fair. So far, ticket sales are looking like this is going to be another really good fair,” said Williams.
Williams wasn’t the only one making last-minute preparations for the Fair. Emily Mercer and her mother made a trip to the Fair office on Friday from Oakdale to turn in an entry form for Outstanding Exhibitor. While this is the Sierra 4-H member’s first-ever Fair, she has been working hard for months with her sheep, as well as her rabbits and arts&crafts entries.
Mercer said she got into showing sheep with the help of her best friend’s grandfather, Ron Alves. She has been halter training her lambs and learning how to lead them for showing with monthly 4-H meetings.
Williams said that the kids coming out with their animals is a huge part of what makes the Fair special. Also on Friday, Turlock High FFA members Jacob Mercado, Diego Jimenez and Miguel Diaz were setting up their Ag Mechanics exhibits.
Exhibits will continue to come into the fairgrounds over the next several days, with the day before the fair’s opening the busiest day, according to Williams, as food vendors set up their booths.
The 110th Stanislaus County Fair is set to open on July 7 for its 10 days and nights of arena events, entertainment, fair food, amusement rides and games and new and fan-favorite exhibits and attractions.
The 2023 Fair will feature 10-nights of free celebrity concerts included with Fair admission, a total of three stages of live entertainment, upwards of 30,000 local exhibits and over 1,750 animals.
The Fair’s new mascot “Stanley” the horse will be welcoming visitors this year. Also new this year is Multi Cultural Day on July 8.
The fair also will be bringing back the Free Till 3 Sundays, Kids Free Night and Senior day and a Military Day.
The entertainment line-up kicks off with Parmalee on Friday on the Modelo Variety Free Stage at 8:30 p.m.
In the arena there will be truck and tractor pulls on Friday and Saturday, followed by Portuguese Bloodless Bullfights on Sunday.
Learn more about all of the bands, arena events and attractions planned for this year’s Fair inside Wednesday’s Journal with the Fair Magazine previewing the 2023 Stanislaus County Fair or at turlockjournal.com/special-pubs-fair-tab/
