San Diego County Fair brings retro vibe to Del Mar
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A county fair with an ocean view isn't too bad. Photo: Courtesy of San Diego County Fair
The San Diego County Fair is going retro this year, taking visitors through each decade from the 1950s to the '90s with rides, concerts, competitions and more battered-and-fried foods than one can imagine.
Why it matters: The fair is the county's largest and longest-running annual event, attracting nearly 1 million people to the Del Mar Fairgrounds for this summer tradition.
Driving the news: The 20-day event runs from 11am on June 12 through July 7.
State of play: Enjoy kid-friendly and thrilling, stomach-churning carnival rides and games galore — from the Ferris wheel and rollercoasters to fun houses and bumper cars.
- Animals get in on the fun, too, with pig races, comedic parrot talent shows, extreme dog trick shows and a free-range petting farm with alpacas, wallabies and miniature donkeys.
- Check out the competition at flower and garden shows, along with woodworking, fine art and photography exhibits, plus livestock and robotics competitions.
- Eat your way through the fair with decadent items like the Cap'n Crunch Berry chicken sandwich, Spam fries, caramel apple-cinnamon roll sundaes and crispy Korean corndogs rolled in hot Cheeto crumbs.
The intrigue: Find the disco ball courtyard for a glitzy, pop-up rooftop bar called Destination Unknown.
- A new culinary experience, Farmer in the Del, offers a healthier option with farm-to-fork dining for an on-the-go or sit-down meal.
Worthy of your time: The Toyota Summer Concert Series takes over the fair's biggest stage with iconic performers including TLC, Ludacris, Little Big Town and Smokey Robinson.
- Tribute bands, reggae artists and EDM DJs will rock the stage for the Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series.
- Take in theatrical, glow-in-the-dark musical experiences on Saturdays at the Sound and hear Spanish musical groups on Sundays.
- Plus, the kings of late night — Jay Leno, Craig Ferguson and Arsenio Hall — will bring comedic entertainment to the stage.
Fun fact: The Toyota Summer Concert Series tickets include admission to the fair, while the Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series shows are free for anyone who has a same-day ticket to the fair.
If you go: The fair is open Wednesday-Sunday, 11am-10pm.
- Tickets are $16-$22 but free for kids 5 and under. Pay for rides with BlastPass credits.
- Expect traffic to be backed up at the Via de la Valle exit on the I-5 for the next month.
Pro tips: Save money by buying parking and admission tickets at least 24 hours in advance.
- It's free for kids 12 and under on Fridays and buy unlimited rides for one price on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
- Use public transit for free with Fair Tripper tickets.
Get discounts with a coupon book or at Vons, Albertsons and Northgate Market.