San Diego County Fair 2011
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San Diego County Fair 2011
San Diego County's fair features all the normal stuff you would expect to find: garden shows, gadget demonstrations, animal talent and human talent competitions, hobby and craft exhibits, pie-making and pie-eating competitions, carnival rides, talent shows, and live music. All of this happens throughout the picturesque Del Mar Fairgrounds. Suffice to say, a feast for the eyes and ears, not just the stomach.
The 2011 San Diego County Fair will be serving up all the fun this summer from June 10-July 4, 2011. We always say this because it's true. Many people, both locals and tourists alike, still refer to this annual summer event as the Del Mar Fair. A few years back, the Del Mar Fair was renamed the San Diego County Fair in order to capture all of San Diego County, and not just the lovely coastal City of Del Mar. What's New This Year, You Ask? The theme of the 2011 San Diego County Fair is "Race to the Fair." A new theme exhibit, "Cruisin' California," will feature rotating car shows, a NASCAR driving simulator, a "drive" along Route 66 and much more. A couple of new attractions should strike a nerve or two, especially if you are an avid fan of hot dogs, elephants and/or a smoker who has been wanting to quit. Pinks! Hot Dogs from Los Angeles will be opening up a booth this year. If you are a foodie, you know that these dogs are real weiners! Take that, Swifty Swine! The fine folks at the Fine Art area will be setting up a Pachyderm (as in elephants) Painting Exhibit. Paintings will be done by a very talented elephant will be part of a special display. Best of all, proceeds will be donated to charity. Have you been wanting to quit smoking but are at a loss? Why not take advantage of the free smoking cessation hypnosis offered twice at the San Diego County Fair this year? Longtime hypnotist, Mark Yuzuik, will conduct two stop-smoking hypnosis sessions on two Wednesdays, June 15 and June 29, from 3:00 p.m. to -4:00 p.m. in the Turf Club. Best of all, this event is free with admission to the Fair. FOOD, GLORIOUS FOOD! Let's face it, most people go to the San Diego County Fair to sample the food and well, let's be honest, pig out. Fairgoers can take comfort in knowing that there is a lot of ground to cover and a lot of fish to fry at the San Diego County Fair so you will be getting some exercise. Last year, all the rage was about the chocolate-covered bacon and the fried butter. We haven't heard what the latest trend is for this year's fair but we're sure the local press will let us know. Money-Saving Tip: If you really want just a taste of all the goodies available at the San Diego County Fair this year, plan your visit for a Tuesday. We really like the "$2 Taste of the Fair Tuesday" which allows you to graze through participating food vendors' booths and sample a cream puff, a fried zucchini, some freshly fried potato chips, Texas-sized doughnuts, deep-fried Twinkie, etc. Maybe we should just call it "Fat Tuesday"...
San Diego County Fair 2011 Schedule The San Diego County Fair will be open from Friday, June 10, 2011 through Monday, July 4, 2011. The Fair will be closed on three Mondays: June 13, 20 and 27. Take note of that since you wouldn't want to waste the gasoline. Hours of operation vary according to the day of the week. Weekday admission is at 11:00 a.m. and weekend admission is at 10:00 a.m. The gates close at 10:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and at 11:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The Fairgrounds close at approximately 11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and at Midnight on Friday and Saturday. Be sure to use this handy calendar of events to help you select which days you would like to attend the San Diego County Fair. Special Event Days Tuesday, June 14: $3.00 Tuesday. Fair admission for just $3.00. Tickets available ONLY at Albertson's|Sav-on locations. Tuesdays: Kids' Day (kids 12 and younger admitted free) and Taste of the Fair Tuesday (taster portions for $2.00 at most food booths) Wednesdays: Pepsi Pay-One-Price Ride Day Thursdays: Pepsi Pay-One-Price Ride Day and Seniors' Day Sundays: Día de la Familia (Mexican-themed entertainment and activities). Regular Admission Prices for 2011 (please note that these are the same prices as last year) Adults, $13
Ages 62 and older, $7
Ages 6-12, $7
Ages 5 and younger, FREE Note: If you want to save $2, purchase your admission ticket at Albertsons before you get to the San Diego County Fair. Discounts on Admission Save the Most Dough on Tuesday, June 14, 2011- If you only plan on going to the San Diego County Fair once, have we got a deal for you. If you really want to see how low you can go, go to the San Diego County Fair on Tuesday, June 14, 2011 when the admission tickets will only set you back $3 per adult. Plus, kids get in FREE on Tuesdays, including June 14th. But wait, there's more! Tuesdays are also the special $2 Taste of the Fair days. June 14th is THE day to save money at the Fair and have loads of fun! The only catch is that you must purchase the special $3 admission tickets at participating Albertson's supermarkets. 22 Days for $22 - This offer proved to be so popular last year that the folks at the Fair have brought it back this year. If you really LOVE going to the San Diego County Fair and want to go more than once, strongly consider purchasing the Best Pass Ever, a Fair Season Pass, for only $22 per person. The special pass will get you into the fair for all 22 days. What's the catch? Sales of the Best Pass Ever will end at Albertsons stores on June 9th. You can buy the Best Pass Ever online or at the Del Mar Fairgrounds box office. Unemployed? Have They Got a Deal for You! - If you have been unemployed in the last 12 months and have paperwork to verify that, you can come to the Fair free and bring a guest on Tuesday, June 21 and 28. This offer of two free Fair tickets also is available for "Golden State ADVANTAGE" card holders. Military Discounts - Military discount tickets for the 2011 San Diego County Fair will be available at all San Diego County military base ticket offices starting at the beginning of June. Family Value Pack - A family of four can save a lot of money by purchasing this value pack for $51 which is a 43% discount. The package includes 4 adult admission tickets, 4 drink coupons, 20 ride coupons, and 1 parking pass. Please note that packages sold online after June 10 will not include a parking pass. Ride Lover's Pack - For only, $39.95, you can ride until you can't take it anymore. This special package includes one adult admission, one drink coupon and 50 ride coupons. Please remember that 50 ride coupons does not mean 50 rides since some rides take multiple tickets. If you love the rides at the San Diego County Fair, this package is just what you want to purchase. Discounted Ride Coupons - If you love the rides, but don't want to spend the $39.95, you are in luck. For $15, you can buy a sheet of 25 ride coupons. This package includes 25 ride coupons and will NOT be sold on the Fairgrounds after June 9th. San Diego County Fair 2011 Summer Concert Series The other reason many people flock to the San Diego County Fair is to see the big musical acts that pay a visit to our fair San Diego. "Heart Breaker", Pat Benatar, kicks off the concert series with her band on the opening day of the Fair. Most of the concerts are free with your paid admission to the Fair and most of them begin at 7:30 p.m. This year, the concerts that require tickets in addition to fair admission include Bruno Mars, Melissa Etheridge, Mercy Me, Willie Nelson, Travis Trittand Jenni Rivera . Concert early line-up and admission is allowed for people needing assistance. Please let the Ambassadors (staff in blue shirts or jackets) or Fair staff know that you need assistance. San Diego County Fair Parking $10 per vehicle ($15 for RVs) in the Fair's paid parking lots. Accessible parking is provided in the main parking lot off Jimmy Durante Boulevard with paid parking admission of $10. FREE parking, FREE shuttle service and ACCESSIBLE transportation, are available every day of the San Diego County Fair at the Horsepark Equestrian Center (14550 El Camino Real), just two miles east of the Fairgrounds. The daily shuttle service for the public begins at 9:00 a.m.. Buses operate until midnight, except for Friday and Saturday night, when they operate until 1:00 a.m. Two off-site lots that offer FREE shuttle service to the San Diego County Fair are available only on weekends, July 1 and July 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 a.m. The two off-site lots are: MiraCosta College's San Elijo Campus (3333 Manchester Avenue in Cardiff) and Torrey Pines High School (3710 Del Mar Heights Road in Del Mar). Preferred parking is offered close to the Fair's main entrance for $15 per vehicle (no motorhomes). To reach the preferred parking area, drive south on Jimmy Durante Boulevard past the entrance to the main parking lot and follow the signs. Motorcycles have a separate parking area in a small traffic circle on the north side of the main parking lot. The cost to park a motorcycle is $10. CASH ONLY. Guests with Disabilities and/or Service Animals Guests with disabilities are permitted to bring in motorized scooters with three or more wheels to be used as a mobility device. Wheelchair & electric scooter rental locations are at the O'Brien & Arena Gates. Accessible entrances to the Fair are the O'Brien and West Gates. The O'Brien Gate is closest to accessible parking and off-site parking lot shuttles. The West Gate is where the North County Transit District buses stop. If you have a caregiver attending the San Diego County Fair to give assistance to you, that person will be admitted at the admission gate at no charge with the paid admission of the disabled person. There is also a private restroom large enough for a wheelchair plus a caregiver at Guest Services. Although pets are not allowed at the San Diego County Fair, service animals are welcome at the Fair. When your service animal needs to relieve itself, please look for the signs designating the locations: on the west side of Bing Crosby Hall, between the hall and the Seaside Pavilion; and in the Sparkletts Water Infield by the restrooms near the racetrack. According to the San Diego County Fair organizers, reasonable accommodations for most services can be provided with at least 72 hours of notice. If you have any questions, please contact Amy Billburg at (858) 792-4217 or abillburg@sdfair.com. What to Bring and What Not to Bring to the San Diego County Fair Please leave your cigarettes, pets, weapons, diet, frustrations, and alcohol at home. Feel free to bring your own food (for dietary or other reasons) and ice chests/coolers, and by all means, your strollers to the San Diego County Fair. Most of all, wear comfortable walking shoes, a sun-hat, and bring your SPF 25, patience and a good attitude. Why? Thousands of people come to the Fair and a friendly smile goes a long way. It's all about having fun. HAVE A WONDERFUL TIME AT THE SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR!
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