WATSONVILLE — Before 4-year-old Jack Higgins of Sunnyvale walked into the Santa Cruz County Fair Friday afternoon, he outlined the things he wanted to do.
“Everything,” he said.
When pressed for specifics, Jack added, “They have lemonade.”
Jack, who came with his older brother and parents, joined thousands of people who came to the fair Friday afternoon.
Sitting at a picnic table inside the grounds was La Selva Beach resident Bill Escobar, who had just purchased a corn dog and fried mushrooms for lunch. He was planning on either a fried Snickers bar or Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups for dessert.
“This is what the fair is all about, right?” he said.
Nearby, a large group of children packed around the outdoor train exhibit, which features several different model trains chugging their way through a realistic, mini world.
In the Agricultural History Project area, saddle maker Bob Mattson was giving a talk about the history of the craft throughout California.
According to Mattson, the saddle making industry was launched in earnest during the gold rush, when Old World New England styles meshed with those from South America for a unique saddle style.
“And San Francisco was the center of it all,” he said.
Mattson was joined on stage by Diane Porter Cooley, who added to the event with a discussion about Pajaro Valley history.
The pair returns Saturday at 1 p.m.
Michael Beck of Santa Cruz said he brought his family to the fair for “all the obvious things” such as rides and food. But he also wanted it to be a lesson. And so his trip included a stroll through the livestock exhibit, which features pigs, sheep and cows and, perhaps more importantly to his twin 3-year-old girls, baby versions of those animals.
“I just want them to see where their food actually comes from,” he said.
The Santa Cruz County Fair runs through Sunday at 2601 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville. For information, visit santacruzcountyfair.com.
