As the gates flew open Wednesday for “Dollar Day,” low prices and gorgeous weather greeted visitors on the first day of the 116th annual Santa Barbara County Fair.

Touring the grounds with her sister Jennifer Salminiitty and cousin Tony Zampardo, Andrea Stone said she's missed only one fair in 42 years.

“The only time I missed coming to the fair was 1972, when my family went to Europe,” she said. “I used to bring my lambs when I was in 4-H.”

Her 13-year-old daughter Emily has a nice streak going herself. She has yet to miss one.

“My favorite part of the fair this year is the exhibits,” Emily said. “I know ... it's amazing, I'm a teenager and I like looking at the photography exhibits. I also like seeing all the people. I'm a people watcher."

Even though it was only her second trip to the county fair, Emily's 16-year-old cousin Saija Salminiitty has fond memories of the last time she visited.

“I have the ring I got here when I was 7,” she said, holding up her left hand. “I still wear it.”

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On the opposite end of the spectrum is her mother's cousin, Tony, who has never been to a county fair.

“I grew up in Seattle,” Zampardo said. “I'm a city boy.”

Up for the day from Port Hueneme, what struck Zampardo the most about the fair was what it stands for.

“I like it,” he said. “I appreciate the rural feel of the fair. It's a neat celebration of the community. It's good the community can come together for something like this.”

One of the biggest attractions at this year's fair seemed to be the Wild World Tour in the Discovery Pavilion. Snakes such as Burmese and Australian carpet pythons, along with several species of boas, king snakes and rattlesnakes slithered across the floors of their terrariums; leopard geckos shyly peered out from hiding places, while tokay geckos climbed up glass enclosures; turtles and a green anaconda swam about in their aquariums; and tortoises and other exotic creatures crawled, slithered and squawked for the crowds.

“That was my favorite part,” Stone said. “I liked seeing all of the reptiles, and the hedgehog was nursing her baby. That was so cute.”

“That was super cool,” said Kelly Hopkins of Santa Maria. The mother of three was also enjoying her first time at the county fair, and like her children was enjoying the reptiles featured in the exhibit hall.

“I thought it was good for the kids,” she said. “They're the type of animals that they don't get to see very much.”

Her 8-year-old daughter Monica was also impressed with the display of exotic reptiles, birds, and animals.

“I touched a millipede,” she said. “It was cool.”

But that wasn't Monica's favorite part of the day. She was in it for the excitement that only the carnival rides could offer.

“I like the rides best,” she said. “Gee Whizz is my favorite.”

After the morning clouds had lifted, temperatures climbed into the low 70s with a light breeze.

“Who would have known that the day would turn out so gorgeous?” Hopkins said. “It's a perfect day to be at the fair.”

The National Weather Service is calling for more of the same conditions today with patchy fog in the morning before burning off in the afternoon.

Highs will be in the mid to high 60s at the beaches and mid 70s to lower 80s inland. Expect temperatures to climb into the 90s inland for the weekend.

The Santa Barbara County Fair is at the Santa Maria Fairpark at the corner of Thornburg Street and Stowell Road. The fair is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day through Sunday. General admission is $7 for people 12 and over, $5 for children ages 6 -11, and free for children 5 and under.

Todd Cralley can be reached at 347-4580 or tcralley@santa

mariatimes.com.

July 12, 2007