This is my 3rd time at San Diego Fair and it is one of my favorites. Parking is super close to the entrance. We had ViP parking which was confusing to find but once we did it was steps from the O'Brien gate. They have moved to online ticket purchase. They have multiple tablets to purchase tickets. I loved the theme this year of storytelling. They also had several speakeasy stationed throughout some were "secret". I'm glad I discovered the loose caboose. We had to ask the info booth about some of these hard to find speakeasy. The Loose Caboose was the hardest to find. You have to find the gentleman at the Loose Caboose kiosk. He then gave me a wrist band and I had to follow the tracks up the stairs to the speak easy. The decor was on point. The view was over the stadium. My best favorite speakeasy was the Destination Unknown. Again, you have to ask staff. The check in was at the ticket booth of the stadium. Then you have to take an elevator and walk a bit to a tropical lounge. It was beautiful. I love the options for food stalls this year. There's so many you don't know what to eat! I loved the entertainment options. There's always something to do. The garden show was beautiful this year! read more

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I've gone to the fair multiple times since moving to San Diego and it always surprises me how big it is! The fun I have here varies year to year, but going on event specific days helps make it better. The prices can get crazy depending on what you want to do. My guy and I tried out their unlimited ride pass this year and it was definitely worth it! We had lots of fun and got to try a bunch of the rides. Every time I go, I find one stuffed animal I want to win so I can play some of the carnival games. I really wish it wasn't soo expensive to play the games because they're really fun! The Cherry Dole Whip and BBQ Chicken in a Pineapple are some of my fave food items to get! read more

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Had a great time at the fair this year! With the weather being so hot we figured it best to head here for the latter half of the day! I think it would be just as busy no matter what time you go. We had some great food, as always! Loaded barbacoa french fries and strawberries n creme funnel cake :p SO YUMMY Some changes were made with how you pay for rides n tickets. Everything is loaded on a card now, which for us was not ideal. We had 1 or 2 credits on there that ended up going to waste because the system is just not as flexible as before. Rides were all fun and the staff managing them were very nice & speedy ! My favorite ride year after year is CRAZY MOUSE! Definitely a fun time, hope to make it back again next year :) read more

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It does seem a little late to review the 2026 San Diego County Fair, but here goes. We went this year for the first time post-COVID. It was a fun afternoon. There were more food options than I ever remember, and more places to actually sit and eat. We took advantage of several shows while we were at the Fair, including Pig Racing ... it was a hoot! Another thing we used for the first time was the free shuttle service from a remote parking lot (also free) at Torrey Pines High School. It was well organized. We'll use it again in future years. read more

San Diego County Fair - Senior Admission Ticket (2026) - Festivals Near Me - Del Mar, California

Every other year or so we like to attend the San Diego County Fair. We choose to attend based on the events such as; wine pairing dinners the secret speakeasy of the year or the concerts being offered This year was my favorite ,primarily due to the AJR Bros. performance. We chose to be on the floor GA this year. It did not disappoint as there was plenty of room to dance at this high energy show. The bars were close by to grab a local Cutwater cocktail. If you attend enough events here you get a lay of the land and learn what there is to do.. We don't go for the games, food or rides. There is something here for everyone. I love that we went out with a " Bang" at this 4 th of July 2026 county fair. #SanDiegoCountyFair #AJR #DelMarFairgrounds #Bang read more

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I try to catch this fair every year. Of course who doesn't love the food. I actually got a chance to get my frog legs this time. Don't judge. Taste Like chicken lol. The fair has so much going on to keep you busy. Loved the monster trucks and motor sports. With so much more to keep you busy. Now for some reason. For parking and to take the exit to the park. We were in line for 90 minutes. Now this was the Friday before the fourth 2026 but That still was ridiculous. If I hadn't pre-purchased our tickets. I would have say no way. If you can avoid the holiday time. I highly recommend. Being a tourist. I really didn't have a choice. Nevertheless the fair was so much fun!! Can't wait to return next year!! 2027 read more

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​We had a great time at the fair! We decided to go on the last Sunday it was open, and it was absolutely the best decision...especially with two kids. We enjoyed practically no wait times, caught all the shows, and navigated smaller crowds. No one felt overwhelmed, and we had zero meltdowns! The pig races were so cute, and I loved their names. ​My only critique about fairs in general comes down to the food taste, serving size, and pricing. ​The Good: Some places were spot-on with quality and had very comparable pricing. You really can't go wrong with the treats here! ​The Misses: Other food spots felt like price gouging for extremely sub-par quality. In those cases, the smaller serving sizes didn't even matter because the food tasted so bad anyway. ​The food overall was a bit of a gamble, and I definitely chose wrong on the main meals. That said, there are plenty of options available, so I'll just be sure to read more reviews beforehand next time! Make sure you pay attention to credits used when you tap the play card. I was missing credits when I calculated rides/games and credits required. I think some attractions charged incorrectly. read more

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Our trip to the fair started at Torrey Pines High School where they had free buses to the fair. Once there we checked out the exhibit hall by the entrance. This year's theme was Once Upon a Fair. We saw a bunch of fairy tale themed exhibits. Afterwards it was time for snacks. I went to the Breads of the World vendor and had Indian Fry bread with powdered sugar. There was a heavenly scent of fry bread right out of the fryer. I love the texture which was crispy on the outside with some softness inside and the flavor of the fried dough. Powdered sugar added a nice sweet flavor. We also had some lemonade from Hot Dog on a Stick. Loved the mix of sweetness and sour lemon flavor. We looked at art and crafts. We took a break and had some pan fried chicken. This year they added jerk chicken to the menu. I tried a piece and while it was tender and moist the flavor was just ok. Pan fried chicken had crunchy batter while the meat was tender and moist. I loved the pan fried flavor and seasoning from the batter. Next Maggie bought some plants from the vendor we see every year. It's tough picking just a few small ones as there is limited space on our patio. Lastly we checked out the plants and flowers at the garden show. As always we saw lots of lovely flowers. I love to stop and smell the roses as each one has a different scent. We had a great time and look forward to visiting again next year. The fair is the only place I've found in town to get Indian Fry bread and pan fried chicken. read more

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If you enjoy fairs the way my family and I do, you'll enjoy this fair. Held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, this fair is huge, though not as big as the LA County Fair in Pomona, CA. This is still a very big and well-organized fair. Parking is available within steps of the entrance in the reserved section for $60.00 per vehicle. Other lots offer parking at half the price, but they require you to do quite a bit of walking. The fair offers so much to see and do. All of the exhibits are free, as are a few other items; however, you will have to pay for just about everything else. Food prices, similar to other fares, are on the higher side. The indoor shopping areas where my family and I spend most of our time at fairs offer much-needed household items, and other knick-knacks we can do without but end up buying for unknown reasons. This fair was fun, exciting, and we definitely plan to return next years read more

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The 2026 Once Upon a Fair season was spectacular! After almost five decades I still love the fair and attend every season. This year we bought the season pass, again, (I do wish there was a parking season pass) and we visited four times. Had a wonderful time each visit. Strolled around and window shopped. Sat and ate and watched magicians, jugglers, and musicians...oh my! We watched demonstrations and got sucked in and purchased gadgets. We sampled cold Culligan Water and appreciated blown air. We watched people young and old on rides, screaming and laughing their heads off. I bought dresses and lip balm, t-shirts and candy, and pictures, pictures, and more pictures. It was a wildly successful summer season that I enjoyed even with my injury and discomfort. See you next year, Del Mar Fair! read more

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The theme this year is storytelling; 'Once Upon A Fair'. They have a building dedicated to popular stories and authors from around the world. The annual theme's started in 1980. During the fair's 100th celebration. The very first fair was in 1880. Designed to bring local farmers together and share ideas. A few of my favorite things this year: Flower show, craft artwork, quilts, plant shop and garden show. This year I picked three small plants to take home from Green Acres Nursery, Inc. Desert rose, thyme and jacaranda tree. Each plant I've purchased from Vivian over the years has flourished. So I always know whatever I pick will be a good choice. I look forward to next year! read more

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The San Diego County fair is still the cleanest and most family friendly county fair in Southern California. However, this time the fair was pretty empty and nobody was riding the rides, even on a Saturday. It looks like prices have gone up even further from last year, with most rides lasting less than two minutes while costing an average of $10 for a single ride. The carnival games also cost $10 to play a single round (like ring toss) and are rigged so hard it is more or less impossible to win. it's really not fun in that kind of environment, nor is it family friendly. I hope they take notice and change something because the fair is not really an affordable good time like it used to be. They still have cool fair stuff with many different tradeshow vendors, the deep fried food, and giant turkey legs. But with prices so high for every single thing, nobody's really buying. If you pay in advance on the website, you can save a few bucks on tickets and parking. They also have discounted tickets at Vons and Albertsons. Overall, five stars rated down to three because of the excessive cost and simple gouging that is going on. read more

EDM DJ Marshmello and Melissa Brooks at Shrek Rave rocked the night time crowds this year at the San Diego County Fair June 19. This follows Zedd's 2025 performance. read more

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Thrills, chills, and spills! Treats, magnificent feats! Food, drinks, and sides! Burgers, ice cream, and fries! Beers , cheer, and atmosphere! Style, grace and happy face! Great time, people watching, visiting exhibitions. The fair is amazing! read more

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This is such a fun event! There were so many interesting foods to try--crazy hot cheeto burgers, fried oreos, dippin' dots root beer floats, pickle pizza, and just tons of random fun stuff. The variety was wild. The rides were actually really fun too. The raptor and crazy mouse brought back all those fair memories and were surprisingly thrilling. I liked wandering through the shopping areas, but I especially enjoyed the garden area, geode exhibits and the art shows. I wish I had planned my day a little better because there were food contests and other events I missed. If you time things right, you can really see and do everything. Also, don't skip the speakeasy hidden through the art show area. Such a fun little surprise. Definitely coming back! **Preferred parking is right next to the venue. Pass all the different parking available areas and as close as you can get to the entrance there are orange flags! Lots of parking! The food is on the pricey side-- check out foodie fridays where the 18 Fair-tastic Finalist Foods will be offered at HALF PRICE from 11am-4pm. Bring lots of sunblock and your water bottles! read more

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The San Diego County Fair is an absolute staple of my childhood. In fact, I still refer to it as the Del Mar fairgrounds. I have so many memories coming here as a kid, and now I get to make new memories with my own family. Fan favorites are Chicken Charlie's, Apollos Greek, Australian Battered Potatoes, West Coast Weenies and Lillie B's Mini Donuts!!! My kidz are all about the rides! Costco has a great deal that includes (4) general admissions, (1) parking pass, (1) coupon book, and (40) ride tokens for $99. It's an absolute steal $$$. On Wednesdays and Thursdays for the price of $55 per person you can ride unlimited. That's a great bargain $$$. As for me and wifey, we enjoy looking at all the exhibits under the white canopies and shopping at all the vendor tents. We literally spend hours looking at all the great infomercial products! Overall, it's a great place to pass the time and enjoy some great food, shopping, rides, and become a kid again! read more

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Another year at the fair... I came, saw and conquered without breaking my wallet. Rode rides, ate amazing food and visited all the attractions without growing any calusses on my feet lol Bacon, churros, ice cream sandwiches and endless beer. Always a good time. Has been since I've started coming here as a kid. Now that I have my own kids, it makes it more fun, pricey yet priceless. The looks on their faces when they see something new. The toe ring that had to be adjusted to fit, the free Chevrolet T Shirt I received by providing a bogus email and the smell of livestock... Its all fun and worth the trek from the parking lot and the wait in the snail traffic. Why visit the fair? Because, just because. read more

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I will always love coming to the fair! Been coming here with students since 2008! Although, the price of parking has gone up! Even buying online, 24 hrs in advance, it is still pricey. The food prices have increased too but that's not going to stop me from coming. I do get to come with students who are part of the student showcase so I do get a comped ticket which saves me some money. I always get a corndog and funnel cake! This year, I tried the mac n cheese with bbq pulled pork. Oh so good! It was a really great day! Found a couple of places to sit and watch people. It's really fun to watch everyone having fun and laughing. Although, there was a two family altercation that could've gotten ugly, which was amusing, but thank God it didn't get physical. read more

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Every year, my family looks forward to the San Diego County fair. I wish it was officially still called the Del Mar fair! But we locals know what it is. Anyway, this is a fun filled event! Unfortunately, the prices are so high for food, rides, and treats. I'm sure the price is prohibitive for many families. However, you can find deals around town such as purchasing package deals through Costco or buying discounted tickets at Albertsons. Check the website, they do allow you to bring in food and drinks with restrictions. My family loves to enjoy the animals and the art exhibits. It's always a good time in the gaming section as well. I think there is something here for everyone to enjoy. Despite the high prices, there is never a shortage of people at the San Diego County Fair. I like to come on a night where the entertainment includes a band I want to see. On this particular night I enjoyed Night Ranger and Bret Michaels. I was thrilled to find out the concert ticket included my fair admission this year. For the past couple of years you had to pay separately for admission and then the concert. read more

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We went to the SAN DIEGO COUNTY FAIR 2026, on The Fourth of July. We had a PACKAGE DEAL, thanks to our local Albertsons Store. It was a bit of a surprise, but a very nice one on AMERICA'S 250th BIRTHDAY!!! We got Parking, and thanks to the ADA DIRECTOR Preferred Parking, and also Entry, and then there was DINNER AND FIREWORKS. I was unfortunately too exhausted to last for fireworks. HOWEVER, we sure enjoyed the time we spent there. We started by getting the SCOOTAROUND Electric Scooter. It was then off we were. FIRST STOP, the Chevrolet Exhibit. We got in a couple of cars, the COLORADO and the larger SUV. We also signed in and got a TShirt and a BAG. We then walked down the MIDWAY, and headed to the SkyRide. It looked like something that we had to do. WHEN WE WERE GETTING OUR TICKETS, we were almost beat up by a bully that thought we took something out of their scooter. When he realized he was wrong, he apologized. IT LEFT A SOUR TASTE IN OUR MOUTH. We enjoyed the ride tremendously, and noticed the guy in the front of us throwing cash down on the crowd. It was a surprisingly long ride for $25 RT FOR 2. We could see everything, all the way to the beach. AFTERWARDS, we walked to the Games. I played a couple games, and won a cute little Green FROG!!! We then split up, I went in to the shops, and exhibits. As for My Partner, he went to see the animals, the HORSES, COWS and GOATS. We met up again at the TURF CLUB for our complimentary DINNER. It was a nice buffet, of Chicken Sandwiches, Salad,Mac and Cheese, Fresh Fruit, and Delicious Dessert. PLUS, Lemonade, and Coffee. We ate OVERLOOKING THE RACETRACK, which we had never seen up close before. It was a fun AFTERNOON. read more

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It's been a decade since coming back to the fair and our family had a great time. We had the opportunity to participate in a few activities like the scavenger hunt, monster truck race, weaving, and free foreign coins for kids. We really enjoyed the overall theme of the fair this year, "Once Upon a Fair". They had beautiful props and book themes great for photo ops at the exhibit hall. We also got to try lots of unique fair foods that won an award for the fair-tastic food competition - bacon wrapped pizza in a stick, k-pop ice cream, and lobster nachos. All award winning entrees are half off before 4pm on Fridays. So be sure to try as much as you can! A few downsides to the overall operations is the shuttle to the off site parking. Be prepared to reserve at least 45min to an hour or longer to return to your car. It can get pretty crowded, especially on a Friday. Getting food and a table can also get pretty hectic, waits can get long so make sure you check in with the staff if your order number hasn't been called in 10 min or longer. Overall, we had a great time and look forward to returning in the future! read more

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Came with the hubby for our annual visit. Yes, it can get very crowded. Yes, everything is a bit overpriced. BUT, it's a nostalgic kinda thing. I've been visiting since my childhood. Once in a while you'll find a great deal. The hubby & I mostly come to explore what the halls have on display and to check out the special food items..... Especially grab an iconic cinnamon roll from Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls. Our favorite!! San Diego County Fair 2026 read more

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I've been going to the fair for as long as I can remember. This year saw prices increase and quality decrease for most things. The Costco pack for $100 is a great deal: 4 tickets, 40 ride/game credits, parking and the passport to savings book. This year it also came with a 15% off fair merch coupon. The passport book contains discounts to many vendors food and regular items for purchase. Be sure to check out the fair's daily specials: Fridays are free for kids 12 and under, half of the fair tastic foods (18 items) and only 4 credits per game/ride (although some still charged 5+ like the Ferris wheel that was 7). Parking at the fair is $25. Get there around 10:30am to get the paved lot vs dirt lot parking. I like entering through the side gate vs the main gate as the lines are shorter. They have a security check point on entry. For kids there are two ride/game areas. Old kids go to one area and younger kids (under 10) go to the upper kids area with safer rides and easier games. Game credits were $1.25 each so think about the cost when each one costs 4 credits to play. One of the duck games is a guaranteed win small stuffy that was pretty cute and you can trade up. Recommend this one as everyone is a winner. Check out the acts and performances and set reminders. The turkey run, pig races, acrobats and parrot show were great. Butterfly exhibit ($4 per person) was cool. They give you a stick with nectar and butterflies will fly to you to lick it. Food: Always have to get the Maui pineapple from chicken Charlie's ($27 after tax). Kid likes fried Oreos $12. Lobster nachos were popular this year, got them half off $14. They were just okay. Strawberry matcha $13 from Tropical Garden was good but was $3 more than last year. Dr Pepper dip n dots regular size $10 were new, tasted just like carbonated Dr Pepper. The Taylor swift inspired lucky lavender lemonade was huge $16 and pretty sweet tasting. The plastics cup is reusable so take it home. Lots of walking and lots of dirt so don't wear fancy shoes. Be sure to wear a hat and sunscreen! Nice to finish out the day using the foot massage machines ($1, credit card only). read more

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Perfect day to hit up the sd county fair. It's a Friday, and a lot of the food is half off. Beautiful day outside as well. Partook in some day drinking. And ate my way through the fair, mmm. Those Australian potatoes get me every time!! So good!! Rode some rides, also enjoyed all the beautiful exhibits. Pro tip: pay for the VIP parking, it's worth it! read more

San Diego County Fair - Festivals Near Me - Del Mar, California

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The San Diego County Fair will probably always be the Del Mar Fair to me, and it's been a summer tradition since I was a kid. I look forward to it every year and usually end up going more than once. One thing I appreciate is that there are several parking options depending on your budget and how much convenience matters to you. I've splurged on preferred parking before, which is usually around $50 and puts you right near the main entrance. This year I parked at the Horsepark for $15 and took the free shuttle. It was quick, easy, and worked out great. I always enjoy seeing the theme they come up with each year. Some themes are stronger than others, but it's part of what makes each year feel a little different. The food is also a big part of the experience. It's definitely expensive, but it's fun trying all the over the top fair foods and treats. I love riding the Ferris wheel and Sky Ride, and I was excited to see they have three speakeasies this year. My favorite part of the fair, though, is always the Garden Show. I could spend hours wandering through the beautiful flowers, gardens, and creative displays. I didn't attend any concerts this year, but those are always a fun part of the fair as well. Overall, it's one of my favorite summer traditions, and I'll keep coming back year after year. read more

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This review is strictly about the food at the 2026 fair, but the food is the main reason many folks attend. I must say, there were many unusual and even wild items (bacon wrapped and fried anything one can imagine), but not lots of appetizing items. Spoiler alert: The decent-to-good -- funnel cake The bad -- lobster nachos Given that, there was so much that chances are good that almost anyone can find something to try. For me, it was Stizzy's lobster nachos. The price for the nachos was reasonable at $27, considering that lobster is a premium indigent and how overpriced some other items were. The quality, however, was awful. The nachos were smothered with a thick layer of sriracha mayonnaise that contained just enough sriracha to barely tint it pale pink. I felt like I was eating mouthfuls of mayonnaise. The melted cheese that congealed before I even left the booth didn't help. Not much lobster, but a good amount of chips. Much as I enjoy tortilla chips, that's not enough to justify calling that dish nachos. After two bites I have up and the them away. Still hungry, I opted to try some more traditional county fair food--a funnel cake. My first one ever, so the OG (topped only with powdered sugar) seemed appropriate. For $15, I was presented with a fried batter creation about 9 or 10" in diameter and 1 1/4 inches thick. Very intimidating, but tackle it I did. The funnel cake had a crispy exterior and a soft, but partly undercooked interior, probably because it was so thick. The edges were delectable and, happily, cooked all the way through. I hated the thought of wasting even more food, so pushed through eating almost half of it, but eventually had to admit defeat. So overstuffed! Tip: Do not breathe in when eating this confection. The layer of powdered sugar was ridiculously generous--1/2 to 3/4 inch thick in some spots! read more

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The San Diego County fair! One of biggest and best attractions in town. Lots of family and adult fun. If you're looking for a great place for fun this is the place to be. read more

What an over-priced piece of junk this place is. They think the place is a 5* Michelin steakhouse with these prices. 2 drinks just about $50. So lame & getting more and more disgusting. Its a corporate rape of the wallet, sooooo tired of it. I highly recommend not buying anything concession wise. Poor quality stuff at crazy lame prices. I brought a chunk of cash for carney games... nahhhhhhh... now its all card based, if u need a card, its $3.50 and non-refillable. Fuk this place!! The carney games are cake tho, you can win ez pz alllllll dayyyyyyyy. They let you take yo winnings back to your car, that's .00001 good points to you. They have some decent roller coasters at least. This is def my one and, neva again, done read more

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The theme is Once Upon a Fair this year and it is FANTASTIC. If you like books (I love to read the Bible, archeology, military history, fantasy, and sci fi) this is the fair for you. Usually the themes for fairs are just token slogans, but they have life sized 3d characters from many many beloved books. Also there is the usual fair food, fair music, cultural performances, animals, rides, agricultural and landscaping. Of course the usual fair merchandise that somehow you buy even though you didn't know you needed it or would never buy anywhere else. There are many places to hang out and stay cool and while it is like 100 around the rest of California, This is in Del Mar so it never got above 75 or below 70. This is one of the cleanest and nicest fairs I have been to. Cannot recommend it any higher. Lastly they have a really cool speakeasy called the Caboose (over 21) that is kind of hidden and you have to ask directions to, but is a fantastic place to chill out at. They serve alcohol, sodas, and the Virgin versions (Shout out to Lea who made us some really cool Virgin drinks). Finally I have seen the usual pig races ( which they have), but this time they also have turkey(?) races. Nuts. Gotta go give the best fair in California a try. They are open until July 5th (closed on Monday and Tuesday) and Costco has a great deal. read more

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We have fun every year here at the Del mar fair. We go through and taste everything especially at Chicken Charlie's. And lemonades at the hotdog on a stick. read more

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The fair is always a great time, how can you miss? Brimming with food stalls, unusual items to purchase, and amusement park rides, these are the things I most look forward to. This year I limited myself to the Licorice from Licorice factory. My long cerry rope was the most delicious that I can remember. Caused me to wonder why I've ever eaten a different version. I found many different items that were new to me in Bing Crosby Hall; things that I'll keep on my list for possible purchase at a future date. Walking through the amusement park area was such a fun experience. No rides for me that day, but it certainly is fun to watch other people's reactions to the scare tactics employed by the operators. Parking was really kind of a hassle on opening day. The rhythm of moving people in and out hadn't been worked out yet and was probably the most frustrating part of my experience. If you lose an item at the fair, don't disparage. There is a lost and found in the security office, and if you're lucky, some good Samaritan will turn in the item that you've lost. I actually did lose something, and got it back 2 days later this year. Whew! Enjoy the day out with friends or family, and head out to the San Diego county Fair! read more

San Diego County Fair - Licorice Factory in Bing Crosby Hall. You've never tasted licorice this great! - Festivals Near Me - Del Mar, California

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It's been about 10 years since I was at the fair. We arrived at 10:15 am and there was already a long line, but parking and the queue were easy and quick. We enjoyed the lobster nachos, funnel cake and Vietnamese iced coffee. The highlight for us was the garden and flower exhibits. These areas were beautiful and peaceful. We also got on a few rides. Service throughout the fair was friendly and accommodating and we appreciate the staff who provided directions and made our experience enjoyable. We had a great time! read more

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Once again it's Fair time. Kinda crazy going the last week. But wife and I enjoy coming to see if there is any good deals. Of course trying the food. Lastest Chicken Charlie creations. This year we tried the lobster tails not a winner, Although loved the Ube Funnel cake. This year I noticed that Chicken Charlie had itemized booths. Pineapple Express , Funnel cakes and so on . I think it's time to give the Chicken Charlie restaurant a try. I definitely say plan ahead when arriving as the line to get in can grow super fast. read more

San Diego County Fair - Americas Story 250. That should be a theme of its own . One year . America making Fair Fun or something like that. - Festivals Near Me - Del Mar, California

So many rides, games and food. Definitely worth spending the day. They have animals, live music and so much more. read more

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Soak up the moments with the people you love here! Come for a good time, beauty by the beach, historic charm, great concerts, and a variety of food. The kids zone has a lot to do, check out the farm for kids. The exhibits and vendors are always neat to check out. It's hard not to come back every year. read more

The fair has gotten more expensive every year, but it's always fun to attend. There are senior prices available and they run specials throughout the week. We attended a concert, so our tickets for admission were included. I always stop by the collections exhibit. It looks like they get smaller every year and I wasn't too impressed with any of the collections. I like the flowers and flower arranging exhibits. The table settings were also pretty cool. The quilts were hard to see this year because they were hung high above everything else. The art exhibit was nice with most of the art for sale. I also enjoyed the inventor section that included detailed drawings and descriptions. Don't forget to stop by the always impressive woodworking section. Our favorite stop was one of the speakeasy bars. The drinks are expensive, but strong. We went to the one on the top of the track. It has a beautiful view of the infield. The infield is packed with kid rides and attractions. You can probably hear the featured concert on the Toyota stage from the speakeasy. We rode the sky tram over the fair, shopped many of the vendors, and sampled foods like the birria Ramen and the giant cheese pretzel. Chicago performed all their hits. It was nice to sit at a table for four where they have table service and no one is standing in front of you. Parking is $25 per vehicle or $20 if you buy it online 24 hours before you attend. read more

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I was not happy about getting ripped off from the "Australian Battered Potatoes" stand. We paid for bacon, ranch and cheese on the side however, they never gave us the bacon we paid extra for. When we went back they said NO they won't give us any bacon. What kind of customer service is that?? We would not lie about that and the fried potatoes were not as good as before. Cheese was watered down and potatoes were too oily. I took only a few bites and had to stop. There was no apology for our missing item either. Overall, this year the fair wasn't as good as last year. We went on the 28th and it was busy as usual. There were no dog shows either and the falafel burger at Roxy was so bland. I enjoyed looking at the cows and some of their sheep though. The crazy mouse ride is completely different and has not as many twist and turns. I would had given them a better rating if they offered better customer service and acted professional. There were some rude summer temp employees here. It seemed like it was all about making money instead of offering a good fair experience for each patron. I don't expect Disneyland customer service or anything but I noticed how many ride workers aren't that friendly. read more

San Diego County Fair - Festivals Near Me - Del Mar, California

We had a really upsetting experience at the San Diego County Fair around 9:45 PM on the Hip Hop ride. My daughter tried to get on the ride but didn't fit safely in the seat. I completely understand and respect ride safety rules, so I'm not upset about that part. What was upsetting was how the situation was handled by staff. While they were trying to secure the restraint, the process felt very rough, and once they determined she couldn't ride, two employees laughed at her. My daughter was extremely embarrassed and came to me in tears. Her friend was there and witnessed the whole interaction. What made it even more confusing is that she had already successfully ridden the same Hip Hop ride earlier that day without any issue. Later she was denied access again, and the ride credits used were not returned. I just wish the situation had been handled with more professionalism and basic kindness. It really turned what should have been a fun experience into something upsetting for my daughter. read more

San Diego County Fair - This was the ride - Festivals Near Me - Del Mar, California

The San Diego Fair is great at Del Mar racing track. The only problem is the traffic getting into the parking lot is pretty hectic. You might be waiting a while from the offramp of the five freeway or crossing into the street into Durante. There are a lot of food vendors everywhere. This fair is even bigger than the Orange County fair and the LA County fair. The weight to get on the rides the lines are not very long. It moves pretty quickly. The prices are pretty high though if you buy your tickets ahead of time, you can save five dollars per ticket. Buy them online the day before also buy your parking passes the day before online. You also save five dollars per parking ticket. I suggest if you don't want to walk very far pay the extra $35 for the preferred parking which comes up to $55 online $60 at the time of entrance. The general parking is $20 online the day before or $25 the day of. Be prepared to spend a minimum of $200 for two people. You can easily spend $300 when you include food. read more

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Obsessed with the Fair! We go at least once every year, and it's become something my family really looks forward to once school's out and summer rolls around. All the foods, rides, the blazing sun (yes, I'm even sentimental about the weather!), and general buzz gives all those nostalgic good feelings. It's pricey, but there's a couple deals here and there to shave off some of the price tag. Either way, be mentally prepared to spend. Even still, the value is there! The food is legit delicious and my kids have an absolute blast. Pro tip - check the daily event schedule to help map out your day. read more

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