This weekend the events at Fairplex cover nearly all the bases. Remember, we’ve got 543 acres to play around with. Check out the abundance of options for fun and entertainment:

Come to Nightshift Pomona, the largest automotive lifestyle event in the world, with car shows, model competitions, live music, live-action drift demonstrations and, of course, free stuff. It all takes place 4 p.m. – 11 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 9 in the main lot. Admission is $30; ages 6 and under are free with paid general-admission adult. One child free per per adult entry. Enter at Gate 17 on Fairplex Drive.

The Sharp International Extreme Summer Camp and Competition, a cheer, dance, drill, hip-hop, pep flag, color guard and song competition that attracts thousands of local high-schoolers and their rapt family members, is also open to the public. If you like high-energy, pep-rally cheering squads, come to Fairplex 5 and 6, Sunday, Sept. 10, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. Admission: $10 for adults; $9 for students ages 7-11. Park at Gate 3 behind the Sheraton Fairplex hotel and enter through Red Gate.

The very popular U.S.-Philippines Expo has flourished here at Fairplex. Several thousand people come each year to enjoy Filipino culture, food, crafts, consumer goods, music, dancing and demonstrations. Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9 & 10, 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Admission is $8; children/seniors are $5; children under the age of 5 are free.

Good works: A portion of every Expo ticket supports Bantay Bata 163 (BB 163), a foundation that provides child protective, residential, and community and family support services to Filipino children.

Then, on Sunday, Aug. 10, the 3rd Annual California BoricuaFest comes to Park Square, bringing Puerto Ricans and admirers of Puerto Rican culture to a family-friendly outdoor festival. There’s music, arts, food, and culture. New this year, a domino tournament and Allstars Magazine’s car show. 10 a.m. – 7 p.m, admission $15 advance purchase, $25 at the gate, $50 for Boricua Lounge VIP tickets. Park at Gate 9 on White Ave.; preferred parking at Gate 3 on McKinley Ave.

We’re not done, people. We still have room for the California Summer Nationals Karate Tournament on Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 9 – 10 in Fairplex 7. Saturday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sunday 9a.m. - 7 p.m. Admission $10 for adults, seniors and children (3 and under free). Special 2-day pass, $15. Park at Gate 9 on White Ave.; preferred parking at Gate 3 on McKinley Ave. For more information, call (760) 776-7522.

 Oh. I almost forgot. The Defensive Driving Academy returns for an encore this weekend as well. This is the premier driver training for young folks who’ve completed their required training and need that little extra preparation for real-life driving situations. Parents, put your mind to rest. Students practice accident avoidance maneuvers, panic braking, wet pavement skids and a distracted driver exercise. Advanced registration required. Call (888) 948-4888. Park at Gate 17 on Fairplex Drive.  Admission: $395.00.

Whew. I’m done ’til next week.

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It’s all about variety here at Fairplex. Last weekend it was tattoos. This weekend it’s the Los Angeles World Guitar Show, the place every Guitar Man will want to be this Saturday and Sunday, August 2 & 3, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

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This is a huge event filling Fairplex 5 with every imaginable stringed instrument. It’s not just guitars, hundreds of them, by the way. It’s also about amps, banjos, mandolins, memorabilia, sound gear, parts, records, drums, violins, books, accessories, manufacturers, retail stores, builders and repairmen. You’ll even see celebrities at the event. The World Guitar Show is the only event co-sponsored by Vintage Guitar Magazine, America’s favorite guitar publication.

You can buy, sell, trade or have your instruments appraised at the show. With several bids from different exhibitors you can quickly establish the market value of an item before you try to sell it.

There’s a special VIP closed session on Friday afternoon. The fee is $200, which entitles you, a VIP, to enter the show at noon Friday for a pre-review of all the great buys.

General admission is $15 for adults, and free for those under twelve years of age.

Just in case you missed the Fairplex 4th of July celebration, which was a sell-out again. For musical accompaniment, press the play button.

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END OF 1812 OVERTURE - Tchaikovsky

It’s coming, people. It’s about this.

And this.

And this.

And it’s so much fun! Tickets are flying out of the ticket office. Yesterday was the biggest sales day in the event’s history, so get on down and get yours before they’re gone.

Tickets are available at the Fairplex credentials office and online at Ticketmaster.com and at Ticketmaster locations. The Fairplex credentials office, (909) 865-4070, is open weekdays from 9 a.m. - 7 p.m., including Friday, July 4 (or until the tickets are gone).

Tickets are $19.50 (reserved box seats), $17.50 (trackside bleachers), and $14 (general seating).

See you there!

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Fairplex Insider has an accomplice whose proficiency in Warped Tour-ese will be obvious. Enjoy!

“…I mean she even cooks me pancakes and alka seltzer when my tummy aches…” (Cupid’s Chokehold in Wikipedia, for those of you don’t know this tune) Mosh pits, body vibrating bass and awesome bands. Can a Friday afternoon get any better?  I don’t think so!  On Friday, June 20th Fairplex will be rockin’ as the Vans Warped Tour makes a stop here for yet another year of music and live action.  With multiple stages and high action sports it is a sight to see and hear!

“Got chicks, all hot chicks…” (Clothes Off)  Anyways, there is definitely one band I can’t WAIT to see…Gym Class Heroes!  With their ever popular “Cupids Chokehold/Breakfast in America” (Sampled from Supertramp) and “Clothes Off!” both from their As Cruel As School Children album.  GCH gained major fame as an indie band with a hip hop style unlike any other: They actually feature live instrumentals in their music. If you want to learn more about them check out their website, gymclassheroes.com or just wander on down to the lovely Wikipedia.

“We’re the Pirates who don’t do anything; we just stay at home and lie around!” (We’re the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything) Being a teenager doesn’t mean I know every band performing.  In fact, I only know 3!  I’m such a dweeb!  I’ll take Beach Boys any day of the week, but ask me if I know who Relient K is, and chances are I’ll shrug my shoulders and go “who?”  Don’t get me wrong, I more than likely love their music, I just don’t know it’s them singing!  This next statement should tell you what kind of person I am…I know Relient K sings “We’re the Pirates Who Don’t Do Anything” from Veggie Tales.  I can’t believe I just admitted that.

“And I’m racking my brain for a new improved way, to let you know you’re more to me than what I know how to say…” (Must Have Done Something Right)  Well, now that you know a little about me and who is performing, are you ready to go?  I can’t wait to meet all you faithful bloggers out at Warped Tour! See you on the infield.

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Where to begin? In just one weekend, we have birds, both feathered and on skates, a home and backyard expo and an indie, punk, goth rock music festival. Here’s the skinny, in case you’re looking for something fun to do. 

Recession Busters

There are birds of all sizes and breeds at Everybody’s Bird Mart in Fairplex 4. Admission is only $5 for adults; kids under 12 are free. Sunday, June 22, 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. I didn’t know that much about birds before I checked out this bird mart. For help on choosing a pet bird, click on the birds at right and view Alyson’s Pet Birds Blog.

Maybe you can’t afford the gas to drive to see relatives in Montana but you can afford to come to Fairplex to see all the latest in home improvement,  interior design and landscaping so that you have a lovely setting for your “staycation” (precious sound-bite term for stay-at-home vacation coined by the TV  news networks). Pomona Home & Backyard Show, Friday, June 20 - Sunday, June 22. Click on link above for a coupon for free admission.

Birds on Skates

Don’t be fooled. Roller derby is hot again. Very hot. A recent L.A. Times article describes a crowd of 1,700 derby fans finding their way to an old warehouse in Los Angeles to see the L.A. Derby Dolls. It’s part soap opera, part histrionics a la WWF, and part oval-track racing. Mostly, it’s fun…and fast. The L.A. T-Birds rollergames action mixes it up on Saturday, June 21, from 7 – 11 p.m. right here at Fairplex 9. Adult admission $17, children under 12 are $11. Discount tickets are available at the T-Birds’ website. Web site price is $5 off general admission price. Park at Gate 9 on White Avenue.

Calling all Vans fans

This is like Kurt Cobain meets the Ramones, said one Vans Warped Tour fan of the skateboard music concert and extreme sports festival that rocks Fairplex every year in June. “Warped Tour is a place for teenage kids to go and hear all their favourite bands in one day,” says Rob Pasalic, guitarist for the Saint Alvia Cartel, in Wikipedia. Among the bands appearing at this year’s tour are Jean, From First to Last, Relient K, Story of the Year, The Fabulous Rudies, Beat Union and The Academy Is.

They come by the hundreds to the Fairplex Park infield, where as many as 50 bands will play on Friday, June 20 from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. Park at Gate 17 on Fairplex Drive. Advance tickets are at ticketmaster.com for $30. More on this in our next post, when someone who’s waaay more into this than the Scoopster will fill you in.

Dads hate ties. Most dads like cars, though. So celebrate Father’s Day at the 44th Annual L.A. Roadster Show instead. Admission is actually less than a tie and you get to hang around with some really cool car guys and a whole lot of their classic pre-1935  roadsters, most of which are better cared for than a Hollywood starlet.

Anyway, here are the details: Saturday and Sunday, June 14 and 15, 7 a.m. – 4 p.m. Yes, you read 7 a.m. This means you can take in the roadster show and still make it home in time for Sunday dinner. All good, since sometimes moms don’t love cars as much as dads do.

Park at Gate 17. Hop on the tram. Admission is $15 per person; free for children under 12. You can purchase a special weekend pass for both days for $25.

Forget the necktie, part 2

You can set the stage for a perfect Father’s Day celebration at Wine & Cars Under the Stars, the sipping and noshing and oohing and aaahing (at the classic roadsters) benefit for the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts. It’s this Saturday night, 6 – 11 p.m. at the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsports Museum; adults only, of course, because it’s about adult beverages of all kinds. There’s an auction, too, and dancing. Whooeee!

Last year’s event was wicked awesome, with guests enjoying a “drive-in” movie. This year’s feature film is Viva Las Vegas, an Elvis fave from 1964.

This year’s has some new twists that promise to make it even cooler. The new Wine World of Sports competition pitted entries from the wineries of golf, baseball, hockey and appropriately, car racing greats. It was the Dodgers’ Tommy Lasorda versus golf’s John Daly, fighting cork to bottle with racing’s Mario Andretti.

And the winner? LASORDA, Pinot Grigio, Veneto IGT 2007, which won Best Wine and Best of Class. Lasorda himself will join other wine lovers at the Saturday night soiree. He has a blog, too, in case you want to hear him sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” It’s pretty funny.

Tickets are $100 per person, $50 of which is tax deductible. For ticket info call Wendy Schwartz at 909.865.4207 or visit WCUS tix.

Forget the necktie, part 3

If you’re really serious about Dad’s special day, the Giant RV Show is here through Sunday, the 15th, in the White Avenue lot. It’s free and there are deals to be made, folks.

See you Saturday night!

June Vroom!

It looked like this on June 3 before the races started.

On Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 8, it will look and sound like this!

Nearly 10,000 race fans per day come to see and experience Championship Off-Road Racing (CORR) at Fairplex. This is fast, dirty, fender-to-bumper action with 2- and 4-wheel drive trucks. You can see pretty much the entire action from anywhere in the stands. Friday, June 6 is practice and qualifying; races are Saturday and Sunday. General admission is $30.

What you might not know: The CORR folks literally dig up the pavement and reconstruct a part of the Fairplex grounds, turning it into an off-road dirt track. When it’s over, they repave it and it looks just like the usual mild-mannered Fairplex grounds.

Vroom with a view – and it’s almost free

If CORR isn’t your thing, you’ve still got options this weekend at Fairplex. The 22nd Annual Spring Boat Show has more than 350,000 square feet of everything that floats, from runabouts and fishing craft to ski boats and cabin cruisers. Admission is $10, but if you go to the Southern California Marine Association web site, you can get in for $2 (www.scma.com). Runs from Thursday, June 5 – Sunday, June 8.

Freebies!

You’re gonna need a motorhome to haul that new speedboat to one of the Golden State’s many recreational waterways, so you can go on over to the White Avenue lot for the Giant L.A. RV Show. Free admission to this one. Friday, June 6 through Sunday, June 15, which is Dad’s Day. Shopping opportunity here, folks.

I really like this place in June. First, we have wine. A lot of wine – something like 3,500 different varieties – that our world-renowned wine judges are sipping, sloshing and sptooing right now for the Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition.

What you might not know: The thousands of wine glasses used for the competition are all hand-washed and dried. No soap, no lint, just hot, hot water and a lot of polishing by the wine team at Fairplex.

Then, on Saturday, June 14, you can be among the first to taste the award winners from the competition at the Wine & Cars Under the Stars  soiree. If you need a reason to attend besides just having fun and tasting some really great wines and spirits, sampling some amazing olive oils (we also have an international olive oil competition going on at Fairplex with more than 500 entries!), this event is for a good cause. It’s a fundraiser for the Millard Sheets Center for the Arts. Tickets are $100 per person, $50 of which is tax deductible!

FREEBIES!

If you need some FREE entertainment, come to the June Classic Morgan Horse Show, Friday, May 30 – Sunday, June 1, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Park at Gate 12 on White Avenue for the usual $9.

What you might not know: Morgan horses were Civil War soldiers’ preferred mount because they were tireless workers, unfailingly loyal workers and would perform consistently under fire. They could also accommodate an uncertain war-time diet.

GET READY FOR KABOOM! This is the best 4th of July fireworks show in the area and you won’t get bored waiting for dark because there are Monster Truck and Big Air Freestyle Motocross before the KABOOM! part of the show. Tickets are on sale now at the Fairplex Credentials Office (909-865-4070). Don’t wait. This will be a sellout! Tickets are $19.50 (reserved box seats), $17.50 (trackside bleachers), and $14 (general seating).

People! There’s a lot of stuff going on here at Fairplex - besides the Fair. Sure, the Fair is our biggest event, but Fairplex is more than giant turkey legs and carnival rides. Way more. I happen to know all about what goes on because I work here and I’m going to share some of the inside scoop with you in the Fairplex Insider blog – hence the precious user name, Scoopster.

Ok. What’s happening at Fairplex? You’d think things might be slow around here, what with the end-of-school-what-can-I-do-with-the-kids dilemma hanging heavy on parents’ collective minds. Not so. There are more than 20 events going on between now and the end of June. Some are even free (or nearly free). Check out full calendar listings at Fairplex.com

The coolest thing to do this weekend at Fairplex

The Mission Circuit Dog Show (Thursday, May 22 - Monday, May 26, 8:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.) is one of the largest dog shows in the country. You don’t have to travel to New York City to see a huge variety of breeds strutting their pouffed-up, blown-dry stuff. It’s like a live version of the Best in Show movie (about the world famous Westminster Dog Show). Tip: The humans are as much fun to watch as the dogs, skipping around the ring, dog cookies at the ready. 

If you’re thinking about getting a warm and fuzzy 4-legged friend to take home with you, this is the place to investigate more than 140 breeds all in one place.

This is a huge dog show covering several Fairplex buildings and outdoor areas. It’s very affordable entertainment, too. General admission is only $6. Park for $8 at Gate 17 on Fairplex Drive. Or go for valet parking at the Sheraton Fairplex parking lot and it’s only $5 more.

See you next post!