First, I’ll just address the elephant in the room and that’s the title of this post, “5 Things to Do at the Del Mar Fair…”. Yes I realize the name has changed and it’s now the “San Diego County Fair in Del Mar” but growing up in San Diego I have fond memories of the Fair and calling it something other than the Del Mar Fair just doesn’t evoke the same sense of nostalgia.

Today is the opening day of the fair and this year’s theme is A Fair to Remember: A Celebration of World’s Fairs and Balboa Park in honor of the 100th anniversary of the Panama-California Exposition. I couldn’t be more excited about the theme because Balboa Park is one of my absolute favorite places in the world! If someone asks me what to do when they visit San Diego, Balboa Park is always on the top of my list. Last Friday, I had the honor of attending the Del Mar Fair’s Media Party where I got a sneak peek of what’s in store. My takeaway, was a stomach filled with my quota of deep fried food for the year and 5 things I recommend check out to truly make this “A Fair to Remember”. 

1. Try the newest fair foods– I’m all about healthy eating and living but I also know that sometimes it’s ok to splurge. The Fair will give you the perfect excuse to try some interesting but not so healthy foods. This year, on the menu are treats including a Krispy Kreme Slider with 3 patties. Enjoy the slider for lunch, but then make room for dessert with the Sweet Corn Ice Cream. And if you’re feeling a little sluggish in the late afternoon, then why not try Deep Fried Starbucks for a caffeine boost! PRO TIP– The fair allows you to bring in your own snacks and factory sealed beverages. I recommended bringing in a few sealed water bottles for something healthy and refreshing to chase down all the Fair foods. 

2. Celebrate the environment at the 16th Annual Enviro fair Locally Grown Festival-  Not into the crazy deep fried foods? Then check out the Locally Grown Festival, dedicated to the memory of Loren Nancarrow, on Saturday, June 6 from 10am to 5pm in the Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show area. This event is free with Fair admission. Fairgoers will learn firsthand about a variety of topics including organic and sustainable farming, pollution prevention, and healthy living in this beautiful market setting. You can also buy a ticket to enjoy an unforgettable dining experience that night at the Farm to Table Dinner, a garden affair featuring five courses paired with award-winning wine and beer. Chef Barry and participating farmers will walk you through each pairing in this exclusive dining experience. Find the full details for the Enviro Fair HERE. 

3. Run the San Diego County Fair 5K–  Bet you didn’t know there are many more ways to enjoy a healthier day at the Fair! If you are into indulging  in Fair food and want to eat your way through the fair guilt free then I recommend running the San Diego County Fair 5K before the fair opens on Saturday June 20th.  The race starts at 8am and it’s an all ages, one of a kind VIP behind the scenes experience at the fair before it opens! Get ready to run, skip, and stroll your way through the fair and see all of the attractions before crowds. Your race entry includes a free ticket to the Fair, another ticket for future use plus more hookups! Sign up for the San Diego County Fair 5K HERE.

4. Get your culture on at the Asian Festival Day- This is a hat tip to my good friends over at Silk Road Productions. I have been working with them to host and emcee many events in the San Diego Asian Community and I’m happy to announce that they are producing a unique event at the Fair on Sunday June 14th, the inaugural Asian Festival Day. This is a celebration of Asian and Pacific Islander cultures, featuring music, dance and martial arts performances, as well as fashion and community-based organizations representing China, Philippines, India, Korea, Japan, Polynesia, Indonesia, and Vietnam. You will enjoy cultural performances from 10am-3pm, a dance competition from 3pm-7pm and close the night with a DJ concert! Find the full details for the Asian Festival Day at the Fair HERE.

5. Keep your fair memories alive by creating more memories outside of the Fair-  If you save your 2015 Fair admission stub and you can get a free or discounted adult admission various attractions in Balboa Park and beyond including The San Diego Model Railroad Museum, Marston House Museum, The San Diego Museum of Art, Museum of Photographic Arts, Whaley House (Old Town San Diego) and Warner Carrillo Ranch House (Warner Springs).

Who will be attending the Fair this year? If you plan to go,  please feel free to share with me what you look forward to the most.  Oh and check out some ways to score discounts and save money at the Fair.