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Your user's guide to The Big Fresno Fair: It's time for mutton bustin,' fried foods and concerts ranging from Dwight Yoakam to STP.Oct 07, 2009 (The Fresno Bee - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- RIDES, Games, Cinnamon Rolls, Concerts -- we Fresnans know what that combination means. It's time for The Big Fresno Fair. It launches Wednesday and runs though Oct. 18. Along the way it brings us a slew of concerts, many discount days and some new fun for you fair veterans. Here are some highlights: New this year -- For you fried-food lovers, this year's fried delicacy at Chicken Charlie's is the Zucchini Weenie, a hot dog inside a zucchini, then battered and fried like a corn dog. -- If your youngster loves bull riding, take 'em to Kids Town, which will feature Mutton Bustin' this year. Kids 6 and younger can put on helmets and chaps and try to stay on a sheep for 6 seconds, much like a bucking bull and its rider. On Oct. 18, The Big Fresno Fair will host the Mutton Bustin' 2009 world championships. -- The Water Tree is an addition this year. It's a three-story tree house powered by solar panels that PG&E set up at the fair. Video presentations inside the tree teach adults and kids about water and solar energy. Dates to keep in mind -- Oct. 7 is seniors' day, with free admission to seniors 62 and older. -- Oct. 8 is kids' day. Kids 12 and younger are free with paid adult admission. -- Oct. 13 is $2 Tuesday. Coupons for $2 fair tickets are available at fresnofair.com or at the fair gate if you bring a Save Mart or Food Maxx receipt. -- Oct. 15 the fair holds its Drought Relief Food Drive. Bring three cans of food between 11:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. to get in free. Food will be donated to and distributed in west Fresno County by Salvation Army and Community Food Bank. The concerts BARENAKED LADIES: The jolly Canadian alt-rockers, known for their hit "One Week," open the fair on Wednesday. Caitlin Crosby opens. 7:30 p.m. $20-$25. THE BEACH BOYS: Expect summery songs from the '60s -- like "Surfin' Safari" and "California Girls" -- on Thursday. 7:30 p.m. $15-$20. CHRIS ISAAK: Heartthrob singer Isaak promises a smooth Friday night concert. Bring your "Wicked Game." 7:30 p.m. $20-$25. NAKED BROTHERS BAND: Nickelodeon-backed brothers Nat and Alex Wolff will entertain the Saturday afternoon family crowd. 2 p.m. $10-$15. THE GAME: This Los Angeles-bred gangster rapper will be oozing machismo on Saturday night. 7:30 p.m. $17-$22. LOS TIGRES DEL NORTE: One of Latin music's biggest norteno acts, Los Tigres should pack 'em in Oct. 11. 7:30 p.m. $25-$30. MC HAMMER: He's "Too Legit to Quit" -- MC Hammer revives his early '90s raps on Oct. 12. Tone Loc opens. 7:30 p.m. $10-$15. MICHAEL W. SMITH: This star contemporary Christian singer will give praise and be praised on Oct. 13. 7:30 p.m. $15-$20. LOS LOBOS: Tex-Mex, roots rock, rhythm and blues, country -- Los Lobos can play it all on Oct. 14. 7:30 p.m. $15-$20. STONE TEMPLE PILOTS: These '90s hitmakers are reunited and rockin' once again with frontman Scott Weiland. Bring on "Interstate Love Song" on Oct. 15. 7:30 p.m. $39-$45. DWIGHT YOAKAM: Singer/actor Yoakam brings a little honky-tonk to Fresno country fans on Oct. 16. 7:30 p.m. $20-$25. PUDDLE OF MUDD: The rockers behind hits such as "Blurry" and "She Hates Me," take the stage on Oct. 17. Fresno's Six Ounce Gloves opens. 7:30 p.m. $15-$20. FESTIVAL DE MARIACHI: The fair closes on Oct. 18 with one of its concert traditions -- a day of mariachi music. Concerts run from noon until 6 p.m. Free admission. To see more of The Fresno Bee, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.fresnobee.com Copyright (c) 2009, The Fresno Bee, Calif. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email [email protected], call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA. |