San Diego County Fair begins final week before the finale on July 7

The final week of this year’s San Diego County Fair – the biggest and oldest community celebration in the region – begins Wednesday, June 3, and ends Sunday, July 7.

This is the first year since 2015 that the San Diego County Fair has run beyond July 4. This will allow San Diegans to enjoy the Fair and everything it has to offer throughout the holiday weekend.

Fairgoers can save money this week by buying tickets online in advance. San Diegans can also use public transportation to arrive at the Fair without any parking costs; if they take the NCTD and MTS Fair Tripper, they essentially get their transportation for free because the price of admission is included in the round-trip transportation to and from the Fair, with free shuttle service from Solana Beach Station.

The week starts on Wednesday with the final day of Pepsi Pay-One-Price Wristbands. That night, Yung Gravy with Special Guest Tayler Holder play the Corona Grandstand Stage.

Thursday’s lineup includes a concert on the Chevrolet Paddock Stage from the Village People and patriotic activities including the Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular – a 12-minute, high-octane pyrotechnic show that will light the night’s sky with bright and bold sparklers at 9 p.m. Seats are available in the Grandstand, and doors open at 7:30 p.m.

On Friday, the Chevrolet Paddock Stage will again feature EDM “Electronic Fridays,” on Friday night with DIZZI spinning the tunes.

Saturday includes “American Idol” star Iam Tongi on the Chevrolet Paddock Stage, comedy shows in the Turf Club, and the final edition of Saturdays at The Sound, featuring Stickmen Project, a Las Vegas-style show featuring an anonymous DJ and percussion duo.

Sunday, July 7 is Domingueando en la Feria with Spanish-language entertainment, including pop rock band Hombres G, which will close out the Toyota Summer Concert Series.

The Fair’s final day will also feature the Burn Institute’s Burn Run Fire Truck Parade and Demolition Derby. The event promises to be a fun time as brave firefighters from across the region compete in a thrilling demolition derby. This family-friendly event is exciting, including interactive safety demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a chance to meet local heroes.

The week will also feature Monster Trucks and Freestyle Motocross at the Del Mar Arena from July 3-6. Fairgoers will hear the revving of the engines before they can set their sights on these all-terrain vehicles.

Here is a breakdown of some of what the week will feature:

Wednesday, July 3

• Toyota Summer Concert Series: Yung Gravy with special guest Tayler Holder.
• Taste of the Fair: Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., every food stand offers a taster-size portion of a favorite Fair fare for only $5.
• The FINAL Pepsi Pay-One-Price Ride Day for the 2024 San Diego County Fair: Unlimited rides between 11 a.m. and 8 p.m. with the purchase of a wristband. One-credit game discounts are available concurrently.
• Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series: James Garner with a Tribute to Johnny Cash.
• Del Mar Arena: Monster Trucks & FMX.
• Hypnotist Chris Mabrey.
• La L-Gancia De Tierra Caliente on the Michelob Ultra Avenue Stage

Thursday, July 4 

• Toyota Summer Concert Series: Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular.
• Taste of the Fair: Between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., every food stand offers a taster-size portion of a favorite Fair fare for only $5.
• Patriotic Parade along The Avenue.
• Hobby Horse Races and Most Patriotic Dressed contest at the Funville Stage.
• Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series: Village People
• Monster Trucks, Motocross, and Lawn Mower Races
• Winetasting with Woof ‘n Rose Winery
• Ballet Folklorico.

Friday, July 5

• Kids 12 and under get free admission.
• Papa Doo Run on the Paddock Stage
• Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series: Papa Doo Run Run
• Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series: Chris Diaz.
• AI, Photography, and the Photo Show
• Lacemaking Demonstration

Saturday, July 6

• Saturdays at The Sound: The Stickmen Project.
• LOL Comedy Nights: Jen Murphy, Leah Bonnema, and Murray Valentine.
• Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series: Iam Tongi
• What Mineral Is This?
• Nerveless Nocks
• The Big Bad (and by bad, we mean good) Wolf

Sunday, July 7

• Domingueando en la Feria: Hispanic Sundays entertainment at various stages.
• Toyota Summer Concert Series: Hombres G
• Banda Raices Sinaloenses
• Fire Expo presented by the San Diego Burn Institute
• Demolition Derby
• Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series: Duets, Divas on Fire! Tina & Whitney…

Don’t miss Daily

• “Let’s Go Retro” theme exhibit.
• Great American Petting Farm.
• Destination: Unknown speakeasy.
• Swifty Swine Pig Races.
• Circus Luminescence.
• The Flying Royals.
• That 70s Bird Show
• The Wilder Show.
• Milking demonstrations
• Quilting, crafting, and makers’ demonstrations.
• Home-made exhibits.
• Design in Wood and Gems & Minerals exhibits.
• Shopping in exhibit halls.
• Flower and Garden shows.

The San Diego County Fair is the largest annual event in the county with an attendance of nearly 1 million. The theme for the 2024 Fair is “Let’s Go Retro,” a nostalgic voyage from the ’50s through the start of the new millennium. The 20-day Fair season will run from June 12 through July 7, with closures on Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information, visit sdfair.com.

Photo by Thomas Melville