Been craving a deep-fried Oreo cookie all year but didn’t know where to find one? Well, wonder no more. The San Diego County Fair is returning June 10 through July 4, and this year it promises to serve up much more than just your deep-fried snack treats that may or may not come on a stick.
“Anybody who likes to have fun should come,” said Steve Miller, a San Diego County Fair representative.
Since the theme of this year’s fair is “Ride the Tide to Fun,” it will feature entertainment and exhibits on water and marine life issues. This year, the fair has partnered with world-renowned artist Wyland, whose marine life murals appear around San Diego. Wyland will be at the fair June 10 through 17, painting one of his “whaling wall” murals on the east side of the AgriFair Building, one of two new permanent structures at the fairgrounds that will be dedicated this month.
Wyland will also hold daily activities for children, during which they can paint alongside the artist while learning about conservation and environmental responsibility. Miller said that Wyland, known as an “environmental artist,” frequently works with children to promote environmental awareness at a young age.
The thread of respecting the environment is woven throughout the fair. In addition to a Straw Bale House and exhibits on environmentally friendly building, there will be solar electric-power demonstrations, a natural fiber fashion show on June 10, and the seventh annual Enviro Fair during opening weekend.
The Surfrider Foundation is also offering free fair tickets to the first 200 volunteers who show up for each of their beach clean-up days:
“¢ Saturday, June 10, at Fletcher Cove in Solana Beach at 9 a.m.
“¢ Wednesday, June 21, south of the pier in Oceanside at 6 p.m.
“¢ Wednesday, June 21, Mission Beach at Belmont Park at 6 p.m.
“¢ Wednesday, June 21, at Crystal Pier in Pacific Beach at 9 a.m.
Also new at the fair this year will be several features, including a daily bathing suit fashion show tracing the evolution of the swimsuit, a daily dueling pirates high-dive show, a sea life encounters exhibit, daily Chinese martial arts shows, and the Viva El Mariachi! Festival on July 2.
As always, a variety of musical acts will perform at the fair, including a new mid-week, late-night Paddock Concert Series. The concerts start at 9 p.m. and will feature blues on Tuesdays, classic rock on Wednesdays and jazz on Thursdays.
As far as fair fare goes, some of the classics ” like Aussie Potato Chips, funnel cake and turkey legs ” are returning this year, along with some new additions like Pork Chop on a Stick, Frito Bowls, deep-fried avocados and deep-fried green olives. San Diego Medical Services Enterprise, the City of San Diego’s 9-1-1 paramedic program, will be providing emergency medical services for the fair and will be conveniently located near some of these food vendors.
There are several ways to save on admission to this year’s fair. Buy your tickets for opening day at Ralphs grocery stores for $1 with any $10 minimum purchase. Ralphs also offers $2 off admission with any $10 minimum purchase the rest of the fair.
A family “Fairtime Value Pack,” which includes admission tickets, drinks, rides for four people and a parking pass, is available for $43 if purchased before the fair at the fairgrounds box office, San Diego IKEA or online at the fair’s Web site. Discount military tickets are also available at all San Diego military base ticket offices.
The San Diego County Fair is the largest event in San Diego County, and the sixth largest fair in the U.S., drawing more than 1.2 million visitors annually.
The fair is closed on Mondays except July 3. Gates open daily at 10 a.m., exhibits close at 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and at 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The carnival “Fun Zone” area closes daily at midnight.
Admission is $11 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 12 and adults 62 and older, and free for children under 5. The Del Mar Fairgrounds is located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar.
Free parking and shuttles are available, in addition to parking on the grounds for $8.
Information on these and thousands of other events and exhibits is available at (858) 793-5555 or www.sdfair.com.

San Diego County Fair
Summer Concert Series on
the Grandstand Stage
(Note: some concerts require a separate ticket):
“¢ Sinbad (June 10)
“¢ Los Tucanes De Tijuana (June 11)
“¢ Rick Springfield (June 13)
“¢ Bo Bice (June 14)
“¢ Daryl Hall and John Oates (June 15
“¢ Ozomatli (June 16)
“¢ CeCe Winans (June 17)
“¢ Voces del Rancho & Valentin Elizalde (June 18)
“¢ Triple Threat Tour: BlackHawk, Little Texas, Restless Heart (June 20)
“¢ Tracy Lawrence (June 21)
“¢ Heart (June 22)
“¢ Styx (June 23)
“¢ Reggae Day with Steel Pulse, Third World, Boom Shaka (June 24)
“¢ Grupo Montez De Durango Y La “¢ Banda Machos (June 25)
“¢ Melissa Etheridge (June 27)
“¢ Smash Mouth (June 28)
“¢ Lifehouse (June 29)
“¢ Teddy Gieger (June 30)
“¢ Kenny Loggins (July 1)
“¢ Viva El Mariachi Festival (July 2)
“¢ Carrie Underwood (July 3)
“¢ KC and the Sunshine Band
(July 4)

Paddock Concert Series
Lineup-Finish Line Stage in
the Paddock at 9 p.m.
“¢ Bonerama (June 13)
“¢ Blue Oyster Cult (June 14)
“¢ Hiroshima (June 15)
“¢ Little Charlie & The Nightcats (June 20)
“¢ Fattburger (June 22)
“¢ Guitar Shorty (June 27)
“¢ Led Zepagain: Tribute to Led Zeppelin (June 28)
“¢ Nils (June 29)
“¢ Bill Magee Blues Band (July 4)

“Solid Gold” Concert Series Lineup-Washington Mutual Showcase Stage-Thursdays,
11 a.m. and 1 p.m.
“¢ Davy Jones of the Monkees (June 15)
“¢ The Shirelles (June 22)
“¢ The Ventures (June 29)