THE BALLOON MAN

Juicy food, fun, rides

Crowds line up for Orange Festival's opening day

Richard Olvera and his family walk along the midway at the National Orange Show Festival on Thursday. (Gabriel Luis Acosta/Staff Photographer)

By Michel Nolan Staff Writer
From the ContraCoastalTimes
05/26/2011
SAN BERNARDINO - Lexi Ramirez, 5, of Colton couldn't wait until she'd had a slice of pizza on Thursday afternoon, opening day at the Orange Show Festival.
"It's really good," she said between bites.
Her younger brother, Ryan, 2, nodded in agreement.
Later, the pair were looking forward to ice cream, said their grandmother, Dot Garcia, also of Colton.
For nearly a century, the National Orange Show has been bringing juicy fun to San Bernardino.
Crowds of people lined up on opening day, streaming through the entrance, where game booths, food vendors, midway and carnival rides spread out around the venue's centerpiece lagoon.
San Bernardino native Patsy Lara waited in line with her daughter and granddaughters.
"I've been coming here every year since 1960," Lara said.
Leriha Lara, 10, said she couldn't wait for the carne asada tacos and a ride on the Crazy Coaster.
Freshly squeezed fun includes free, live entertainment (with paid admission), attractions, art exhibits, animal shows, state-of-the-art carnival rides, and community stage performances. Presented by GCF Events and Ray Cammack Shows, the festival runs through Memorial Day on Monday and is jam-packed with new shows and traditional favorites.
Donald Ruiz, a die-hard Orange Show fan, said he hasn't missed the festival since the days of the Swing Auditorium and the wooden roller coaster in the `50s and `60s.
The National Orange Show, which began in 1911, officially celebrates 100 years. Literally, however, because it was dark for four years during World War II, this is the 96th edition of the festival.
Headline entertainment in the Orange Pavilion includes Smash Mouth tonight; El Coyote y Su Banda Tierra Santa & Banda Costado on Saturday; Irene Davi and Mariachi on Sunday; and Eddie Money on Monday.
Juicy attractions and family fun shows range from the Jest in Time Circus and Folklorica Dance Company to a petting zoo, pony rides, AgVentureLand and animal races.
Community Stage shows include "Stowaway" (musical trip around the world) today; "FAN Helen" (Van Halen tribute band) on Saturday; "Wayward Sons (tribute to 70s arena rock) on Sunday; and "Tres Equiz" (tribute to ZZ Top) on Monday.
Latino entertainment is the focus of Saturday and Sunday, "Fiesta Weekend," at the festival. Cultural flair includes headline entertainment, live radio broadcasts and a marketplace of free games, prizes and freebies, while booths in the Citrus Pavilion offer a Mercado both days.
Monday's attractions will feature the inaugural car show from 1 to 6 p.m.