Classic fair fun

Some people go to the Sonoma County Fair for the carnival rides, others to walk through the Hall of Flowers, and still others just can’t wait to bet on the horse races.

But there’s more to this annual celebration than winning a teddy bear on the midway, wolfing down a waffle cone or putting grandma’s prize quilt on display.

Within the larger event, there are smaller, self-contained annual events, each with its own loyal following.

This weekend, the first of this year’s fair, features three classics: the Mariachi band contest Friday, the Sonoma County Blues Festival on Saturday and the Mexican rodeo on Sunday.

CONCURSO DE MARIACHI

Four Northern California mariachi bands — armed with trumpet, violin and guitar — will compete for applause from the crowd and awards from the judges.

Produced by Sonoma County concert promoter and broadcaster Maggie LeClerc, this is a new feature this summer, replacing the Batalla de Bandas (Battle of the Bands) contest for Mexican country-style bands held in past years.

“This year, the fair wanted something a little different, so we replaced the bandas with mariachi,” said LeClerc’s son and assistant, Ben. “It’s a totally different, more traditional sound. When people think of Spanish or Mexican heritage, they think of mariachi right away.”

The LeClercs also will produce two other events during the fair: Batalla de Grupos (Battle of the Groups), a contest for Spanish-language pop music bands on Aug. 1, and La Fiesta, with Ballet Folklorico Inca and Mexican actress and singer Mercedes Castro, Aug. 3.

“For La Fiesta, we definitely get the whole family,” said Ben LeClerc, “because these are big-name acts, and it’s an opportunity for parents to show their kids a little of their culture.”

BLUES FESTIVAL

Longtime local radio host Bill Bowker has been a blues fan ever since he heard Howlin’ Wolf’s “Evil” on the radio as a kid back in the ’50s.

So it’s no surprise he took over the fair’s annual blues fest from former Paul Butterfield Blues Band keyboardist Mark Naftalin back in 1992.

The festival is a marathon, with seven acts playing in seven hours, with only 15 minutes off between bands.

Over the years the festival has built its own following of loyal regulars, with some of them coming from as far away as Phoenix and Reno, so Bowker strives to give them plenty of variety and some different sounds.

The crowd will hear substyles of the blues ranging from the hip-hop and funk influences of the Soul of John Black, to the smooth Southern sound of Mississippi-born Johnny Rawls to the Texas blues of Angela Strehli, an Austin star transplanted to the North Bay.

“This festival is going to expose some of our fans to some things they’ve never seen before,” Bowker said.

MEXICAN RODEO

One of the high points of the fair every year, the Mexican rodeo traditionally has been part athletic event and part musical costume pageant on horseback.

Produced as La Charreada by the LeClercs in the past, the event has been turned over this year to California promoter Raul Rivas and dubbed El Jaripeo Delujo (Rodeo Deluxe).

“This focuses more on bull-riding,” said Sonoma County Fair publicist Marlina Harrison. “You’ve got great big bulls, and these guys get on ’em and stay on ’em, not just eight or 10 seconds, but we’re talking 30, 40, 50 seconds.”

The show also includes three big bands, making it more than a rodeo.

Like the mariachi contest and the Blues Festival, the Mexican rodeo offers something different while appealing to all ages, Harrison said.

“I would recommend all of these shows as great family events,” she said.

You can reach Staff Writer Dan Taylor at 521-5243 or dan.taylor@pressdemocrat.com.