Sonoma-Marin Fair gets ready to go

Outside of an ability to squeal, "Lady Hoga," "Dolly Porkin," and "Billy Ray Swinus" lack the vocal range of their musical namesakes.

But like any star performers, the pigs enjoy chillin' in their trailer awaiting show time.

So on Tuesday, the hogs of "Ham Bone Express" cooled their hooves in a 53-foot, air-conditioned trailer while workers outside erected carnival rides and food stands for today's start to the Sonoma-Marin Fair.

The pigs will soon earn their bacon, though. At last year's Sonoma-Marin Fair, the potbelly perfomers drew hundreds of spectators to watch them sprint-waddle around a track for the ultimate prize - an Oreo cookie.

"I'd reckon they'd eat about anything, but they've gotten used to them," said Charlie Boger, who has traveled the country offering "the swiftest swine off the line" for seven years.

The hustling hogs are one small part of the 72nd annual event, which runs through Sunday at the fairgrounds in Petaluma. The fair also boasts rides, food-sellers and vendors as well as concerts by acts like Rick Springfield, Tower of Power and The Charlie Daniels Band.

There is also a Demolition Derby, demonstrations by 10 chefs, a text messaging competition and the 23rd Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest.

"The fair is like a thousand events rolled into one," said Vicki DeArmon, marketing director.

Organizers are hope to build on last year's attendance of 60,000. Recent summers have been good for the fair with admission increasing 2 percent each of the past two years. In a down economy, people like a bargain, said Patricia Conklin, the fair's chief executive.

Last year's fair was marred by an accident that severed the leg of a carnival worker who walked onto the track of a moving roller coaster.

Midway of Fun, which operated the ride, was fined after a state investigation found the company hadn't provided the ride operator with training for a situation where someone walks into the path of a ride.

It wasn't determined why the worker moved a 3-foot-tall movable metal gate to get into the fenced area of the ride.

Despite the accident, fair organizers are again using Midway of Fun, saying the accident was not a reflection of the company.

"It had nothing to do with the rides or the operator," Conklin said.