BAKERSFIELD, Calif.(KBAK/KBFX) — The Kern County Fair is set to open on Wednesday, and organizers are emphasizing safety as they prepare to welcome thousands of guests. Chelsey Roberts, the marketing director for the fair, highlighted the rigorous safety measures in place for the attractions.
“There’s such strict guidelines that they have to follow to make sure that everything’s safe and, you know, good for our community,” said Roberts.
Butler Amusements, the fair’s carnival provider for over two decades, is known for its reliability. “They are such a great carnival company. They’re really the best out there,” Roberts said, noting their adherence to strict inspection protocols.
Preparation for the fair begins weeks in advance, with rides being delivered and assembled. Despite the complexity, Roberts described the process as efficient. “It’s crazy, the engineering that goes into these rides. They make them so that they fold up really nicely on a trailer to travel, and they kind of just pop out really fast as well,” she said.
Once assembled, the rides undergo inspection by state inspectors and are checked daily for safety. Roberts emphasized that safety is a shared responsibility, with guidelines posted outside each ride. “Each ride requires a certain height to keep the guests safe, and then each specific ride also has certain safety requirements that you can usually find posted outside those rides,” she said.
Roberts confirmed there have been no accidents due to ride malfunctions, attributing any incidents to guests not following the rules. The fair has previously attracted over 350,000 guests, and similar attendance is expected this year…