San Diego County Fair 2012
When: June 8 - July 4, 2012
(Closed Mondays, except July 2)
Where: Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard
Del Mar, CA (map)
Phone: (858) 755-1161
24-hour recorded information:
(858) 793-5555
More info: Events website
The 2012 Fair will truly be Out Of This World! Join us next June as we explore outer space — the wonder of the universe and our efforts to explore it, as well as the fun and imaginative world of science fiction and visitors from other planets!
The dates for the 2012 San Diego County Fair are Friday, June 8, through Wednesday, July 4. The Fair will be closed Mondays except for July 2.
In addition, all the things you love about the San Diego County Fair — rides, animals, food and exhibits — will be here again this year.
Fair Exhibits
A big part of county fairs are the exhibits where the best entries receive a blue ribbon.
Design in Wood
Display of fine woodworking features spectacular creations from wood including violins, furniture, and even boats.
Paul Ecke Jr. Flower & Garden Show
Landscaping, floral design, specimen blooms, and plants. More than 50 exhibits of everything from complete gardens to container gardens to educational displays.
Fine Art
An exhibit of two- and three-dimensional artwork in all media. New this year will be a Pachyderm Painting Exhibit. Paintings done by a very talented elephant will be part of a special display in the Fine Art exhibit.
Exhibition of Photography
A display of photographs in black-and-white and color, and a display of electronic art.
Every day, photographers will share their knowledge about photography in a series of Photography Talks.
Gems, Minerals & Jewelry
A display of fine gems, minerals and fossils from all over the world, and finely crafted, one-of-a-kind jewelry.
Animals
A county fair without animals just wouldn't be the same. You can see animals on display, farm equipment, animal shows and of course, the ever-popular Junior Livestock Auction, where San Diego County's young people auction the animals they have hand-raised during the past year.
AgriFair in the Wyland Center has most of the fun, interactive experiences you can have with animals at the Fair, including:
• Sheep and Goat Pasture
• Pig Pen
• Cattle Pasture
• Pets
• Albertsons Super KidsMarket, a kid-sized grocery store where you win a prize for finding all the items on your grocery list
• Poultry, rabbits, cavies and pigeons (on select days; please see schedule below)
Other fun animal programs at the Fair:
World of Horses: Located in the Infield, the World of Horses features 20 different breeds of horses. Free behind-the-scenes tours are offered daily.
Swifty Swine Races: Meet some of the fastest porkers in the West daily in the Durante Area. Several times daily.
Turkey Stampede: This fun and funny show is returning to the Infield! You'll learn all about turkeys while you laugh until your sides ache.
Junior Livestock Auction, Saturday, July 2: One of the Fair's most enduring traditions, the Junior Livestock Auction is the culmination of a year-long agriculture program involving more than 1,000 young people who are members of 4-H, Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Grange.
Rides and Games
It's just not a County Fair without rides and games, and the San Diego County Fair has the best. The Fun Zone has 39 exciting rides, Kiddieland has more than 40, and you'll find nearly 40 different types of games of skill in both locations.
Food and Drinks
Food is one of the main reasons people visit the San Diego County Fair. Not only do we have the traditional "Fair fare," but we also offer some surprising upscale dining and sipping experiences, plus food "events."
Shopping
Shopping is a popular activity at the San Diego County Fair, and it's no wonder: You can find all sorts of products here that you just won't find in stores. We have all sorts of "shopper-tunities," from hair clips to home accessories, "slicer-dicers" to spas.
Concerts and Entertainment
From nationally known entertainers to animal and motorsports shows, the non-stop entertainment, from the time the gates open until late into the night. Most entertainment is free with Fair admission!
The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in San Diego County and the fifth largest fair in the United States, drawing more than 1.2 million visitors each year.
The 2011 fair will run 22 days, Friday, June 10 through Monday, July 4 (closed Mondays, except for July 4). We will continue to add more events and shows to this calendar as we get closer to the Fair's opening date. Please check back often.
Best Pass Ever - Get your ticket for 22 days of San Diego County Fair fun for just $22.00! The 2011 Fair theme is cars, and we'll have car exhibits, demonstrations and contests throughout the Fair. Who doesn't like cars? You'll want to see it all, and with our Best Pass Ever, you can!
Read about Free Parking, Discount Admission and more at the Fair
