Many happy returns (to the fair)

Looking at the lineup for this year’s California Mid-State Fair, you might recognize a few familiar faces.

Bob Dylan, who plays Friday on the Main Grandstand Stage, visited Paso Robles in 1986 and 2003. He appeared at the earlier show with 2005’s headliner, Tom Petty. Martina McBride, performing Tuesday, has also played two fair shows. And Leann Rimes was at the very beginning of her career when she played Paso back in 1997; she returned three years ago. She performs once again Wednesday.

Why all these repeat visitors? Could it be the rides, the food, the stifling North County heat? Whatever the reason, many of music’s biggest stars make a habit of coming to the Central Coast each summer.

Among the most frequent visitors are country acts. Alabama, the Grammy-winning band that’s enjoyed more than 30 chart-topping singles, visited the fair seven times on its way to the Country Music Hall of Fame. Greybeard Kenny Rodgers has played the fair an astounding eight times, starting in 1972.

Here’s a partial list of the fair’s frequent flyers, compiled with the help of the Paso Robles Event Center staff.

Eight times: Alan Jackson, Kenny Rodgers

Seven times: Alabama

Six times: George Strait

Five times: Roy Clark, Kenny Loggins, Reba McEntire

Four times: The Beach Boys, Kenny G, Michael McDonald, Styx

Three times: Charlies Daniels Band, Toby Keith, Huey Lewis and the News, Patty Loveless, Tim McGraw, Ronnie Milsap, Smokey Robinson, Randy Travis, Wynonna (once with mom Naomi as The Judds), Trisha Yearwood

Two-timers: Michael Bolton, Kenny Chesney, Creedence Clearwater Revisited, Crosby Stills and Nash, Doobie Brothers, Foreigner, Gallagher, Vince Gill, Merle Haggard, Hall and Oates, Heart, KC & The Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, Dolly Parton, Sandi Patti, Tom Petty, Linda Ronstadt, Conway Twitty, Clay Walker, Weird Al Yankovic, Dwight Yoakam, ZZ Top

— Sarah L.