Stanislaus County Fair
[3] Other than 1917–18, the Melon Carnival lasted only a few years, and in 1924 the American Legion Rex Ish Post 88 organized a Fourth of July celebration for largely the same purpose.
[5] The 4H and Future Farmers of America livestock shows were instituted in 1933, and in 1935 the State of California issued a charter that established the 38th District Agriculture Association (DAA), which remains today.
No fairs were held during World War II, although the carnivals and horse pulling events continued in the downtown area.
The fairgrounds were turned over to the Wartime Civilian Control Administration, which oversaw the "evacuation" of Japanese Americans from the West Coast under the provisions of Executive Order 9066.
Turlock opened on April 30, 1942, and a total of 3,669 Japanese Americans from the Sacramento River Delta and Los Angeles areas passed through the camp before it closed on August 12.
A marker was unveiled in an opening night ceremony during the 1999 fair and is on public view just inside the historic Arch Gate.
Tastes of the Valley Wine & Cheese is put on by the Stanislaus State Agriculture Department and Friends of the Fair Foundation.
[10] The mission of the Stanislaus County Fair is to provide a family and community oriented experience promoting agriculture, entertainment and technology.
The carnival was held in Turlock's downtown on Main Street where watermelons were donated by farmers and served free in a big tent.
It moved a couple times until finally for the 1927 carnival a seven-acre plot of ground was acquired at $500 per acre as a permanent location, along with an old circus tent to house commercial exhibits.
Japanese-Americans were stationed at the fairgrounds for 3 ½ months before being evacuated to inland areas of the U.S. For the remainder of the war, the grounds were used by the Army as a Rehabilitation Center.
By this means a few thousand young men were remodeled into better soldiers and citizens…It is therefore not extravagant to state that the new but proven concept of rehabilitation of military offenders should be considered one of the major social contributions of World War II.
Two months later, in the height of war panic, President Roosevelt authorized the exclusion of Japanese Americans on the west coast to various camps in response to Japan’s attack.
At this time nearly a dozen fairgrounds, including Turlock’s, were recruited to duty as Assembly Centers for receiving local Japanese Americans before they were sent to various camps.
America’s entrance into World War II prompted the drafting of men to fill the military’s soldier needs as soon as possible.
Unfortunately, some of these men had difficulty in adapting to military life, leading to outbreaks of AWOL (Absent Without Leave) and insubordinate soldiers.
In 1952 the popular Kiddie Kapers Parade was held for the last time, discontinued due to lack of leadership interest.
The 1959 Fair featured a Hawaiian theme in honor of the new state, entertainers were flown in directly from Hawaii for special performances.
A marker was unveiled during an opening night ceremony during the 1999 Fair and is on public view just inside the historic Arch Gate.
Prior to the 2010 Fair, a dedication ceremony honoring the Japanese Americans involved in the Turlock Assembly Center of 1941 was held and a memorial was erected near the Floriculture building.
The free concert performances included Foreigner, Kellie Pickler, The Wiggles, Peking Acrobats of Beijing, Bret Michaels, LeAnn Rimes, and Diego Verdaguer & Amanda Miguel.
This year introduced its newest brand theme “Imagine the Fun!” The Stanislaus County Fair began its award-winning Kids Club Educational Program (formally known as Kidz Club), which offers both children and parents the educational opportunity to learn more about the Fair's rich agricultural heritage and tradition that is unique to the Central Valley.
The free concert performances included Clint Black, Boyz II Men, America, MercyMe, Clay Walker, Big Time Rush, Bob & Time Comedy All-Stars, Joan Jett & The Blackhearts, Joe Nicols & Heidi Newfield, La Original Banda el Limon de Salvador Lizarraga.
The free concert performances included WAR, KC & The Sunshine Band, Bill Engvall, Natalie Grant and Tenth Avenue North, The Beach Boys, Jack Ingram and Chuck Wicks, Boys Like Girls, Blake Shelton, Terri Clark, Los Tucanes.
The free concert performances included Grand Funk Railroad, Mark Chesnutt and Trailer Choir, The Four Tops, newsboys, Rick Springfield, Gretchen Wilson, Nat & Alex Wolff, Josh Turner, Huey Lewis and the News, and Pablo Montero plus Noelia.
The Fair theme was “Renewable Fun” which focused on staying eco-friendly and making a difference in creating a better, cleaner earth.
The free concert performances included Clay Walker, Bowling For Soup, Sawyer Brown, Building 429 and Mathew West, Little Big Town, The Doobie Brothers, Raven-Symoné, The Beach Boys, The Temptations and Mariachi Vargas.
The free concert performances included Three Dog Night, LeAnn Rimes, Tanya Tucker and The Bellamy Brothers, Mark Schultz and Big Daddy Weave, Triple Threat Tour: Restless Heart, Blackhawk and Little Texas, Blake Shelton, Reo Speedwagon, The Guess Who, Adbacadabra, and Ana Bárbara.
