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    San Diego County Fair

    3.6 (1k reviews)
    Open 10:00 am - 12:00 AM (Next day)

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    Headed into Maxwell concert
    Tish W.

    So this was our first time at the San Diego county fair in Delmar. Maxwell was performing so off we went. Plenty of food spots, everything from bacon maple donuts, gigantic fried turkey legs and plenty of funnel cakes. Your choice of food and beverages was plentiful. The concert venue was decent. We met Ms. Kim (concert Kim) who was amazing. She went out of her way for the family so major shout out to her for her amazing customer service. Lastly was the hype crew after the concert where you could dance till your feet fell off. They were great crowd pleasers. We had a really good time and the concert was good. Glad we made the trek down to San Diego. We will definitely come back again.

    Bromeliads
    Jiansen W.

    San Diego County Fair at Del Mar Fairgrounds summer 2025 is serving fun, attractions, food, garden/jewelry/minerals/woodwork/school art displays, livestock viewing, dog/pig racing competitions, and four stages of music. SERVICE Mari at customer care is a compass and guardian angel; she efficiently guided me to my destinations to O'Brien Hall when I got to the fair, to the arena to see pigs and dogs race halfway in my time at the fair, and troubleshot my path to an accessible water station toward the end of my visit. Her knowledge of the schedules, events, and locations and guidance were invaluable to me, and FOOD Although a bit overpriced, there are some interesting items that caught my eye: Hot Cheetos Twinkies smash burger, cotton candy burger, fried frog legs, Mexican funnel cake (cinnamon sugar/white chocolate lavender churros). There is also Foodie Fridays 11am-4pm where finalists half the price of their food 4/5 Smoked Turkey Leg: smoked tender, I forgot about all the tendon attachments on Turkey legs, which wasn't too big of an issue as they fell right off the meat and bone. This is an item I almost always get at county fairs MUSIC ZEDD The crowd was wildly energetic and went crazy at mixed tunes like Selena Gomez/I want you to know, Hayley Williams/stay the night, Ariana Grande/break free, Alessia Cara/stay, Matthew Koma/spectrum, Martin Garrix/follow, Jon Bellion/beautiful now, Maren Morris/the middle, Foxes/clarity. I've wanted Zedd to tour in San Diego when he released his 2024 album Telos, and it's finally happened in 2025. Zedd even remarked he didn't expect San Diego have this much energy, TWICE, and I hope he makes San Diego a tour stop destination a regular occurrence. MESTO Another EDM DJ that has been on my playlists that frontlined for Zedd. Hearing him dish music from others on STMPD records is something I didn't expect to see here in San Diego, but I'm glad I did. BRUNO MARS TRIBUTE 24K magic in the air at the paddock MICHELOB ULTRA STAGE Progressive house music was pla at this stage

    Jason N.

    It will always be Del Mar Fair to me! Regardless I can't say it lived up to my memories and experiences with the fair in the past. Getting the obvious stuff out of the way: Yes, it is expensive, it always has been. Yes, traffic is terrible. Yes, parking is expensive, and a madhouse. Yes, there are tons of people walking around not paying attention to their surroundings. The fair seems much more retail Esque than it used to be. I remember of course vendors selling hot tubs as people would wait to go to the Fair, to get the "special" price, and car manufacturers having their displays of the newest models. What I really enjoyed was going through the halls and going through the vendor after vendor of almost "seen on TV" type of items, the misfit items, the unique curious that one could only find at the Fair, that one time a year. The Salesmen with their new XYZ product and the slick demonstrations, which even though you know they were sleight of hand, still captivating. What I experienced this time, was mostly just retail. Sure, they still had hot tubs, but it almost felt like I was walking down an aisle at Home Depot. Gone were the carny type booths with the "once in a lifetime" deals, or the what the heck is this thing type of products. I guess everyone's experience is different, and they come to the fair for different things. Rides and games were still aplenty, and Food vendors. I have not seen so many food vendors... ever at the fair. Hope all who went enjoyed it, for me it could have been better!

    Pig races
    Ginger P.

    I visited twice in 2025 because I loved it so much! I considered giving it a 4 star instead of 5 just because it's SO. EXPENSIVE. But I actually had so much fun, so I think it still deserves 5 stars. Just make peace with the fact that it's going to be a big spending day before you go. There are so many things I love about the fair: pig races, seeing the farm animals, other free/fun entertainment, the petting zoo, the fair games (I won 3 plushies!) the ridiculous, indulgent, and innovative food the vendors come up with, the art/crafts showcases...there's a ton of things to do! New things we tried this year that were a ton of fun: * Parrot show was super cute & wholesome! * Butterfly enclosure * Lorikeet encounter * Dog acrobatics show * Farmyard follies * Twinkies Flamin Hot Bacon Double Cheeseburger * Funnel Cake Hot Honey Fried Chicken Sandwich The Costco package at the fair is a great value, and if you buy tickets at the fair WELL in advance (like months before the fair takes place) you also get bigger savings.

    Food
    Maria D.

    Thank you Yelp for the tickets to attend the fair this year. It had been a while since I attended the Del Mar Fair (previous name) so was excited. We went early and purchased Preferred parking and were able to park right by the main entrance. It was a lot of fun! Come hungry! There were a LOT of food vendors! Had a hard decision picking where to eat After eating, we then walked inside the shopping building areas. It is always interesting shopping at the fair as there are some unique products you don't get to see normally including beautiful handmade ones. After eating and shopping, we went to the area of hobbies, crafts and photography. Awesome photography to see and it is always fun to see hobby collections. We also saw the gorgeous flowers entered for the contest. We then headed to the "secret" speakeasy by the Arena. There was also lots of food vendors and shopping to do in that area as well. There was farm animals to see on the way and when we got to the arena, there was an off-roading show going on. If you are sensitive to loud noise, be aware as it was pretty LOUD. To get to the Hair of the dog Speakeasy, there is a booth outside where they check your ID and put a wristband on you if you are over 21. Then you walk over to the entrance of the speakeasy and give the "code" and security lets you in. The place is on the second floor and when you walk in, it's beautiful inside and looks over the arena area. It's a nice place to cool down and relax. Overall we enjoyed our time at the fair.

    Brandi P.

    We enjoy going to the fair each year. From the food to the live entertainment there is usually always something to do. It is also a nice escape from the heat during the Summer. A lot of walking and being outside but being so close to the beach there is usually a nice cool breeze. We have had some good times every year at the fair, always look forward to spending a few hours there with the family.

    Paul Ecke Jr., Garden Show
    Margaret A.

    Each year I look forward to the fair. Especially the Paul Ecke Jr., Flower show. https://www.sdfair.com/p/participate/entry/flower-show For some reason unbeknownst to me, the amount of flowers looked like less than half compared to last year. Oh don't get me wrong they are still beautiful to behold and admire. I was just worried there were less contestants. The theme this year focused on pets. The indoor exhibits held a variety of animals to enjoy. I think the animals could have used more companions as a few of them seemed very scared of the people. The dogs seemed the most relaxed as they had many other dog companions. The Paul Ecke Jr., Garden show was fun to look at. It seemed the entrants put a lot of effort and thought into it. My favorite was the interactive exhibit, with fun signs depicting the action. https://www.sdfair.com/p/participate/entry/garden-show After many years of going to the fair we've figured out the best time to go in the hopes of avoiding the crowds. Usually it's the first few days (never the weekend or nighttime) before the kids get out of school. I tend to get too much anxiety (panic attacks) around huge crowds of people. So less is better for me. This year we sat down and listened to a presentation from; Farm Fresh To You. This is a unique concept that includes home delivery from a local farm. You get to pick your box size and which types of fruits, vegetables or farm products (jams, eggs, dairy, olive oil, honey, etc.) you'd like. Personally I like the no cooking box! However if you're unsure what to do with any of the produce they include handy recipes, storage tips and more. https://www.farmfreshtoyou.com

    Deep fried pickles
    Arnel D.

    Another year, another fun time. Lots to see and do all in one place. Today's visit was perfect! Ate and drank a few things and rode a few rides. Parking was easy and paved. The ocean breeze helped to keep the temperature manageable. It was such a beautiful day. 66 degrees was perfect to walk up and down the main boulevard. Though I didn't stay long enough to watch the Reggae Concert, I had a memorable time. Glad I made it out again. Thanks to Costco for hooking a brother up with passed and tickets. I'll be back again for sure before the season is over. Be sure to make it out too! Maybe I'll see you there.

    Feeding Lorikeets
    Nicole C.

    No matter the weather, a trip to the Fair is the best way to spend your day. Packing snacks and drinks, you'll be able to enjoy hours of entertainment. From rides, animals and sights like gems, art and performances it's surprising how time flies. We were treated to golden kiwis too. This visit we missed the swimming pigs and doggie obstacle course. This was the first year they had a dog adoption on site, and it was heart warming to see them getting adopted.

    Junk food!
    Matt K.

    Not the Del Mar Fair for some time, but SD County, still worth going, a nice experience. Lots of dizzying rides, lots of junk food, this year we had healthful food from Roxy Catering, an artichoke sandwich and salad. Brought in a few of our own bottled health drinks. Also had a chocolate covered strawberry cup from TJ's ice cream. She rode the merry go round, and we rode the ferris wheel together and a slightly dizzying ride called I believe, Skyliner. Also played a few games (won nothing). For just these experiences, $70. in tickets. And to get in to the fair, day of, $20. each adult. Went on a Thursday didn't realize that for $50. each could have gone on unlimited rides with the wrist band that is available Wed/Th, but probably just as well would have gotten quite dizzy from all those rides. Enjoyed seeing art and nature exhibits, and the animals both in the pens and being ridden in shows. We were driven to and from by Uber to avoid the hassle of parking, and getting in and out wasn't actually bad on a weekday.

    2019 at the Del Mar fair...when the world was open to living.
    Connor L.

    I've been a regular Del Mar Fair (yes, it is still and will always be the Del Mar Fair!!!) attendee since 1979. The fair means the start of summer and that is the best feeling. I love that after four decades there are still things that I can rely on to be in their exact spot. There are food smells that take me back to being ten years old running between crowds with my friends to get ours. There are sites that and sounds like the Ferris wheel and the call from game booth attendants that overwhelm the nostalgic senses in the best way. The 2025 season was another successful fair season. Mom and I always hit up the fair at least twice. The first time is mostly for the lookie-looing and eating and the second time is for the shopping and eating. I loved the changes to the exhibit halls this year with the different displays in O'Brien on produce and home cooking and the Hollandia milk booth. They had a wine tasting area this year too. The San Diego Marketplace was great too! Found a vendor who makes face and body oils with no fragrance or soy which is so hard to find. The vendor, Alanna, was also super cool. Check out her products at: Herbcrafter's Portal. We spent 7/4/2025, yesterday, at the fair and even caught the parade led by the Marine Corps band and joined by the Del Mar and Solana Beach fire departments. We enjoyed fish tacos and beer for me, artwork and photography display in the Grandstand. Rocked out with the New Orleans brass band, Euphoria, at the Paddock stage. They are excellent! I managed to only buy a few things, things I'll actually use this year. HA! On our way out we grabbed our fudge and cinnamon rolls to get us by until next summer. Del Mar fair: don't stop doing you! Until next year!

    Bridgette B.

    Went to the Del Mar Fair ;-) with my adult daughter. We had a good day together. We went with a very chill mindset with no strict game plan. A very 'go with the flow' excursion for the both of us. *Parking 20 bucks *was gifted 2 media passes valued 20-25 each. *we shared everything so we could sample the food(s) and dessert(s) *looked at the art exhibits - free *people watched and sat and talked with local strangers -free *listened to music-free *wilder show was quite entertaining with crowd involvement. *Chicken Charlie's for the Maui chicken teriyaki pineapple, Dole whip (yes more pineapple), mini doughnuts, and strawberries with Dubai chocolate, and towards the end of the evening we got a regular lemonade with a souvenir cup. Everything was to our liking. *The fair did have souvenir cups for sale at merch stations but not at any of the food/drink vendors spots. Sorry if a drink doesn't come in it I'm opting out of the 10$ Pet~Tacular Fair themed cup. Although I did want one. Oh well. We love monster trucks so we caught the extinguisher giving rides and then we saw the lit up Monster trucks at 8pm. Our final destination was to go on at least one ride. So the Ferris wheel was the ride of choice. The park looked very cool lit up at night! We loaded our ride card with exactly 14 points and it was just under 20 bucks. To go around twice with strangers (cute young couple who probably wanted alone time but we were required for the 4 of us to go together) *used my discover card where available because cash back! Worth it because I pay off as I go. *cute bunnies!!! This type of event needs to be included in your vacation budget planning. Save up in your penny jars so you can just enjoy the very things that you enjoy here. Had good parking karma as the shuttle guy pointed out a great spot for me! Overall we had yet another fun & memorable time here together.

    Pig
    Michelle T.

    Buy your tickets and parking online!! This one of the biggest fair I've been to, there's so much space available and it is not too crowded. Get ready for lots of walking. The freeway to enter was crowded so be prepared for that traffic.

    Yeee

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    Insanely expensive food and serious lack of healthy choices. I used to go but the fair has gone past the point of being enjoyable.

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    11 months ago

    This is a summer must when in San Diego. The food, exhibits and shopping are amazing. Always something new to try.

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    Page 1 of 26

    Ask the Community - San Diego County Fair

    Does anyone know the vendor that sells the Mexican funnel cake? Will they be there this year?

    there was mexican funnel cake there today!!

    Is parking cash only?

    They also accept cards for the parking. General is $17. Preferred is $27

    Can I bring waters and snacks as well?

    I was able to bring my water bottle and snacks.

    Can I bring a back pack if it's clear?? Going tonight?

    Yes of course. It doesn't have to be clear either -- it'll be inspected before you enter the fair.

    How early should I wait in line for the free concert?

    6/2021 No concerts this year :). Downer.

    Does anyone know if they still offer the unlimited ride band or is it just pure tickets now?

    6/2021 No unlimited bands for rides this year. Each ticket is 1.00. Big rides range from 6-8 tickets.

    Does the fair have vegan options anywhere?? No meat no dairy no animal product foods? Asking for friend

    I don’t know about vegan meals but I found this on the sdfair.com site- “Albertsons | Vons, our presenting sponsor, has a food booth for those of you who crave healthy eating… Read more

    View All 8 Questions

    Review Highlights - San Diego County Fair

    Being born and raised in San Diego, I've been going to the fair since it was actually called the Del Mar Fair.

    Mentioned in 112 reviews

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    Encinitas Street Fair

    Encinitas Street Fair

    4.2(44 reviews)
    4.4 mi

    First time going to street fair. I was concerned about…read moreparking since many of reviews mentioned that finding parking is tough. Fortunately we were able to park immediately a couple minutes away from the fair. They had so many venders, we got raw cinnamon honey and hot sauces! Im so excited to try them out especially raw honey! Very family and dog friendly, we spent great time!!!

    A typical California farmers market with 60% fresh grown and local food, 30% arts & crafts and 10%…read morefood booth/trucks. This dynamic is welcomed to most people because they get to socialize and buy more then just fresh fruits and veggies. The only thing I am critical about is the organization of the booth space that allows the flow of people in better safety and comfort. I assume there was some store front push back that wanted 100% of there sidewalk available and clear surfing the market but what that has done has jammed too many people in what is obviously a "narrow space" to walk. It would be a fair and SAFE compromise to use 50% of the sidewalks on each side and adjust back the venders booths giving people 5 feet more in the middle to walk around. It would be easier to do this rather then assume or ask people to not stand around creating bottlenecks or be considerate of others and move like a car on a road. Expect to drive around for parking if you are not local enough to walk to the event and crowding due to the popular area it is in, live music, fresh foods and drinks as well as plenty of unique crafts and clothing.

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    Encinitas Street Fair
    Encinitas Street Fair
    Encinitas Street Fair

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    Del Mar Fairgrounds - Funnel Cake

    Del Mar Fairgrounds

    3.5(380 reviews)
    0.2 mi

    Saturday, 4-25-2026: We came for the 2026 San Diego Spring Home & Garden Show held in O' Brien…read moreHall. I was able to get a discounted parking ticket online at $4.00 off coming to a total of only $16.00. I was able to conveniently upload the ticket in my "wallet" on my phone. There were a lot of vendors present that were geared toward home improvement then there were the other ones who were very pushy hawking skin care. That's not what we came for. We were looking into a water system for our home & hoped to see the folks selling Murphy beds this year. They had an outdoor area with garden items and plants. There were 3 food trucks out there. We shared a delicious cappuccino. We spoke to Life Source Water Systems for a bit & with Verizon. We had switched to T-Mobile and regret it. We may switch back to Verizon. With Life Source we submitted for financing, got approved but changed our minds about the system when we found out they don't eliminate hard water. So, why go with this system and at a $8,000 price tag? It was nice to visit and for it to be in this location in Del Mar. it's a very pretty area. It was odd to see the actual buildings because we usually come here for the fair and the buildings are obscured by tents and kiosks. At any rate the fairgrounds are well maintained & always offer a nice, clean, and spacious venue.

    Amazing exhibit with a huge collection of Banksy pieces, including statues, prints, CDs, and more…read more Some of the works look like replicas of current installations, but it still feels like a very complete and immersive showcase of his art and style. One thing I really liked is that the exhibit lets you move at your own pace. You can take your time with each piece, and there's a lot to look at. There are also several video displays that highlight different locations, events, and specific works, which adds a lot of context to the experience. There's plenty here to keep you busy -- you could easily spend close to two hours if you really want to read everything and take in every detail. The exhibit is located at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, which makes it really convenient to visit. There's plenty of parking and it's easy to get in and out without any hassle. Definitely worth checking out if you're a Banksy fan or just enjoy street art.

    Photos
    Del Mar Fairgrounds - Life Source Water System.  We initially were going to have their system installed but found out they don't eliminate hard water.

    Life Source Water System. We initially were going to have their system installed but found out they don't eliminate hard water.

    Del Mar Fairgrounds - Weathered statues.

    Weathered statues.

    Del Mar Fairgrounds - 2026 dog show

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    2026 dog show

    San Diego International Beer Festival

    San Diego International Beer Festival

    3.0(5 reviews)
    0.4 mi

    +5 stars: You guy redeemed yourself and then some! This…read moreyears event was held at the brand spanking new, "The Sound" concert/events venue. What a delight! More than ample seating for this event and table/ bar top for every chair! Gone are the days of trying to balance your food/ drink on your knees in some crowded rodeo seating. With VIP tickets, my wife and I had access to gourmet food/ snacks,early access to the venue,exclusive offerings from the brewers, and a few cocktails to boot! Very much worth the premium. The venue was much cooler/comfortable than the rodeo area where the fest had previously been staged. A Jimmy Buffet cover band ( sorry folks I didn't catch your name :( ) provided just the right amount of laid back "margaritaville" vibe. If you couldn't have the real Jimmy Buffet, these folks fill the void nicely! When the general beer fest began, it was very easy to walk down the stairs from the VIP lounge to the general fest area. With the ample amounts/variety of food available, we were able to have both lunch and an early after beer fest dinner in the VIP area! This years offering seemed just a little bigger than last years, but the addition of a few distilleries and new venue made for a substantially better time overall. AWESOME!!! The organizers of this fest have raised the bar and set a new standard for beer fests! -1 star Despite the awesome venue and AC amenities, it missed the mark in just a few areas. Signage for the breweries was nice, but unlike previous years, there was no mention of what was being offered at said table. That is, one had to stand in line to get close enough to see if you were even interested in that particular brewers offerings. This made for a lot of wasted time as not everyone was familiar with every brewery and their respective offerings. In addition to having to stand in line only to discover there was nothing my wife cared for( she's not really into IPAs the prevalent offering it seems) but, unlike previous years, there was little representation from the breweries themselves. It seems most everyone behind the tables were volunteers who has little knowledge of what they were serving. I asked what they had to sample and they had to look at the can to see what it was. I asked for the pale ale and had to tell them " the red can" because they seemed to have no clue about what they were pouring. I appreciate someone sacrificing their time to serve beer to a bunch of strangers. I really do. I just miss being able to converse with someone who knows a little about the product and what other beers they have available or coming soon. For these reasons I would subtract a star. Fix these minor issues and it's 5 stars all day long. Overall, a " don't miss this next year" kind of an event. Well done!

    This is the biggest beer fest in San Diego and happens every summer. This is my 4th time here and…read moreI can honestly say that there are better beer fests out there. It's definitely pricier than other beer fests but it does include admission to the fair ($65 general admissions) and comes with 1 oz pours. My friends usually get VIP ($110) which includes a 6oz glass tasting glass and access to free food. I don't think the food is worth it and even with the bigger pours, you can only drink so much in 4 hours anyways. There's tons of breweries that make it out but they're more so normal beers from these breweries, so don't expect any special beers. There's tons of vendors also selling food and merchandise. My biggest gripe about this beer festival is that there are mostly volunteers pouring beers and you don't really get to talk beer with the brewmasters or people from the brewery. Overall, I'd still go to hang out with friends, but it's definitely overpriced if you don't plan on going into the fair at all.

    Photos
    San Diego International Beer Festival
    San Diego International Beer Festival
    San Diego International Beer Festival

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    Del Mar Wine + Food Festival - Fresh Coconut Water

    Del Mar Wine + Food Festival

    4.8(51 reviews)
    2.7 mi

    I've been coming to this event every year since it started and it's my favorite event of the year…read more This year I went both days and had another wonderful time. The food, the vendors, the weather, the location, the libations, and the people who put it all together really make it special. Every year I have a favorite thing that I ate. The first year I had VIP so I won't count the fantastic things I ate in there, but outside it was probably Tanner's and all the Brandt beef. The second year was either an enoki mushroom taco or hamachi crudo. This year it was Matsu's yellowtail flown in from Japan the night before. I look forward to this event every year and every year has been a bit different but I never leave disappointed. Looking forward to 2026

    The third annual Del Mar Wine + Food Festival was held last month at the Surf Sports Park on Via De…read moreLa Valle. The venue was the soccer practice fields of the local women's professional club, the San Diego Wave. Having also attended the previous versions, this year's Grand Tasting weekend was even larger with over 300 vendors and close to 10,000 attendees over the two days. I have volunteered each time to help with different aspects of the festival including some of the ancillary events earlier in the week. One of the benefits of setting up on these grounds was that there was plenty of open space. The walk to reach some of the displays was quite far, and I felt bad at how isolated those vendors were. The VIP tent was placed in the back unlike the inaugural year when it was closer to the main entrance. Another aspect that I appreciated was the nearby on-site parking. The charge was $20 per vehicle, but the proximity was worth the price. They may want to improve the dirt road leading to the lot as it was filled with potholes. An area of needed enhancement was a closer drop-off/pick-up zone for attendees using a ride share service. I witnessed many people being dropped off where the toll booths were located. That meant a walk of over half a mile to reach the festival entrance which was not a good situation for those who were nattily dressed for the occasion. Perhaps a dedicated section located near the vendor entrance on the west end of the fields would be a solution. Upon checking in, we each received a bracelet that permitted in-and-out privileges and a complimentary wine glass commemorating the event. There were several spots that had sofas, chairs, stools, high top tables, etc where you could relax and enjoy the food and beverages. I still think more seating and shade were needed given the amount of unused space that was available. A kiosk near the entrance displayed a map of the grounds with all of the participating vendors listed. The different zones were also shown on the map. What was missing was the identification of which vendors were in each zone. That linkage would have been useful to guide attendees of where to find their favorite businesses. More such kiosks would have been beneficial too. My observation was that the Saturday spread was better than the one on Sunday. The diversity of offerings was also not as impressive this time. For example, we noticed that there were minimal dessert samples offered. Other than Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, where were the sweet treats like cookies, donuts, and pastries? I was also looking for a greater variety of seafood items. I didn't find any vendors using lobster or scallop and yet, caviar was used by a couple of places. The Brandt Beef zone was popular as different meat cuts provided by the purveyor were utilized to showcase the creations of the restaurants. The weather cooperated nicely on each day. A strong breeze kicked up occasionally which made objects (e.g. business cards and pamphlets) that were not secured a risk of becoming a flying hazard at the booths. Several more health and wellness vendors participated including one where you could receive a complimentary stretching session. A live demonstration stage was also added where you could watch chefs show off their skills like carving up a bluefin tuna. Overall, the DMWFF was a nice outdoor exhibition of the local culinary scene that will continue to grow and improve.

    Photos
    Del Mar Wine + Food Festival - It was a good day.

    It was a good day.

    Del Mar Wine + Food Festival - Pechanga

    Pechanga

    Del Mar Wine + Food Festival - Terra Catering offered a Surf n Turf Parfait, with honey glazed shrimp, beef, and potato salad.

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    Terra Catering offered a Surf n Turf Parfait, with honey glazed shrimp, beef, and potato salad.

    Kaaboo - Coconut 8-Ball!

    Kaaboo

    2.2(194 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$$

    Parking sucks, long lines to get in, whole place smells like trash and urine. What's new? Typical…read moremusic festival. Came here for 1 day during the most recent one and it was decent. The admission price was average for a music festival. There are several stages playing different genres of music to cater to everyone. Headliner was decent this year. I thought the sound quality at some of the stages were horrible. The hot air balloon ride was cool. The one wheelie area to try out the newest cool toy was cool. Overall it was a decent experience.

    I waited until after the final day of Kaaboo to give my review as the first day like any soft…read moreopening has some kinks to be worked out. It's the same for a music/food/comedy festival. My review comes from the position as a hang 10 which is the level just below the Ultimate Hang. I had a wonderful time this year and after they got the first day kinks worked out it was great. I was able to get my meet and greets worked in, saw several sets, and had a lot of fun. Hang 10 has their own pit up front plus an on stage platform. This year only one stage had platform viewing. Last year both stages had the platform. We have the opportunity to meet the artists and possibly see them in the Artists lounge. We have up front seating for the Humor me stage set and the side of the Palate n play stage (chefs demos and some music groups). I saw Richard Blias there. We have golf carts with drivers that take us between the stages and valet parking. We have lunch and dinner service and drinks. I cant think of a better staycation than Kaaboo!

    Photos
    Kaaboo - No wine yet...

    No wine yet...

    Kaaboo - CoralReefer Band. +

    CoralReefer Band. +

    Kaaboo - More Dessert.

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    More Dessert.

    Pumpkin Station

    Pumpkin Station

    4.0(48 reviews)
    0.5 mi
    $

    This was our families first visit to this Pumpkin Station Location and it exceeded our…read moreexpectations!!!! Details: Family of 4, two toddler boys ages 3&5 Went on a weekend There's plenty of parking but don't take a freshly washed car, it will get dirty! You enter a giant tent with different sized pumpkins laying on the ground. To the right of the tent outside in the back there are a few more. It's not the most authentic pumpkin patch feel in regards to picking a pumpkin but the rest made up for it. Front and center is a ginormous fake pumpkin designed by an artist, it is for sale for $2000. Would be the ultimate decoration if it weren't so big, it doesn't break down and I don't know if it could handle rain. The cool thing is the artist is on site to design your freshly bought pumpkin!!! The artist, was phenomenal and could shave your pumpkin in 15 min into any design you showed him! It was difficult to communicate with him, but show him your picture and you can expect magic. I will admit we bought a $75 ginormous pumpkin and had our last time shaved I to it bc I had no artistic brain and the kids couldn't agreee on a superhero. It's now covered in mold unfortunately but it was amazing while it lasted! The artist charges $20 no matter the size and there's a tip box he absolutely deserves!! Head out back for all the carnival rides! I guarantee all us parents once rode these at a state fair at some point!!! There was a flying swing ride with the type of swing seats for babies at the park so my 3 year old was ecstatic, there were different bounce houses, a tiny train (if you go online, there's a coupon for a free train ride), a food tent that had hot dogs, burgers, fries and a few more options. Food wasn't super over priced which was great but food was eh. Each ride is 1 ticket. I believe we bought 12 tickets (6 for each kid) and it was $45ish. We spent probably 2 hours here. There's a bunch of hay with the giant pumpkins for sale that I saw many people taking pictures at. There were a few other ok spots for a picture of your kids. Overall, I'd recommend coming here, it's right off the 5, easy to get to, plenty of fun for littles. And it wasn't uncomfortably busy for a weekend.

    This place is L-A-M-E. Don't waste your breath coming here. Go to a farm and skip the "stations" if…read moreyou want a huge selection and more photo opportunities. Just know that the pumpkins come from the farm so there's a scarce selection here. The only pros is that there are quite a bit of rides for small children. It cost $4 per ride or purchase their value pack and it'll come out to $3.33 per ride. You can also print out a free train coupon. Tickets don't expire and you can use it at other locations. You can spot the white tent from a far. It's in the same dirt over flow lot during San Diego Fair season which is located across the street. The pumpkins are in the white tent. Small ones in the center, a few rows of medium and large to your right. Then outside on the hay stacks are a few more irregular large size. Not much to see or any background that's photo worthy. There are two large tents with lunch tables outside to your right. To your left is the play area for kids, two private party tent area, one food truck. Center comprise of portable bathrooms. The pumpkins have sticker prices on them. You can buy craving kits at the counter and popcorn. There are two wheel barrels to borrow for those heavy ones.

    Photos
    Pumpkin Station
    Pumpkin Station
    Pumpkin Station

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    San Diego County Fair - festivals - Updated May 2026

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