THE 2005 RIVERSIDE COUNTY FAIR & NATIONAL DATE FESTIVAL

"Friday, February 18th through Sunday, February 27th"            By Glorietta Valentino

The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is located in Indio, an oasis situated in the vast California desert, approximately 130 miles east from Los Angeles. The fair started as a festival to celebrate the end of the annual "Date" Harvest in the desert region, the major commercial "Date"-producing area in the western hemisphere.

            Dates were an unknown commodity in the desert until 1903 when Date Palms were transplanted there from Algeria. By the early 1920's enough acreage was planted to make Dates a major crop for the area. Date Groves in the Coachella Valley were and still are such a novelty that they became quite a tourist attraction and now, today, during these modern times, as always, there is so much to see and do. For example.

            We have the fair favorites that will make you want to stay around enjoying yourself for the entire evening and I'm talking about "Headliner Entertainment, such as: The ever popular "Village People, Michael Salgado, 38 Special, Emilio Navaira, Papa Doo Run Run, Royal Wade Kimes and much, much more! Especially, the nightly Musical Pageant presenting a talented cast of singers and dancers in dazzling regalia.

            The Annual Fair has both old and new favorites for everyone to come and joy including the numerous Date Booths that will be selling your favorite tasty Dates. from those tasty little morsels that are stuffed with chocolate, coconut or nuts to the good old plain Date. Naturally, we will all sample a mouth-watering Date Shake!

ADMISSION: General Admission is $7.00, Senior Citizens (55+) are charged $6.00 and Children (5-12) $4.00. Children under five are permitted free! Also, group tour and advance purchase discounts are available. Those attending the "Fair" dressed in full Arabian costume or Military uniform will be admitted free.

ENTERTAINMENT: Feb. 18-Opening Day-Youth Parade; Feb.19-Emilio Navaira-3:30 pm & 8:30pm and then Monster Trucks 4:30 pm-7:30 pm. Feb. 20-Michael Salgado-3:30 pm & 8:30 pm, Extreme Bikes-7:30 pm. Feb. 21-Village People-3:30 pm and BMX Bikes at 7:30 pm. Feb. 22-Papa Doo Run Run-4 pm. Feb. 23- The All American Boys Chorus-4 pm. Feb. 24-Royal Wade Kimes-4 pm. Feb. 25-Mexican Rodeo-7:30 pm and on Feb. 26-38 Special-3:30 pm. Feb. 27- SuperFiesta-2:30 pm. And then Destruction Derby- 5 pm. Please Remember. that all Performances are subject to change without notice!

BUT HOLD YOUR HORSES. THERE'S MORE!

            There are Nightly Musical Pageants; PJ the Clown; Chaz Comedy Juggler and Jules Mime; Hypnotist Kevin Stone; Carmel & Ostrich Races; Pig Races; BMX Bikes; Nock's Space Wheel; Monster Trucks; Destruction Derby; Presidents' Day Parade; Carnival and Kids' Carnival. Plus. much, much more!

ACTIVITIES: Competitions: Talent, pie eating, diaper derby and many more, like, Art Demonstrations! Enjoy more than 7,000 exhibits including arts, crafts, livestock, agriculture, horticulture, woodworking and delicious Date Tasting!

ATTENDANCE: More than 270,000 people attend the Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival.

PARKING: General parking $5.00; Overnight R.V. parking is available for $10.00 (no hookups).

CONTACT: For more information, call. 1-800-811-FAIR, Fax: 760-863-8973

SEE US ON THE WEB @ http://www.datefest.org and tell everybody that you read about it in MPM!