|
Stanislaus
County Fair salutes 30th anniversary of
American Graffiti
The
Stanislaus County Fair will cruise back to the fun and
fabulous 1950’s with a salute to “American
Graffiti” at this year’s 10-day fair!
The
theme of the July 25 to August 3 event has been
deemed: “The Place to be in 2003: Saluting the 30th
Anniversary of American Graffiti.”
The
fair’s celebration runs concurrently with Universal
Studios Home Video release of the 30th
Anniversary edition of the “American Graffiti” DVD—available
in stores now!
To
celebrate three decades of 50’s fun the Stanislaus
County Fair is pulling out all the stops. Several fair
directors, staff and volunteers at the Stanislaus
County Fair will be-bop around the grounds in high
ponytails, poodle skirts and rolled-up denims. Fair
guests are invited to don 50’s threads, too!
.
“We encourage our guests to join in the fun by
rolling up their blue jeans, slicking back their hair
and even sporting a pony tail,” said Pennie Rorex,
spokesperson for the Stanislaus County Fair. “Poodle
skirts are encouraged, too!”
And
what 1950’s tribute would be complete without a
classic 1950-style drive-in?
New
and created especially for the 2003 Stanislaus County
Fair is a special dining and entertainment area named
after the area’s sponsors—“A&W/Modesto Bee
Graffiti Drive In.”
The
fair’s 1950’s themed drive-in is an entertainment
and dining area that will feature a backdrop mural of
downtown Modesto’s classic A&W Root Beer Drive
In. The
area will even feature a few shiny 1950’s cars
parked nearby, including an old Packard.
Performing
live at the “A&W/Modesto Bee Graffiti Drive
In,” the first seven nights of the fair, will be the
three-piece sensation Simply So.
Cranking out tunes from the 1950’s, 1960’s
and 1970’s, Simply So will bring guests to their
feet to twist and shout on the drive-in’s dance
floor.
Simply So,
comprised of a trio of talented singers, is a soothing
trip down memory lane. The group, inspired by rhythm
and blues groups of times past, have years of
individual experience in the music industry. The
group, who has opened for Little Anthony, will perform
twice nightly at 7:30 and 10:00 p.m., except for
Tuesday, July 29, when they will perform at 7:00 and
9:00 p.m.
Elvis
and Marilyn will make special appearances each evening
from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m.
The star look-alikes will be available to pose
with fair guests for photos and sign autographs.
On weekend nights, with one show only at 7:00
p.m., several Elvis look-alikes will perform together
on the stage, gyrating and belting out the always
popular, “Viva Las Vegas.”
1950’s
food will be easy to find at the 2003 Stanislaus
County Fair, with the return of the Forty and Eight
and V.F.W. hamburger booths that once again will dish
up hot and juicy burgers.
And milkshakes made with real ice cream will
once again be whipped up at the 4-H Milk Bar—always
a sought-after dessert at the Stanislaus County Fair.
There
will also be a chance for photography buffs to show
off their flair for reliving the 1950’s. A special
photography contest, sponsored by the Turlock
Journal, will feature photographs of 1950’s cars
and 1950’s fashion.
As
American as red, white and blue, the salute to
“American Graffiti” will feature a tasty
all-American apple pie contest. Baking enthusiasts
will compete for the blue ribbon for the best homemade
apple pie—just like June Clever used to bake. The
apple pie contest will be sponsored by Dubyak
Chiropractic, and pies entered will be donated to
United Samaritans to feed the needy.
“Any
way you slice it; this year’s fair will be full of
good times for the entire family,” said Rorex.
“American
Graffiti,” is the popular film that perfectly
captured what it was like to be a teenager in the
1950’s. Modesto-born George Lucas’ film gives
Americans a better look at young people cruising,
grooving to Wolfman Jack and heading to carhop
eateries.
The
Stanislaus County Fair is now in its 92nd year.
The
2003 fair opens Friday, July 25 for a 10-day run.
The theme of this year’s fair is “The Place
to be in 2003: Saluting the 30th
Anniversary of American Graffiti.”
Last
year, more than 226,000 family members enjoyed the
fair —the largest attendance in the past decade.
In the fall of 2002, Modesto
Bee readers voted the Stanislaus County Fair their
“Favorite All-Around Event” in the Bee’s
Readers’ Choice Awards!
The
mission of the Stanislaus County Fair is to provide a
family and community oriented experience promoting
agriculture, education, entertainment and technology.
-end-
Electronic photo available. E-mail requests to
PRConsultingPennie@charter.net
|
