The San Diego County Fair is returning to the Del Mar Fairgrounds June 8 to kick off the summer with its festive traditions and several new attractions. In addition to favorite stationary rides such as The Tango and The Extreme, and other roller coasters popular with the 1.2 million visitors drawn to the fairgrounds each summer, the fair has added many events to this year’s program under the theme “Salute to Heroes.”
Primarily, the fair will salute local and national heroes by dedicating each of the event’s 22 days to a different category of hero, from lifeguards and paramedics to scientists and veterans, who will be celebrated at the fair’s culmination on the Fourth of July. The fair has also expanded its Hometown Heroes program to give San Diegans a chance to nominate local heroes to participate in a July 4 parade.
With three performance stages, the fair promises its visitors ongoing musical acts. This year’s lineup includes comedian “Weird Al” Yankovic performing on June 13; Cash’d Out, a Johnny Cash tribute band performing on July 4; and the alternative rock band Gym Class Heroes, who will open the fair June 8. Country, mariachi and reggae groups will also perform throughout the run on special Festival Days.
Besides crowd-drawing days such as Reggae Day June 9 and the Gospel Festival June 23, Kina Paegert, information manager for the Fairgrounds, said the Action Sport Expo will excite visitors on the weekend of June 22 through 24. The Action Sport Expo will showcase a variety of off-road vehicles and live music.
“It’s a great weekend to come ” it has local bands built in and every type of off-roading,” Paegert said. “It will be a huge, very popular section of the fair.”
Another area to undergo remarkable changes is Kiddie Land, the fair’s child-friendly, outdoor ride zone, whose infield location has been completely redesigned and designated a no-smoking zone for the first time.
“We wanted to give it a fresh look, and we’ve added unique, fun elements,” Paegert said, referring to worm races and a turkey stampede, among others. “This is one of the funniest shows “¦ all will want to see it regardless of age.”
Families may also visit the “Agrifair,” a petting zoo located at the Wyland Center, whose goal is to impart environmental and agricultural messages in addition to showcasing pigs and sheep.
With a nod to the fair’s pastoral history, the Agrifair is “focusing on what the fair was originally based on, agriculture,” Paegert explained.
This year, the fair will highlight another satisfying tradition: the food. Visitors can sample french fries, funnel cakes and other goodies offered along the vendors’ rows during Taste of the Fair Tuesdays. On these days, vendors will sell smaller portions of a wide range of their foods for $2 each. Fairgoers should also look out for surprising new items, such as rattlesnake chili, fried cola and deep-fried avocados.
To transport visitors to and from the fair, free shuttles will make frequent runs to the Solana Beach Train Station on weekdays and weekends. On weekends, shuttles will also stop at several off-site parking lots reserved for the fair, including the Del Mar Show Park and Mira Costa College.
The fair will run from Friday, June 8 through Wednesday, July 4, but it will be closed on the first three Mondays and the first two Tuesdays of June. Ticket prices range from $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 6 to 12 and seniors ages 62 and older, and free for ages 5 and younger. For specific hours and information, visit sdfair.com/fair.