CAMEL RIDES

Fair visitors usually walk over to the livestock area expecting to see pigs, cattle, sheep, goats and other familiar fair animals. And perhaps to enjoy a guilty pleasure, a milkshake at the clover deli. But camels? Returning to the Santa Cruz County Fair, visitors will have the chance to ride a camel, which isn’t exactly something you get to do often if ever at all!

The camel ride track will be located between the Pig Races and the Livestock Show Arena, two or three people can ride one of the camels at a time, depending on the amount of spaces available in the saddle. Rider weight isn’t really a factor for these large animals as they can carry over half of their own weight.

The rides will be atop Dromedary camels, meaning that they have only one hump. Two humped camels are known as Bactrians. The camels you will ride were obtained from domestic breeders in the United States, as camels are no longer allowed to be imported into the U.S.

These camels are taken care of to the highest of ethical standards and are treated with much love. The camels enjoy a diet similar to what many horses eat; grass, hay, and grain. All the camels are extremely docile and enjoy being around people.

Contrary to what many people think, the humps of the camels are not filled with water. Instead, the humps are filled with dense fat. This fat can hold water for up to three weeks, which allows camels to survive for long periods of time without water in the desert. In addition, camels do no spit or bite like many people believe… llamas do that.

The opportunity to ride camels is one more reason why the Fair is unique and has something fun for the entire family.

Cisco Jim

He strolls, he sings, he tells stories and teaches about life in an earlier time here in the west. He’s Cisco Jim, a retired educator who is still educating from atop a horse. You’ll find him roving the grounds daily at the 2021 Santa Cruz County Fair.