Did we print this in the newspaper? I don’t remember it. Well, whether we did or not, here’s the lineup, starting with the return of a much-loved, much-mocked mainstay on opening night:
* War — Friday, Sept. 5
Sugarland — Saturday, Sept. 6
The Doobie Brothers and Grand Funk Railroad — Sunday, Sept. 7
Monster Truck Madness — Thursday, Sept. 11
Smokey Robinson — Friday, Sept. 12
KC & The Sunshine Band with Village People — Saturday, Sept. 13
Jaguares — Sunday, Sept. 14
American Daredevils — Thursday, Sept. 18
The Bangles, Berlin and The Motels — Friday, Sept. 19
Jessica Simpson — Saturday, Sept. 20
Mariachi USA Fiesta — Sunday, Sept. 21
Guilherme Marchi Classic Professional Bull Riders — Thursday, Sept. 25
Charlie Wilson & the Gap Band, Rose Royce and Lakeside — Friday, Sept. 26
LG World Championships of Freestyle Motocross — Saturday, Sept. 27
Lifehouse, Gavin Rossdale – Sunday, Sept. 28
Right now I can see myself going to see the ’80s night (Bangles, Berlin and the Motels), and maybe this is the year I finally go to Monster Truck Madness — although I say that every year. Having seen Smokey at the fair twice already, I’ll pass. Jessica Simpson in Pomona? That might be worth seeing just for the unreality of it.
A friend is totally excited about Lifehouse — she’s only been to the fair twice, and both times it was to see Lifehouse — so I’ve politely avoided letting on that I have no idea who they are.