No Sun City Fair this year; organizer blames Ascarate Park’s condition

After two years of rides, games and plenty of funnel cakes, the Sun City Fair is taking a year off because of the condition of Ascarate Park.

The county owned park has been the site for the Sun City Fair for the past two years.

The fair’s organizer, David Renfro, told ABC-7 the decision was made because blowing dust and sand causes problems for patrons and vendors.

“It gets all over people’s food, it’s all over the equipment, the main stage,” Renfro said. “It’s just an unpleasant experience for the patrons.”

Renfro believes the problem could have been solved if the County paved the lot where the Sun City Fair is held, but the County isn’t ready to make that kind of investment just yet.

Alexandra South, the Marketing Specialist for El Paso County Parks & Recreation, told ABC-7 paving the lot isn’t the best solution right now.

“There needs to be some master planning and funding,” South Said. “There are lots of different possibilities for that space and just paving it might not be the best option for all the different type of events that we want to attract eventually.”

South added the County is working on a plan to improve that particular lot, but right now, the County’s focus is on fixing the restrooms at Ascarate Park.

“That’s been a big issue for us that we’re working on funding and getting together, so that’s something that everybody should see in the next year or so,” South said.

Renfro is open to the possibility of one day bringing the Sun City Fair back to El Paso.

“We love it (El Paso). Unless somebody comes in and fills the void, we’re always going to have El Paso on our minds,” Renfro said.