The San Diego County Fair Tradition
It's that time of year again! My birthday? No. Christmas? No. It's fair time!! One of the most highly anticipated things to do in San Diego during the summer is to attend the San Diego County Fair. Held at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, the SD Fair is over 100 years old. I'm a weirdo & still call it the Del Mar Fair even though they changed the name about 10 years ago. This year's theme is A Fair to Remember: a Celebration of World's Fairs & Balboa Park. Clever, no?
The San Diego County Fair is something I've frequented ever since I was a wee lass; now it's an honored tradition with my boyfriend. We go at least once a year & 2015 was our third year. The Fair opened on June 5 & its last day is July 5. The Fair is closed Mondays as well as the first two Tuesdays. There's so much to do but not much time to do so!
It's nostalgic traipsing around, eyeing the carnival rides, & looking at all the amusing games to play. There's the hoop toss or basketball throw or that thing where you shoot a squirt gun at a target. You can win enormous stuffed animals of Minions (it's so fluffy I'm going to die!!!) , Pokémon, giant donuts or whatever your heart desires.
It's nostalgic traipsing around, eyeing the carnival rides, & looking at all the amusing games to play. There's the hoop toss or basketball throw or that thing where you shoot a squirt gun at a target. You can win enormous stuffed animals of Minions (it's so fluffy I'm going to die!!!) , Pokémon, giant donuts or whatever your heart desires.
Of course it wouldn't be the County Fair if you didn't indulge in a little junk food. It's known for its plethora of fried foods. This time we only got a seemingly simple yet sinfully satiating cinnamon roll smothered in cream cheese frosting. In other years I tried fried Oreos. I was surprised that they actually were pretty appetizing. Obviously, fair food isn't something to indulge in on the regular, but at the fair it's absolutely worth a shot.
Take a spin at the crazy rides. Look at the different animals. Jam out to the live bands. Peruse the woodworking. Browse the gallery of paintings & photography. The Fair is basically a museum, amusement park, & food court all at once with a tiny hint of Disneyland to do your share of people watching. I love seeing all the old couples holding hands, the middle school kids with their crew, & the parents pushing around a stroller while simultaneously chasing after their rambunctious toddler.
The Fair is a longstanding tradition in San Diego. Tickets are $15 but there are a variety of deals if you know where to look. One of my favorite things to do is head over to SD Fair on Friday for the Friday Night Funnies, a comedy show. Do you have a fair local to you? What's it called? What's your favorite thing to do? Which of these photos is your favorite? :]
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Wow, I've never been to a fair, but it sounds like so much fun!
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Never?! Hopefully you can go one day. :]
DeleteFun!!! I've never been but it looks like a really nice place to go!
ReplyDeleteRachelShuchatMakeup
This is so cute! I'd love to visit one of these fairs one day. It's way too hot in Dubai to have any events like this so our day outs are always to the malls!
ReplyDeleteBlog by Iman Iqbal | Fashion, Beauty, & Lifestyle
Oh wow. What's the temperature like on average?
DeleteAhh, the fair looks so fun! I've never been to one before in all my life and it's on my bucket list to indulge in oil-immersed food, sweat and win a million stuffed animals at a fair. Ahhh, I love the photos, too!
ReplyDeleteMay x • THE MAYDEN
You've got to go!!! :]
DeleteMy favorite photo is the Cinnamon bun...I know I should be thinking of my diet, but loving a picture should pack on too much weight. Great post, I actually liked all the pics and the fair seems like a lot of fun. I can't say that I have ever went to any fair outside of Coney Island in New York when I was younger...don't remember much except that it felt like the funnest place on earth.
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A photo of a SIN-amon roll is calorie-free. :]
DeleteI love how these old traditions continue into present-day! Now, looking from the outside, I view these summer fairs as something truly American. While I'm not into amusement rides, I would totally go for the games & junk food haha
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Perhaps it is quite American, seeing as many of my out-of-country readers have never been. :]
DeleteBeautiful photos and I love love love your style of writing! Keep it up!
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Thank you Sydney. :]
DeleteLove this!! Looks gorgeous!!! Funfairs are awesomeee xx
ReplyDeleteFairs are the best! They always has a sense of magic about them
ReplyDeleteMegan || Oh Hey! blog
Magic! That's the perfect word to use. :]
Deletegreat pics
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Aw fairs are so much fun! Yours looks super fancy compared to the ones that come here. There used to be one in the summertime that would be just down the street. It was so much fun and from my home, you could see the ferris wheel all lit up which was beautiful! But unfortunately, it stopped coming years ago which is sad :( Anyway, I hope you had a great time!
ReplyDeleteOlivia | Her Name Was Celebration
San Diego is a big city, so it's a big fair. However, I've been to much smaller ones. :]
DeleteThis fairs aren't a typical thing in Spain, but I wish they were, because they look really fun and a great way to spend the afternoon with your friend, instead of doing the same single thing every afternoon, as happens with me sometimes hahahah
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Absolutely! It's really good for teens who don't have too many other options. :]
DeleteIt looks like a wonderful day out! The first photos shown in this post is really something by the way! :)
ReplyDeleteGabrielle | A Glass Of Ice
x
The one of the big swing thing? I have no idea what it's called. :P
Deletelove it dear!!!
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Vale
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Whoa. We didn´t know fried oreos existed, have to have the recipe ASAP!
ReplyDeleteHope you had a nice time at the fair, the flying chair ride looks amazing :)
I think you can dip Oreos in pancake batter then cook them. :]
DeleteThe San Diego County Fair looks like so much fun, and there really seems like so much to do. I've never really participated in the whole fair tradition, but I might go to the L.A. County Fair next time it's in town. :D
ReplyDelete-Helen
Sweet Helen Grace
I'd like to go to the LA Fair as well. Do you live in LA, Helen? :]
DeleteLooks like fun!!! I love country fairs and next time I am in the States I will definitely visit one too :)
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www.thankstofashion.com
Hopefully you get to enjoy everything a fair has to offer. :]
DeleteOh, Carmen, I love love love this fair! 'Haven't been in ages and you reminded me how much fun it is! Whatever you were eating looked so decadent! You must have had so much fun! xo
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It's definitely fun, especially if you only go once a year. :]
DeleteLooks like a lot of fun! I love these kinds of Fair and, most of it, I love these Fair traditions! I have one with my family where every year we frequent the germany fair that we have in our town. Since my grandma is from germany, it's always special for her.
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Anyway, great pictures too!
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That sounds amazing. I bet fairs in Germany have a lot to offer. :]
DeleteI'm from southern Maryland so our fairs had a bit of a country flare, but the San Diego one looks incredible. And such a great summer tradition! Your pictures are gorgeous!
ReplyDeletexo
Bre
Country flare county fairs sound pretty cool too. :]
DeleteSo much FUN :)
ReplyDeleteBisous from France,
*-* Sand. *-*
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looks like so much home :)
ReplyDeletexx
http://anoddgirl.blogspot.com.au
Wow! This looks like such a fun place!
ReplyDeleteWritingMonique
I have fond memories as a kid going to my county fair every year! There is something about them that brings out the child in all of us! Lovely pics! xo
ReplyDeleteMcKenna
stylewaltz.com
Exactly. A little bit of our childhood comes out to play.:]
Deleteamazing!
ReplyDeleteI love going to the fair! This looks like so much fun!
ReplyDeleteHayley-Eszti | www.hayleyeszti.com
It amazes me how creative "fair" food is getting! We're heading back to Canada this weekend to my bf's hometown where they have a big rodeo (yes...haha) and their pride and joy is what sort of weird stuff they can deep fry...including ice cream popsicles with chunks of donut inside!
ReplyDeleteThis looks and sounds like so much fun! I've been a couple of times to smaller fairs and it was always a good time :)
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