The fair will feature pipe bands, Irish dancers, Scottish Highland dancers and the Ventura British Brass Band.
“It’s actually been a lot of fun,” said Jim Jacobs, who’s organized the fair for nine of the past 10 years. This year the fair has been expanded to two full days. The fair had been a single-day event until last year, when organizers extended it to a day and a half. But vendors found the extra time and expense to set up for half a day wasn’t worthwhile, Jacobs said. Vendors and fairgoers requested that the fair be expanded to two days, Jacobs said. Jacob’s daughter, soprano singer Jill Jacobs, will perform. A theater and opera major in college, Jill performed with Reba McIntyre in March at the Honda Center, Jacobs said.
Also new this year is a Celtic dinner and concert. Jacobs said the Saturday evening event is modeled after the Hollywood Bowl’s offering of preferred concert seating and dinner served by a wait staff. The meal costs $20 and includes an English meat pie, Welsh brown bread and Scottish cookies. There is no charge to attend the concert only.