San Diego County Fair

About the Business

Specialties

The San Diego County Fair: The summer starts here. The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in San Diego County and the fourth largest fair in North America, drawing more than 1.4 million visitors annually. The 2014 San Diego County Fair begins Saturday, June 7 through Sunday, July 6 (closed Mondays and the first two Tuesdays) and promises to be a rockin' FAB FAIR! We're celebrating the 50th anniversary of The Beatles first visit to the United States of America, sparking the beginning of the British Invasion in music and pop culture, and even influencing today's musicians. Here comes the fun! The Fair offers affordable, family fun and entertainment. Visit our outstanding exhibits - featuring the best in San Diego photography, fine arts, flowers & gardens, gems & minerals - animals big & small, thrill rides, concerts, magic shows, contests, and of course - the pig races.

History

Established in 1880.

In 1880, a group of San Diegans organized an agricultural Fair to bring county farmers together to share ideas, see who had the best citrus fruit, who baked the best pie, and who had the fastest horse. By the 1930s, faced with fairs that struggled each year for survival, voters approved pari-mutuel racetrack betting to help fund the state's agricultural fairs. In 1936 with a state grant, the 22nd District Agricultural Association bought land at the mouth of the San Dieguito River for a county fairgrounds. And so it continues today. The 22nd DAA, an agency of the State of California, still owns and operates the Fairgrounds. Its staff organizes four major annual events, including the annual San Diego County Fair, and runs Surfside Race Place, the year-round satellite horse racing facility. No tax dollars are used; the Fairgrounds is entirely self-supporting. For a detailed history on the Del Mar Fairgrounds and the award-winning San Diego County Fair, please visit our website.

San Diego County Fair also recommends

Del Mar Fairgrounds

341Stadiums & Arenas, Venues & Event Spaces, Festivals

San Diego County Fair says, “Fairgrounds facilities feature 180,000 square feet of exhibit and meeting space, offering full-service catering and event staff.”

Holiday of Lights at Del Mar

75Festivals

San Diego County Fair says, “The Holiday of Lights is the largest animated drive-through light show on the west coast, with over 400 twinkling displays.”