Rainy days at the Big Fresno Fair doesn't dampen spirits

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Thursday morning dark clouds filled the sky over the Big Fresno Fair and raindrops puddled on food stands and across the grounds.

Fair officials say they're used to a changing forecast every year. "it washed everything off, it made everything perkier and really we're ready to go," said Lauri King, Deputy Fair Manager.

King says the rain left cleanup crews sweeping up water instead of dirt. But the biggest impact came at the racetrack . "When this storm rolled in about 3 a.m., our track master heard it and we had a crew out there sealing our track and what sealing our track means is making it a hard surface, water runs right off of it," said King. The water ran off, but morning practice was canceled. King says the race was still set for 1 pm.

The rain didn't seem to bother the hundreds of kids who took over the fair for Education Day. The weather was a welcome sight for gold panners. Vision Cloud, Gold Gulch Adventures, said, "We play in the water, so what if its wet. I just get to have a little more and a little quicker than the kids." Some kids got a chance to learn inside, away from the elements.

Although the morning started off cool and cloudy, it turned out to be a beautiful day for the kids and many fairgoers. And maybe that rain will bring good luck to the duration of the Big Fresno Fair.