San Diego County Fair Opens Friday June 1, 2018

2023 Carlsbad Oktoberfest

Friday June 1st  is Opening Day at the 2018 San Diego County Fair in Del Mar – that’s just 3 weeks away! Our nation’s largest county fair runs through July 4, and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays except July 2nd and July 3rd. This year’s theme is “How Sweet it Is

Our world-famous Del Mar Fair Grounds offer a wide range of events throughout the year, including trade expos like the House and Garden Show, and concerts. In addition to the San Diego County Fair, the fairgrounds are probably best known for the Thoroughbred Racing Season which will run July 18th through September 3rd this year.

The fair offers an amazing array of exhibits and attractions, rides and games, tons of animals, and a very busy and eclectic concert schedule. And if you get hungry, you’ll find numerous food and drink options to suit just about every taste and budget.

There are special events as well (tickets are extra), including the 1-day Toast of the Coast wine competition and festival, and the 3-day San Diego International Beer Festival.

Tickets for the fair can be ordered online. You can indulge yourself with a Season Pass for $28, which allows admission for all 26 days of the San Diego County Fair, if spending 1 day at the fair is just not enough for you. Parking at the fairgrounds is $15 with $25 for preferred parking. You can find parking offsite as well with shuttles to the main gate.

Everyone knows how busy traffic can be during fair time, on side roads including the Coast Road/Route 101, and in particular on the 5 freeway heading north and south near the Via de la Valle exit. And you should expect rush hour in the afternoon will be even worse than usual. Consider this in your planning, whether you are traveling to the fair grounds or are commuting north and south including on weekends.

San Diego County Fair is located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Boulevard (just off the 5 freeway at the Via de la Valle exit) in Del Mar, “Where the Turf Meets the Surf.”

Call for information at 858-755-1161.