My boyfriend and I are big fans of fairs and carnivals. We never been to the San Mateo County Fair before, so were were like, "let's check it out!" To be honest, the fair had very similar foods, vendors and exihibits as other fairs around. We had a good time though. Would we go again? Maybe? Also, expect to spend a lot of money. Admission, parking, foods and whatever else you decide to spend your money on. read more

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This place seems to be getting smaller and smaller every year. But nice to see they still have a bunch of farm animals and cheesy pig races. Shopping concourse is basically the same - felt a bit harassed by some of the vendors there as they basically chased us down as we were walking by and they still have some of the basic judged events like photos and table setting and cooking and plants, etc. But, mainly seems to be about food and rides now. A little disappointing compared to some other county, fair and state fair experiences. read more

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Went to the county fair for the first time this year! Was excited to see so many farm animals available for families to see for free including pigs, goats, sheep, horses and cows! There was also a petting zoo but that wasn't free unfortunately. There were good options for fair food but they were all pricey and a bit unhealthy. Carnival areas were standard and we also got to see the Alaskan pig race which was cute! Overall, would say the fair was a fun way to spend a couple hours but we probably wouldn't come back unless there are some other new attractions to see! read more

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San Mateo County Fair is HERE!! It's Thursday- it is Free Senior Day and Free for 12 and under day too!!! Affordable Fun! This is a FANTASTIC Country fair- spectacular shows, exhibitions, things to learn. Plants and crafts and fine jewelry too! Animals: chickens, turkey, rabbits, sheep, goats, cows and loads of 4H kids that have cared for them are here. There are non-profits here sharing information too! Many people from San Mateo County have submitted Art, photos, displays, dining room settings, kids inventions, poetry and more - - all to be judged: blue ribbons for the Best! Parking is $15 credit card, $20 cash. read more

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I had a great time at the san mateo fair. fairs aren't what they used to be but surprisingly San mateo fair actually beats out alot of others this yr. There wasn't as much in the buildings as there used to be and not as great of s lineup as there used to be but i liked it here more then even last yr. Jefferson starship was awesome. I loved the fair food too. The gyros were my fave and the prices were pretty good. Personally i probably picked the perfect day. The pig races were and parkings always good. The concerts are still free with fair admission while some others have started charging boooo! I definitely give props to San Mateo fair for upholding that tradition. They had a great big area of animals. No guinea pigs tho but I'll give a pass on that. Some highlights were also the acrobatics. They were awesome. I even won a spork by spinning a wheel read more

We had a great time here last weekend with the family! It isn't a huge fair, but there is a lot to see with the kids. It was L's first time at the fair and he had a blast! There was the animal exhibit where he could see cows, sheep, chicken, turkeys, and rabbits! He got scared of the sheep when one baaaah'ed at. him really loudly, but overwise - super cool! There was also a petting zoo and a pony ride. The food is exactly what you would expect from a fair vendor - cotton candy, popcorn, ice cream, turkey legs (that were $22!!!), hot dogs, ribs, etc. You won't go hungry here for lack of options...but you might just cuz of inflation. meep. There was an exhibit for art and games and overall just highly wholesome fun for the family just to get out of the house. read more

While I didn't grow up going to county fairs, I'm a fan of festivals and farmer's markets so this seemed like a good activity to start off the summer. We went during the last day of the fair and stayed for around 4 hours. First tip: Park near the Caltrain station for $5.50 all day instead of parking at the fair. It's about a 10-minute walk to the entrance from the station, but you'll be glad to save $10, not to mention avoid being stuck in a long line of cars when you exit. Second tip: buy your admission ticket online to save $5. Among the food, the rides, and everything else, you'll be spending a pretty penny already. Third tip: If you go with a friend, you can split one ride bracelet. We paid $38 total for 4 rides together. Not cheap, but better than going solo. The mini green coaster was simple but effective - though I definitely felt my hot dog move through my stomach during the drops. The best part of the fair included watching the riveting pig races, loading up on fair classics like funnel cake and churros, and seeing some farm animals up close and personal. If pigs and cows don't thrill you, and you get motion sickness easily, the fair probably doesn't have much for you. Especially this one, since it was much smaller than classics such as the Alameda County Fair. Take that $20 and put it towards a Great America pass instead. read more

San Mateo County Fair - A goat resting in his pen - Festivals Near Me - San Mateo, California

The San Mateo County Fair is a yearly summer occurrence in June. This year seemed like everything was jacked up in prices. The space is decent to roam around. They have a vendor area, live music, animals and animal rides, games/rides, food. But the prices are ridiculous for it all. Don't expect anything to be under $10 bucks. Drinks, food, games, rides No in and out after leaving the fair and parking lot. Parking is $15 read more

I love the San Mateo County Fair. I've been there 3 times and this year I got to see Smashmouth and finally got a camel ride thanks to the cute camel named Freckles. I remember hearing Smashmouth on the radio everyday, especially their song All Star and I'm a Believer from Shrek. They also have a famous song from Diary of a Wimpy Kid too. The concerts are no additional cost thanks to Safeway sponsorship. Tickets into the fair are $15 when you buy online. Parking was $15 or $20. There are a lot of additional costs once you get into the fair though. The camel ride was 2 circles around the area for $15. It's expensive but I thought it was a unique experience and I got photos and video too, so for me it was worth it. Of course, food, drinks, games, and roller coaster rides are extra as well. The food inside is pretty overpriced, but honestly all food at fairs are like that so it's not surprising. This year, there weren't that many food stands though. I remember before there was always a lot! I also didn't play any games this year since I didn't see any prize that I especially wanted but in the previous 2 years, I always went home with a cute stuffed animal prize won from the games. They have a petting zoo area where you can go in and touch a lot of animals. There were chicken, bunnies, goats, pigs, a pony, and a donkey. This year was the first time I saw a donkey there. There's another larger area where farm animals are in pens, but you can walk around and pet them too. I had a fun time, as usual. I know a lot of people don't like the high prices, but unfortunately this is the Bay Area. Any fair here can be costly if you want to go on all the rides and play all the games, this is not the place to go. You should chose an amusement park instead. If you just chose a few things that have additional costs, then spend the rest of the time eating and petting animals it's still fun. It sucks but, the Bay Area is expensive! That's pretty much the only reason why I took off a star. Anyways, I'm sure I'll go again next year. Thanks, San Mateo County! read more

San Mateo County Fair - Camel riding! - Festivals Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Brought the kids down for the fair today and they seemed to be having a good time with the rides. An unlimited rides pass cost $40 and seemed worth it. I went to Chans Chicken on a Stick and got a combo plate that included an egg roll, fried rice with shrimp , and sone chow mein ($25). It was decent for county fair eats but still a little expensive. The kids had a 2 teriyaki chicken bowl and an island combo from Hawaiian Teryaki bowl. Three bowls came to be $51 and seemed to be a better deal. Even though the fair can be expensive, the kids really enjoyed themselves which made it all worth iit. read more

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Saw a promo for this fair on the local news and thought it would be fun for the kids. Started as a flower show in 1926 and evolved into the current fair, some of the entertainment in the past must have been amazing w/ appearances by Johnny Cash and the Charlie Daniels Band. Coolio was there last week and there are a lot of tribute bands this year for Journey, Queen, Creedance, etc.. Cost was $15 for adults online, kids under 6 are free. Parking is $15. If you have young children you end up spending a lot on tickets, there are booths everywhere so don't wait in line if you see a long one. The money goes really fast for rides and games and there are several games w/ guaranteed prizes. The "Corn Dogs and Curly fries" stand. So much potential, I chose this for my cheat-meal and while the outside was crunchy and hot dog was great it was cold! So sad it wasn't kept warm. The corn on a cob was good, my kids loved it. There is an animal exhibit with prize winning farm animals looking really clean and regal. There are camel rides right outside near the gate and pig races that seemed exciting. We went on weekday afternoon and thought it was funny the police presence was really high with K9 units and officers patrolling in pairs. If you get a free covid shot outside they will let you in for free, good motivation for people who are not vaccinated yet. read more

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If you like fairs, then you will probably like this spot, but if you don't like fairs then stay away. Parking and pretty much everything here is overprice. $10 for a can of Corona? Yup. $17 for a hot dog? Yup. It's over priced. They do have pig races and a farm, but that's about it. The rides are over priced, but if you're willing to spend $35 you get unlimited rides. When I was a kid, I loved fairs. As an adult, not so much. read more

I was so excited to be in town to take advantage of the $5 admission fee for any age on Wednesday! I purchased my tickets ahead of time and scanned my parking ticket at the entrance. The parking lot was a crazy mess. Cars were moving quickly in every direction. The signage was not very clear so I drove into several dead ends. I found parking by the brown portables. We walked up to the entrance and had our bags checked. After the bag check you walk up and have your admission ticket scanned. The lines were not clear and people were moving towards any empty line. We got all our tickets scanned and we made our way inside a large building. As soon as you enter they had really cool photo props. There was a section off to the side of photos that had won awards and were up for sell. They had a dedicated baby changing area and a feeding area if you wanted privacy. We kept walking and came out of that building and walked outside. There's several booths and individual ATM looking machines to get a ticket card. You can reuse the card if you have one or get a new one and load it up with tickets. They take card and cash. The games we played took 5 tickets each person. If your kids like getting on the attractions the unlimited ride wristband pays for itself! There is a wide variety of attractions and games. The employees were all energetic and proactive getting the ticket card scanned and the game going. We got some of our favorite carnival food (soft serve & funnel cake). It was hard to find a place to sit and eat since the tables and seats were limited. The lines for tickets, food, games, and attractions were long. Most of the people were wearing masks. The rest either had it only covering their mouth or off. One of the employees had no mask on while we played the game. There was absolutely no social distancing. Some areas are highly congested. All in all it was a good time. Family friendly activity to do as you kick off summer break! A warm memory of how summer used to be! Bring a hat, sunscreen, water & enjoy! read more

Been to the San Mateo County Fair several times. June 2021 is the first time since COVID, and the main difference was the scarcity of exhibits. The number of animals was limied, the number of crafts and vendors was limited, the amount of seating was limited (both in eating area, and in stage areas). Even the number of attendees was limited... though it didn't feel like it because somehow, even with how much empty space there was in the expo halls and fairgrounds, the crowds seemed the same, possibly even worse. Not much social distancing going on (though most people properly wore masks), and the layout of the place caused a traffic jam in certain areas where extremely long lines at food stands formed hordes of people blocking pathways and slowing down foot traffic. It didn't help that food service was extremely slow as well. But the food was good... standard fair food, but the smoky smell of bbq permeating the air couldn't be missed! Funnel cakes, turkey legs, and my choice for the night, big fat sausages ;) (yes that's what the sign said, basically oversized slightly spicy smoked sausages with grilled peppers and onions). But again, long wait times. Even watching the pig race was impossible as crowds swarmed the perimeter of the race track/obstacle course/ comedy show. I've seen it many times (both at this county fair and at the Alameda County Fair), but here, this time there was so little seating/bleachers available, which resulted in the surrounding standing crowds. The show itself is actually pretty good IMO, family friendly, cute, and good for laughs... but only if you can actually see it (so if you're short and don't come early, you're out of luck). The rest of the animals at the fair were adorable as well, including chickens, cows, pigs, ponies, and a few bunnies (though just for rabbit competition the day we attended). I didn't really spend time in the game area, but there were plenty of classic carnival rides to enjoy. The real treat was Journey Revisited band performing on Wed night w/ just a $5 entrance fee to the fair this day! Great music, great fun, great beer selection, and such a beautiful backdrop of the sky and clouds to be seen beyond the stage, still bright at 8pm on a cool summer evening. The parking lot was large but crowded, the line to get in also long and a bit disorganized.. but we managed. They even offer free COVID vaccinations outside, which includes free entry to the fair + $20 credit for food, etc. inside (which i think is a pretty good deal). I thought $15 was a bit expensive for parking though. It's not my favorite county fair in the bay area, but overall we had a great time, and glad to be out at the fair again! And for the special admissions pricing on the Wed we visited, it was totally worth it! read more

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This space is good for events . I enjoyed everything here from a Real Estate Expo to The County Fair concert. Lots of parking indoor and outdoor space. Good place to enjoy an event. read more

San Mateo County Fair - Festivals Near Me - San Mateo, California

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Went and had a good time yesterday..lots of exhibits and food and drinks and rides ...fun entertainment and yes expensive and always is and that's what fair is all about lol Pig races so so cute and love how they interact with the crowd to get it pumped up !!! Love how people always gotta crowd and poor dude who got his fingers stepped in lol who was trying to be nice by sitting on the ground so people can see lol I loved the butterfly exhibit and of course and omg the art and photography always is a nice way to chill out before heading back out into the craziness. read more

We went today and although it ended up being well over $150 (entry, rides/games and snacks/drinks) it was totally worth it! We bought our tickets online. Parking was another $15 Kids loved the camel ride ($10/pp) The dinosaurs and the butterfly room were no charge It's a traditional carnival with expensive rides, games and goid but the pig races and the exhibits were no extra charge. For those alone it's worth the price of the entry. We could have not spent $50 for ride/game tickets and gotten away cheaper , but oh well we had a great time! read more

Nice county fair for the summer! Fair food is a must while perusing through the grounds. Adorable animals, art and rides to be done. A good day to leisurely be. read more

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OK, you've got me. I have a soft spot for county Fairs. But why not? They are fun fir families, they don't harm anyone, and it shows off a side of tech heavy Silicon Valley - the bluest of the blue - that you rarely see. Livestock that are grand champions. Fried food. Ferris wheels and kiddie rides. Live music - for free. I dig it. No, it's not third wave coffee or Michelin started menus, it's not Napa Valley wine touring or raw oysters in Marin. But I dig it. Once a year, you can handle the County Fair. Just like the rest of America does. Can't you? read more

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Overall fun experience. Prices were too high. Beers were $10, Margaritas were $15, and games tickets were high too. Parking was $15? read more

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$15 general admission (unless you got cheaper online tickets) and $15 parking. Like others have mentioned, the San Mateo County Fair isn't as big as many other county fairs. That being said, it still has a decent amount of attractions to offer. The main reason I came was high hopes for fun fair foods and entertainment. Foodwise -- after walking around all the food stands, you notice plenty of overlaps and not that much creativity in terms of options. Giant curly fries (best to split between at least 4 people), fish and chips, BBQ meats, hot dogs, lemonade, beer & wine, fried twinkies/pickles/zucchini chips, etc. There's lobster fries if you love seafood and also an artichoke stand. Everything is pricey though (see menu pics), but that's to be expected at a fair. I'm not impressed with what's available. It's easy to get a stomachache from all the grease and fried foods, so be mindful of what you eat. Entertainment-wise, there's a good amount to see, especially if you have kids. Carnival rides, kids-stations (coloring, puzzles, etc), petting zoo, butterflies interactive zone (feed butterflies for free), history museum rooms, animal showcasing tents, pig races, concerts, food and crafts exhibits, etc. There's plenty to see in the shaded areas & building interiors if you're looking to stay cool in the AC. There's also plenty outside, so bring sunscreen & stay hydrated. It's fun looking at the many animals in the tents -- there were goats, pigs, cows, bunnies, birds, reptiles, dingos, kangaroos, and more that I saw throughout the day. Many of them are beloved pets and family members of folks who brought their animal in to showcase. Others are cared for by the 4-H center or other organizations. The Aussie Animal Show was a miss in my book since they were just holding the animals and talking through an echo-heavy mike (i.e.: can't tell what they're saying at all). You're better off just observing the animals on your own if you're interested. Really loved the butterflies zone! You get to take a q-tip, dip it in sugar water, and feed butterflies in a sauna-like room filled with potted flowers and butterflies in all stages of their lives. Great fun :) Don't forget to check out some of the demos and shows they have going on inside the convention center too! There are jam-making and ice-cream making sessions where you might be able to win some to eat and/or take home with you as a prize! read more

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My family and I went to this event for a family fun day. We enjoyed with our six month old who also enjoyed the farm. I'm really glad he got to experience seeing live animals. Lines for the food was long but we decently got our food in a short amount of time. Definitely pricey just be prepared to easily brake your wallet. Overall had a great time. Would we come back? Why not! read more

Laaaaaammmmeee. Waste of money. So small. Spent $40 (not including the $15 to park) on the two of us to walk around for less than an hour.

In 1926, this fair was called the "Little Flower Show" until 1935 when they decided to revitalize this event. This event was originally held at various schools in the county until it permanently found a home by the Bay Meadows Racetrack. San Mateo County Fair has a special place to my heart as it's one of my favorite county fairs to go to. It's also the first county fair that I've ever been to since we emigrated here from the Philippines. Don't get me wrong, we also have county fairs in the Philippines, but this one's special because it was my first "American experience" and it's a little bit of nostalgia. I remember coming here in the mid to late 80's and always enjoyed the festivities, rides, food and events. It was a different time back then, and sometimes I long for that innocence and simplicity that we once had. I stopped coming here in my late teens to early twenties, but once I had my own family, we started coming here again. When my first son was about 3 years old, this is also the first fair that we took him too, and I have very vivid memories of his experience enjoying himself on the fair rides. These are happy and proud moments you remember as a parent. Now that they're grown, they pretty much don't want to come with us since we're not cool enough to hang with 'em; typical stuff that I also went to. It's history repeating itself, but they'll come around someday. We haven't been here much since we're too old for them to join us, but when we do, it's a different experience but we still enjoy all the same. Now, we just skip the kiddie rides and Wifey and I pick and choose where to go and what to do. All I can say is I can't wait until they have kids so we can take our grandkids and spoil 'em silly. Like a typical county fair, they have fair food, which is not the healthiest for you. But everything in moderation should be OK. I just "try" to avoid the sugary and oily food, but that's all they seem to serve at the county fairs so it's hard to avoid. They pretty much have something for everyone and you can spend hours here. If you get lucky, your favorite childhood band or group might be playing on the main stage just to relieve those moments again. Yeah, it's not the same, but it's always nice to tap into that stage in your life. Too bad our kids weren't there so I could embarrass them, and I'm saving that in my pocket. One thing I found out about myself is that I am a natural "Butterfly Whisperer" and I got the photos to prove it. OK, maybe they were attracted to my bright yellow Warriors hat, but I'm still taking a little credit for it. Maybe they should rename it the "Big Flower Show" and I can be the main attraction. read more

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There was obviously no social distancing but enough people wore masks in certain areas . Very few exhibits and vendors . They are trying to survive so it's good people came out. Parking was $15 and you had no choice due construction outside . Food was over priced as expected . It was good to see many families out with younger kids . They need to advertise more next time . read more

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Post COVID, one of the best outdoor entertainment we visited to date. There are so much to do, so much to eat, so much to see. We had a lot of fun here, and recommend everyone to visit. Just to list off some of the activities we did: 1. So many games, threw darts, this ball throwing game, cork throwing game, and actually won some stuffies- a lot of fun 2. Food- I was amazed at how wonderful the fried Twinkie was, I keep thinking about it, wish they had a permanent shop. The tacos were good, and the fried mushrooms were my favorite. Also tried the bbq shop chicken kebab and it was okay- it was a bit dry around the edges 3. The pig racing game! A lot of entertainment for the kids, and it looked like everyone enjoyed it 4. The labor, quilt, butterfly, science, photo exhibits. I learned a lot, and it was a humbling experience to see and read about the labor force for farm workers, it made me realize that we should really do a better job of caring for those that tend our foods. 5. The spices! The spice shop was an awesome first store to visit, I don't know how everything could taste so good. All in all, a truly great experience. read more

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Nostalgic is how I best describe the San Mateo County Fair. Growing up in the Bay Area, my siblings and I exhibited live animals and crafts here for years and years. Now as adults, we have a fresh new perspective. A fair goers' perspective! Entrance fee is $15 per/person, and kids 5 and under are free. Parking is $15 per vehicle with no in and out privileges. We came on a Thursday ($3 Thursday's for the win!), and the line was long to get in, but moved quickly. Carnival Rides: My 3 year old was able (tall enough) to ride a handful of rides, but my 2 year old was only able to ride 1 ride (carousel). I liked how they put all the little kid rides together and separate from the "big kid" rides. We didn't check out the big kid ride area. Animal Exhibits: There is the junior livestock barn which houses the exhibitors' livestock (cows, sheep, goats, and pigs). Make sure to make a stop at "Pen Pride" and guess the weight of the pigs. Ticket sales support the 4-H and you could win some cool prizes if you guess correctly and are a winner. There is also a 'barnyard babies' section with baby calves, miniature horses, mini pigs, and little goats. Just outside of the large animal barn is the 'show ring' and if you walk around out there you can check out the bunnies. They had two of the largest rabbits I have ever seen. Very cool! Also right outside the barn, is a petting zoo and a number of other free interactive animal related things for the kiddos to partake in. The kids can milk a pretend cow, saddle up a pretend horse, make paper flowers, etc... Addition Exhibits: New this year was a hall dedicated to Australian animals - a dingo, kangaroos, a variety of reptiles and birds. They also have a butterfly exhibits where you can get up close with the butterflies (if you have ever been to the Academy of Sciences in SF ... it the same sort of thing). They also have clay, knitting, and other craft exhibits which are pretty cool to check out. There is a large shopping hall for those who like to shop (clothing, toys, knifes, etc....). Additional things for the little's': Face painting ($10 each), pony rides ($10 each), and camel rides ($10 each). Yes you read that correct, CAMEL RIDES!! Food: Lots of food options to choose from ... ice cream, funnel cakes, teriyaki (new), BBQ, corn dogs, just to name a few... I was dying for a cinnamon roll (they have the best!), but I didn't find them until the end. FYI: the cinnamon roll booth is located inside the shopping hall rather than with all the other food vendors. Fair time is fun time!! read more

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6/15/19 What a waste of time and money. $15 parking. $15 adult admission for a very, very small fair. You could walk the whole thing in less than an hour. We basically paid $60 to park, enter and then pay again to eat fair food. Better value going to the Alameda County Fair...it's bigger ($10 for parking, $15 adult admission) and its closer for those of us in the East Bay (don't have to pay toll). It's been years since we last visited the SMCF, and most likely at that rate and size of the fair, we will not come again. read more

The San Mateo County Fair comes once a year, and I was admittedly skeptical. Usually at fairs like these, the rides are overpriced, the food selection is poor, the games are all scams, and there are only so many things to keep you entertained. But this fair completely exceeded all my expectations. Walking in, we saw the typical carnival/amusement park rides and games, which I wasn't particularly enthralled at, but going a little bit further, we came upon the large collection of food vendors. Yes, the food is a little bit overpriced for what it is, but the selection was a lot larger than I imagined--you had everything from hot dogs to barbecue to Chinese food to Mexican food and pretzels (and there were even normal-priced food trucks in another section)! There was also one vendor giving away small cups of free ice cream. But the thing that impressed me the most by far were the exhibit halls. There were quite a few of them set up--we toured one with an exhibit on Black History month, another with vendors demonstrating cookware and selling everything from snacks to clothes to art. There was a hall of puzzle activities for kids, another with a butterfly garden, and yet another with exhibits of live animals (alligators, toads, sloths, and tarantulas! One of my favorite exhibits (perhaps unsurprisingly) was the culinary exhibit--there were contest entries for the most beautiful baked goods, and we even stumbled on a cooking demonstration with a chef who cooked with bugs/insects! And of course, who can forget the animals--many of them were cared for by a local 4H club, and we saw everything from chickens to rabbits to turkeys, sheep, pigs, and cows. It was pretty amazing to me how close you could get to the animals--it's definitely a lot more interactive than going to the zoo! read more

This is my first post pandemic admission to the fair, I haven't been to the fair in years. It's good to finally go on rides like roller coasters, visits exhibits and see live concerts! I went on Thursday when there was a Fleetwood Mac tribute band, love their performance. But I do feel they overpriced their admission tickets, parking, rides, food, etc. I paid lot of money for getting there, but I'm glad the kids admission were free that day! I'm kind of disappointed with their lack of vendors in the expo area, they didn't have any shopping open when I went there, I used to go many years ago when they had street artists and donut makers! Hopefully this is temporary since they're trying to recoup their losses from the pandemic, and they lower the prices next year, adult admission shouldn't cost more than $10, especially when you're paying more for rides and food! My friends don't want to be ripped off with less fair attractions with the overpriced admission costs! read more

The county fair is back!! There's is finally some semblance of normalcy In the world! Stop by for awesome food like turkey legs, the original hotdog on a stick and funnel cakes!! There is also amazing entertainment for the kiddies and oldies alike! read more

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We purchase our tickets ahead of time from Groupon. Parking is $12.00 at the Fair and Going there early is probably a better idea than going around lunch time. Just to park the car took forever. Then the check-in purses and bags line was so long. Remember not to bring liquids or they will let you dump it out. Water bottles that are unopened is okay. Entering the gate is really fast considering you prepaid tickets ahead of time. Just like any other Faire, It's impossible to find healthy eats at this place. Everything is either deep fried or loaded with carbs. There's a lot of special exhibits & animals that we got to see. Enjoyed the music from local bands performing read more

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Expensive Everything Animals are the best Rides $20-40 -no single rides Not many vendors read more

If I could give this 0 stars I would. I have gone to a couple different county fairs, but never the San Mateo County Fair. I wasn't expecting the best fair ever, but I expected something better than the San Jose Flea Market. Everything was so overpriced, it's crazy. I was hoping for more variety of food, but nope! Terrible. There weren't many food stands and they all sold the same things. The "shopping" was sad, I have seen more sellers at local street fairs and those are free to get in! My advice to everyone-save your money and avoid this like the plague! read more

The PRICE of Nostalgia: +$10 Parking +$10 Admission Fee +$3 Pencil Corn dogs (Go to Monster Grill for the 10 inch "Randy" sized) +$11 Spongy Dry Tri-Tip Sandwiches +$7 Mechanical Bull Ride because "practice makes perfect" +$6.50 Cavity-inducing Icee's +$5 Carnival Rides to hurl up the "Randy" (the Teacup works best) +$3 Balls to show you got aim OR lack thereof (*CoughAhemCough* E & J, girls appreciate guys who CAN aim and not just at the urinal) +$0 for ZERO EYECANDY (mullets weren't sexy then and certainly not now) = TOTAL PRICE: *TRIPOD ANKLE GRAB* OTHER NOTES: *Season Pass $22 *Unlimited Ride Pass $30 *Concerts (Boys II Men were playing on a Tuesday; thank you organizers for thinking about people who have a J.O.B.) *Over 25 food artery-clogging, triple muffin top inducing vendors with the Cinnamon Roll Stand qualifying for the "Healthy Food Fare". The hell? Since when are sugar, butter, and butter healthy? *Over 20 rides with a "drop zone" the height of a 4 story buildings (LAME but I wussed out) *Rigged games: How did Mr. Duckie's head (for ring toss) grow to the size of a wildebeest? *Piggy races, livestock (25 lb wabbits that can inhale my Pomeranian), and petting zoo *Arts, garden, and youth exhibits *CASH ONLY read more

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I absolutely love fairs and everything about them so I don't know why I hadn't heard of or been to this one, but there's a first time for everything!! Working on the Peninsula I was seeing billboards, signage and the whole nine advertising this fair and then I saw a Groupon offer for 2 tickets for $12 so I knew I had to get them and visit. Upon going to the fair I checked the website to see what they had to offer, food choices and music/entertainment and everything was so appealing to me. Now I normally try to go to fairs maybe a week after they open but we so happened to go the first day it opened around noon and it was super hot and already crowded. The paid parking lots were already filling up so we parked on the street off of El Camino Real and walked. When you first walk in you're overcome with many different sights, various booths, statues, tons of games and a plethora of rides. Their carnival part of the fair was quite large and they had rides I've never seen at a carnival let alone a fair. But the food is what I essentially came for, I love fair food. They had so many different places to choose from such as: *Big Bubba's Bad BBQ: BBQ Plates, Turkey Legs, Sandwiches *Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls: Fresh Made Cinnamon Rolls, Breads *Fat Fanny's Funnel Cakes: Funnel Cakes, Deep Fried Oreos, Deep Fried Watermelon *Southern Comfort Kitchen: Po'Boy Sandwiches, Crab Fries, Fried Shrimp *The Sleek Greek: Gyros, Falafel, Greek Fries There were so many other yummy food options there as well but I would be going on for days. My personal favorite was the roasted corn stand, they had so many different toppings for the corn and it was roasted to perfection. Also in one of the buildings there was a small reptile expo, various vendors and a few small food vendors as well. This is where I found the Mini Donuts Booth, they were frying them right on the spot and selling them 1 dozen for $4 and they were must tastier than the ones at Pier 39 One thing that I felt made this fair stand apart from the other were the pig races (which we missed) and the various livestock that was on display. I felt like I was in a miniature zoo minus the lions, tigers and bears lol. They had plenty of hogs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, cows and pony's. Aside from the food this was one of my favorite parts of the fair, just seeing all the lovely animals. I really did enjoy myself here although it is smaller than what I expected, there is still plenty to do and see here. They had some good entertainment this year such as Tony Toni Tone, Sheila E., Tower Of Power and etc but unfortunately we did not stay to see the entertainment. I will definitely be coming back next year and probably every year from now on and I will make sure to spend the whole day there so that I can see and experience everything. read more

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Free concert. Check. Chili cheese spiral fries. Check. Free refill lemonade. Check. Mechanical bull. Check. Adorable farm animals. Check. Baby pigs humping each other. Check. Ferris wheeling. Bumper car-ing. Check. Check. Power outage. Definite check. As a frequent goer of the State Fair in Sac, the San Mateo one is a similar but smaller version. The food portions are reasonably priced and sized. Great deals are: chili cheese spiral fries for $8.50, but feeds 3 (ppl were staring) AND the lemonade yard for $7 with free refills throughout the day. Prices for games and rides are not bad either. All of the basketball games are "99 cents plus a penny" and ppl won, including my friends. Rides are 4 tickets each, which is only up to $4 per ride. It was disappointing that we didn't get to see Boyz II Men. And I was really looking forward to some deep fried oreos and snickers, which they did not have. But I left happy with 3 stuffed animals, 2 goldfishes and a full stomach. =D read more

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Is it me, or do they have less rides this year? I also bought the Groupon deal, except I bought admission for six, and once we got there, we found out they were only good for one day. I only had four attendees with me, the rest of my tickets were void. I even made my mom tag along, and she hated it. In addition to entrance fees, the rides were separate, so I had to get my money's worth by purchasing wristbands ($30 each) for the kids, and advised them to ride all the big rides at least 5x each. Not to mention the parking fee and overpriced County Fair foods, I had to also give them money each. For such steep prices, we've attended way better fairs. We should have gone to Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk instead. Same 'ole foods, same 'ole pig races, same 'ole rides, etc. We won't be returning. I actually came for Sheila E.'s performance on a Saturday. The indoor concert venue isn't bad; although, it was super hot. Maybe it had to do with Sheila E. being on fire. She put on an unforgettable show. We'll stick to the Marin Fair, as the cost of admission covers all rides and the music concerts are outdoors with great crowds. One feels safe in Marin even after dark. Every night during the Fourth of July week, a fireworks show takes place. Bring the entire family! read more

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A lot of great food vendors, rides and fun for the whole family!! So much to do here!! We went for Day 1 of the San Mateo County Fair yesterday. It is a 9 day fair in the San Mateo County Fairgrounds. We had never gone before and wanted to check it out, and we ended up having a really great time yesterday! It's $10 to get in at the door. I missed purchasing the Groupon the week before which would have gotten us in for half the price (Groupon was selling 4 admission tickets for $20 instead of $10/person at the door). Anyway, we paid the semi-steep admission price and went in and hoped for the best. We went in and were immediately impressed by all of the shopping vendors at the entrance/in the exhibition area. Everything from clothes to cruise deals to jams and locally grown fruits and nuts. Another pleasant surprise was that they had a really neat animal exhibit in that front exhibition area - there were tropical animals, as well as some really rare animals like sloths, owls, alligators, and hedgehogs, all on full display, and very up close and personal - SO COOL!! (Check out the pictures below) Outside, there were quite a few food vendors - everything from gyros ($8.50) to funnel cakes ($6.50 - $8.75) to shrimp ceviche tostadas ($3.75) to humongous curly fry servings ($8.00). The prices were definitely steep, but that was to be expected at a fair. It's my only complaint about these types of events. You already pay a premium to get in, and then you get owned by the food prices, too. It's ok though - it's all a part of the experience. Another really cool part of the San Mateo County Fair were the other animals - everything from an All-Alaskan Pig Race area to rabbits, cows, goats, sheep, and even turkeys! WHAT?! It was pretty neat to see a lot of the animals there. Lastly, the rides and carnival games. Definitely a large assortment of carnival rides - mini roller coasters and plenty of rides for kids, too. We didn't go on any of them because we just had a bunch of junk food and probably wouldn't have held up too well on the rides. But we did partake in the carnival games and I ended up winning a really large prize for my wife - WOOHOO! That was exciting! Normally I get owned by those carnival games. Anyway, a really fun late afternoon/evening. We were there from 5:30pm until about 10pm, and it was time well spent. Great weather complemented the adventure. Wish the prices weren't so steep, but it is definitely one of the better fairs here in the Bay Area. Bring in the whole family for a day of great fun! The fair goes until 6/15!! read more

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Yesterday's visit at the fair was a complete success even if I came home late. I had to go check it out one last time to see what is new this year. I know I haven't had enough time and money so I decided to make the whole visit short. Here are four things to do in the San Mateo County Fair: BUTTERFLY EXHIBIT Inside Redwood Hall, they have plants, honeybees, and of course, butterflies. That is something new I wanted to try, feeding those fluttery critters with nectar on a cotton swab. Butterflies are too delicate to handle, so I the tip of the cotton swab to have any of them putting there tiny legs on it. It was fun knowing butterflies so much I share it with my family and friends. CARNIVAL RIDES I wanted to ride almost everything throughout the entire carnival, but I can ride just one to save the rest of my money. It's too bad they didn't have Gravitron this year (I used to conquer this one that contains 24 RPMs). For over 5 tickets, I chose the Raptor ride, and boy, that was so much fun! CARNIVAL FOOD To me, carnival food is fun to eat when it looks and smells tasty. Even though I see it as junk food, it's still food for nourishment. I can choose anything from juicy burgers to monster corn dogs. But I bought something of less quantity. Thus, my food cravings has guide me to one food truck: We Sushi! I bought the Lobster Crunch and it's the yummiest! LIVESTOCK I never needed to spend much time at the petting zoo since I been there at least once. So, I went inside the livestock area to see large animals. The ones I liked to see the most are the mother pigs. They're so cute when they sleep sideways. And they feel much better moving around their pens rather than the gestation crates. Turkeys, hens, and chickens also feel better moving around their cages. That is how I view farm animals in a beautiful way. Hopefully next year or two, there will be something the county fair must have, and that is the slingshot ride or a reverse bungee. If I were to spend way more time at the county fair, I stick around to see the exact time of where and when the famous hypnotist shows up. read more

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