Greetings From Wizard of Ahs

Merlin, magic and mythology will mystify visitors to the 2001 Los Angeles County Fair, which opens Friday.

Each year, the fair staff is challenged to come up with a major attraction to top the previous year. This time out, Harry Potter had a hand in providing inspiration for the Castle of Magical Discoveries.

And once again, DynoMAE (formerly Dinomation) has been tapped to assist in conjuring up the animatronic creatures that inhabit the castle. Dinomation created the dinosaurs, giant wooly mammoths and other lifelike creatures for previous exhibits.

This year, dragons and mystical creatures will lurk in the Dragons Courtyard and gargoyles will ward off invaders by funneling water down the clock tower walls. Beware the dragon’s lair, where a ferocious creature lies in wait.

Some not-so-ferocious baby dragons practice their fire-breathing techniques but merely muster a little harmless smoke.

Finding the exhibit doesn’t require any special sorcery--just look for the 43,000-square-foot building that has been transformed by a gray block facade and medieval towers, with a giant wizard looming above the entrance.

The wizard, who sits atop the walls outside the castle, is a favorite of Kathy Wadham’s, whose job it is to come up with the theme for the fair’s main exhibit each year. “He actually talks and welcomes people as they enter the castle,” she says.

Wadham is also proud that the exhibit educates as well as entertains. “It’s learning, cleverly disguised as fun,” she says. “I love that it teaches about science and physics and mathematics. And we do it in a fun way that kids of all ages can enjoy.”

The Chamber of Puzzles and Challenges offers hand-eye and mental challenges, such as the Knight Moves reaction timers and the Hang Time endurance test.

The Chamber of Light includes the Kinetic Energy Wall, an energy conversion device and gravity well.

In Merlin’s Enchanted Laboratory, tunnels, pits and scientific challenges await visitors while other wizards and castle dwellers perform feats of magic and illusion. Kids can learn tricks of the magic trade at the Junior Magicians Academy.

“This is the only place you’ll ever see this exhibit,” says Wadham. “We built it from scratch, so you can’t go anywhere else in the world and see this.”

Beyond the castle walls, the fair offers more traditional attractions, including midway games and carnival rides, home arts exhibits, agricultural competitions, horse racing and headline entertainment.

New this year is the FairView Farms, where visitors can get a look at farm animals, learn the history of citrus farming and see equestrian competitions. The petting zoo, sheep shearing demonstrations, antique farm equipment and beef and dairy cattle barns are all located here.

Over at America’s Kids, housed in its own building, the theme this year is Island Adventure. Kids can discover volcanoes, animals and insects, learn the history of pirates and explore sunken ships.

Headline entertainment for the 2001 fair begins Friday night with War. Toby Keith appears Saturday, and Smokey Robinson will perform Sunday. The popular Monster Truck Extreme returns next Thursday, and Pat Benatar will appear Sept. 14. In time to celebrate Mexican Independence, the Mariachi USA Fiesta gets underway Sept. 15. The Beach Boys and Tower of Power close out the final weekend. For other fair attractions, exhibits and entertainment, check the Web site at https://www.fairplex.com.

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Los Angeles County Fair, 1101 W. McKinley Ave., Pomona. Friday-Sept. 23. Mondays-Thursdays, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; Fridays, 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; Saturdays, 10 a.m.-11 p.m.; Sundays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Information: (909) 623-3111 or https://www.fairplex.com. Admission is $1 on opening day. Thereafter, admission for adults is $12 on weekends, $10 on weekdays; seniors $9; ages 6-12, $6; unlimited ride wristbands $15. Children 5 and younger are free every day. Numerous discounts are offered throughout the fair, including this Saturday and Sunday, when adults get a free ticket to return on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. Adults are $5 after 5 p.m. every Mondays through Thursday.