San Diego County Fair

June 8-July 4, 2022

The Del Mar Fairgrounds
2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd.
Del Mar, California 92014
sdfair.com
Free parking Via de la Valle & El Camino Real, Del Mar, CA

The San Diego County Fair never disappoints! Signaling the start of summer, this quintessential Southern California favorite beats the heck out of competitors with its fabulous Del Mar Race Track that the sky chair travels over for fair guests to see and enjoy.

2024 Concerts -special ticket required

These Shows All Include Same-Day Admission To The San Diego County Fair. For The Best Seats In The House, Purchase Tickets Early. Ticketed concerts, $35-125 approx., ticketmaster.com

• June 12, 2024 Kolohe Kai
• June 13, 2024 Old Dominion
• June 14, 2024 TLC
• June 16, 2024 Pepe Aguilar
• June 19, 2024 Whiskey Myers
• June 21, 2024 Kings Of Late Night with Arsenio Hall, Jay Leno and Craig Ferguson
• June 23, 2024 Pancho Barraza
• June 26, 2024 Smokey Robinson
• June 27, 2024 Little Big Town
• June 28, 2024 Ludacris
• June 30, 2024 Los Tucanes De Tijuana
• July 3, 2024 Yung Gravy With Special Guest Tayler Holder
• July 4 , 2024, 9 p.m.  Fireworks Spectacular at Grandstand Stage - General admission standing room only ticket is free, $20-25 for upgrades with seats
• July 7, 2024 Hombres G

Special events 2024

• Native American PowWow June 30, 2024, 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m.  Included with fair ticket admission
• Pink Floyd Laser Show June 15, 2024, 8 p.m. $30 ticket
• Iluminate June 22, 2024, 8 p.m.  $30 ticket Combines best acts of America's Got Talent with technology & dance
• Lumia June 29, 2024, 8 p.m. $30 ticket. Journey through the Metaverse
• The Stickmen Project July 6, 2024, 8 p.m. $30 ticket EDM (electronic dance music) show

 

Hollywood's stars all have enjoyed watching thoroughbred horse racing here. But don't overlook the fair. In recent years mini-festivals inside the fairgrounds have added more buzz. They've turned themed music events into festivals that are often free with fair admission.

Then there's the wine or beer festivals, ticketed events as add-ons to the popular fair fare.  Each year you just never know what to expect but it's always a hoot.

Daily contests for fairgoers include activities similar to these: Pie Eating Contest, Watermelon Seed Spitting Contest, family look-alike and more.

Compete in your age group - no hands or forks allowed but bibs will be provided. Contest: Daily; noon on the Plaza Stage Registration Deadline: No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest. All ages welcome. Hula hoop contests, potato sack races or many other traditional contests vary from year to year. No pre-registration. Enter at the Fair just before the contest.

San Diego County Fair at Del Mar Fairgrounds is a tradition to many, and an exciting, new adventure to those who have never visited. Unlike the fairs some of us grew up with that were held out in pastures, dirt fields, and in weather that was nearly unbearably hot, Del Mar redefines what a fair is about.

The ocean location, San Diego's coastal mild climate, the DelMar Horse Racing tradition (and Hollywood's long-time passion for it,) and a fairground that is clean, fairly dust-free, and filled with entertainment, makes it easy to spend the day, take the family, and have plenty of food, fun and entertainment without feeling tired and worn out.

Many do not realize that San Diego County is the top producer of nursery and wood ornamentals in the state of California, so it takes a county fair to discover just how much there is to see and explore.

Start your fair experience with the Skyride, which takes you above the entire fair and even above the racetrack! You get a bird's eye view of the event so you can map it out in your mind easier.

Beautiful weather, a history of the Hollywood crowd, and the wealth of talent in the region all make ingredients for a part urban, part country fair that has one of the longest runs of any county fair in the nation. San Diego County Fair is an urban fair primarily. It features the cattle, livestock, pet animal competitions, huge buildings with vendor displays and sales, and competitions. But you rarely feel as if you are going to get your sandals dirty walking around the fairgrounds that are mostly paved or lined with green lawns.

The entertainment runs the gamut from balloon artists and kiddie shows, to musical acts on various stages, and cultural focus. San Diego C0unty Fair is one of the best attended California fairs and features an incredible run of nearly four weeks.

San Diego Fairgrounds in Del Mar host many events throughout the year, with a seasonal favorite, the Holiday of Lights. The Del Mar Thoroughbred Horse Racing and Track is located at the fairgrounds, and the racing season runs from mid-July through early September.