The annual San Diego County Fair is one of the most beloved summer events for San Diego residents and visitors alike. Usually held at the oceanside Del Mar Fairgrounds and attracting more than 1.5 million fairgoers annually, the San Diego County Fair is San Diego’s largest event, the largest fair on the west coast and the fifth largest in the nation.
Postponed until 2021, the theme of this year's event was "Heroes Unite!" Instead of focusing on the fictional characters of comic books, the theme will be carried over into 2021, and now fittingly pay tribute to the health care staff and other essential employees who have emerged as heroes amid the Coronavirus epidemic.
While the pandemic has led to county fairs being cancelled around the U.S., folks looking for their fair fix this summer can find it in San Diego, thanks to these unique experiences and activities around the county.
The annual indulgence of deep-fried Oreos and Twinkies, corn dogs, funnel cakes and more can be satisfied at the San Diego County Fair's drive-thru Food Fix, open 12 noon – 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 12 noon – 6 p.m. Sundays through Labor Day. A popular fair vendor, Chicken Charlies has three San Diego locations and serves crazy food items like fried avocados, fried PB&Js, bacon wrapped pickles and cotton candy ice cream sandwiches at its Grossmont Center restaurant.
Fairgoers love the livestock exhibits and competitions, and the Children's Nature Retreat in Alpine in rural East County allows guests to get up close and personal with more than 120 domesticated livestock and exotic animals from around the world including horses, cows, goats, mules, zebra, camels and more. Open daily, guests can see farm animals including pigs, goats, chickens and donkeys at the Bates Nut Farm in Valley Center. Oma's Pumpkin Patch in Lakeside offers monthly family events when guests can view various farm animals including cows, horses, sheep and more, as well as learn about different aspects of agriculture like dairy and cow milking.
Beautiful flowers are always in bloom at the San Diego County Fair, from the popular Floral Design Competition to the Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show. Flower lovers can enjoy beautiful floral displays this summer in Balboa Park, home of the Botanical Building and 13 stunning gardens, including the Japanese Friendship Garden and award-winning Inez Grant Parker Memorial Rose Garden. The San Diego Botanic Garden in Encinitas features 37 acres of numerous themed gardens displaying beautiful blooms and unusual plants from around the world.
Fairgoers can typically spend hours walking through the popular fine art and photography competitions in search of the next Monet, Rodin or Ansel Adams. This year, photography buffs can view a Virtual Photography Show highlighting the picture-perfect 2020 entries that will roll into next year's photography show competition. Art aficionados can also discover award-winning sculptures by taking a self-guided tour of the Stuart Collection on the campus of the University of California, San Diego in La Jolla. The Murals of La Jolla feature massive painted and photographic works by local artists and international contemporary art stars and can be found with a self-guided map.
With San Diego being the "Craft Beer Capital of America," it's no surprise the San Diego County Fair's annual San Diego International Beer Competition always attracts large crowds, with many local breweries winning top honors. Beer enthusiasts can still quench their thirst at more than 180 breweries in San Diego and enjoy many of the 2019 competition award winners. Some of San Diego's gold winners are Coronado Brewing Company's "Mermaid's Red" for an American-Style Amber; Bay City Brewing Company's "Bay City Pale Ale" for an American-Style Strong Pale Ale; AleSmith Brewing Company's "AleSmith Nut Brown" for an American-Style Brown Ale, and Societe Brewing Company's "The Harlot" for a Hybird Belgian-Style Ale to name a few.
Located along the Mission Beach boardwalk, the Belmont Park Midway is lined with six carnival-style games where friends and families can compete against each other for prizes. After the games, visitors can continue the friendly competition on the park's Rock Wall, Coconut Climb, Sky Ropes, and Tiki Town Mini Golf course.
From finding the newest vegetable chopper to learning about the latest designs in kitchens and bathrooms, fairgoers look forward to strolling the endless aisles of home furnishing and home improvement vendors. Visitors can have a similar experience by strolling the Upper Girard Design District along Girard Avenue in La Jolla, which offers numerous home-furnishing stores ideal for shoppers seeking unique luxury home décor items and ideas. Solana Beach's Cedros Avenue Design District is also home to a bevy of home décor and design shops.
