Week 26: San Diego County Fair

Week 26: June 25-July 1, 2023

It always surprises me when I remember I've lived in San Diego since late 2017. After 6 years, you would think I've done everything there is to do in San Diego. Wrong! That is what is so beautiful and fun about this task I've set for myself this year. There is always something new to do, something new to try, or somewhere new to go.

This week, I went to the San Diego County Fair for the first time. After living somewhere for over half a decade, one should obviously make it a priority to go to their local county fair, and I am so glad I finally did!

I have always LOVED county fairs. There are colorful lights from rides, the smells of smoke and fried food, and the opportunity to see the county's winners for best produce, flowers, and my personal favorite - animals!

Growing up, my family and I would go to the Mendocino County Fair almost every year. My favorite memories include being introduced to the mysteriously delicious dish that is deep fried watermelon, exploring the livestock pens and the continuous smell of hay. It remains so fascinating to me that people can live such different lives from one another. Some people are accountants and live in tiny apartments downtown. In the same county, maybe half an hour away, some people are farriers and visit farms and ranches to care for animals. Then there are some who are produce and dairy farmers, or monster truck racers, and we all live in San Diego County.

Going to the fair this week was a reminder of how fun a mixture of hot tub salespeople, cabbages that won Best in Show, and livestock races can be. Comparing the Mendocino County Fair to the San Diego one, I noticed a couple major differences. First, the San Diego County Fair is way more bougie. It is held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the wealth of San Diego County shows. It even used to be called the Del Mar Fair. Talk to any San Diego local and they'll look at you funny when you call it the "San Diego County Fair," but I guess the county's marketing team wanted a rebrand. Second, the craft vendors were less interesting and the art showcase was harder to find. Finally, the San Diego County Fair had fewer types of animals being showcased, and the petting zoo area was utter chaos. There were camels, though, which I thought was so random and hilarious. We did not buy any camel dairy products due to a long line and screaming children from the petting zoo, but I was very tempted. I've never tried camel dairy products.

A fun addition to the experience was visiting one of the few speakeasies that have been set up at the fair this year. We decided to skip the "Secret Stache," a mustache-themed speakeasy and instead tried the tropical themed one. "Destination Unknown" was on the sixth floor of Grandstand East building, and required a password at the elevator and front door. The password that day was "Roarin' Good Times."

It was not too hard to find, and it was not super exclusive by any means, but the nod to Prohibition-era speakeasies was great. There was a thrill of feeling included in the "in-crowd" and knowing the password. After parking at Torrey Pines High School and taking the free shuttle into the fairgrounds, my friends and I went straight to Destination Unknown first, got one drink, and took the rest of our time to explore the regular part of the fair.

Tickets online for the fair were only $20 for a weekend, adult ticket. I also got a $5 "Passport to Savings" booklet that boasts over $1,000 in savings throughout the fair. I got a free medium sized drink with my chili cheese fries, but decided against using the coupon for "Buy One Get One Free" when I got my Giant Texas-style turkey leg. I could barely finish just half of my turkey leg, but it was delicious.

Halfway through my chili cheese fries, I realized I needed to take this photo

The fairgrounds were separated into sections, and a fantastic map was created to help guide the crowds.

We explored the different areas on the map and tried to see everything. I was quite bummed when we did not find any deep fried watermelon which is a personal favorite, but I can wait until next year. We did see the deep fried classics - Oreos, pizza, Twinkies and pickles. Deciding to save our stomachs, we opted out of actually buying these delicacies and enjoyed them from a distance.

I did find Peppa Pig, however, which was a frightening and thrilling experience

We went around 4pm and left by 9pm. I took this photo on our way out. The gloomy skies of Del Mar were out in full force, despite San Diego proper having wonderful sunny weather just a couple miles south.

Bubbles!

The schedule for the fair this year is June 7th - July 4th. I was so glad I made it to the fair right before it ended. It was well worth the adventure. Next year, I plan to go earlier in the month (and maybe on a weekday to avoid the crowds) to get the full experience. I would even consider going more than once to be able to try other coupons from the savings booklet and maximize stomach space. All the walking around doesn't even begin to balance out the fried foods, but that is all a welcomed part of the fair experience.

See you next week.