Deep-fried guacamole helps L.A. County Fair attendance rise 6%

Milder summer temperatures and new promotions helped boost attendance at this summer’s Los Angeles County Fair by 6% -- even though the fair lasted four fewer days than last year.

There also was that deep-fried guacamole.

The annual celebration of carnival rides, sinful foods and classic rock bands drew 1,276,817 guests during its 19-day run that ended Sunday at the Fairplex in Pomona. The fair ran for 23 days last year, when it drew 1,204,911 guests.

The fair reported the highest single day attendance since 2007 on Saturday, when the Fairplex welcomed 110,728 guests. Country music artist Jake Owen and Parmalee played to a near-capacity crowd that day.

Organizers of the fair attributed the higher attendance to milder temperatures than last year, a stronger local economy and popular bands, including Train, Chicago and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

“Enjoyable evening temperatures brought out families, couples and friends,” said Jim Henwood, president and chief executive of the private nonprofit Los Angeles County Fair Assn.

In the last few years, Charles Boghosian (aka Chicken Charlie) has been among the most popular of the more than 600 vendors at the fair.

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This year Boghosian introduced deep-fried guacamole. He sold 20,000 orders of the fried avocado-based dip, plus 20,000 bacon-wrapped pickles, 10,000 bacon-wrapped chicken legs and 7,000 Krispy Kreme triple-decker burgers.

Fair attendance may have also been boosted by several discount promotions, including deals with Costco, Ralphs grocery stores, Subway sandwich shops and O’Reilly Auto Parts, according to fair organizers.

To read more about travel, tourism and the airline industry, follow me on Twitter at @hugomartin.