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Home | Preserve Tradition at the 2011 Sonoma-Marin Fair

Preserve Tradition at the 2011 Sonoma-Marin Fair

Summertime is fair time, and the first fair of the season is Petaluma's Sonoma-Marin Fair, which takes place at the Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds from Wednesday June 22 through Sunday, June 26. The Sonoma-Marin Fair is not quite but almost a county fair, and offers a wide range of fun and exciting attractions, competitions, events, and activities for the entire family. This year's Sonoma-Marin Fair theme is "Preserve Tradition".

Come see livestock shows, exhibits, chef demonstrations, Hambone Express pig racing, a destruction derby, and even the renowned World's Ugliest Dog Contest! There's also a cowboy boot camp, art, craft, and model-making workshops, wine tasting, and of course traditional carnival rides, including a kiddie carnival for younger children.

And what would a fair be without live music? The Sonoma-Marin Fair has scheduled the ne plus ultra of county fair musical acts, Rick Springfield, along with the Charlie Daniels Band, '70s rock icons Blue Öyster Cult, and more.

As with most fairs, there's a ton of stuff to do and see, so check their website for a complete schedule of activities, concerts, events, and entertainment. Special days this season include:

  • Wednesday, June 22: Kids' Day—check out attractions specifically designed for kids and teens, and enjoy admission at the$10 kids' price for everyone before 5 pm.
  • Thursday, June 23: Seniors' Day—$2 admission for seniors
  • Friday, June 24: AG Day—Check out livestock shows and the Dog Lover's Festival, with the World's Ugliest Dog Contest events starting at 4:30 pm
  • Saturday, June 25: Farmers' Day—Special Farmers' Day events includ calf and pig scrambles, Marin vs. Sonoma tug-of-war, a wild cow milking contest, a diaper derby, and more.
  • Sunday, June 26: Family Day—Great music, activities, the destruction derby, and Fiesta Latina

Admission prices include all entertainment, concerts, and carnival rides (destruction derby admission extra). Admission at the gate is $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 4 to 12, and $8 for seniors 65+. If you order online in advance, you can get tickets at the discounted rate of $12 for adults, $8 for children, and $7 for seniors (processing fees apply to online ticket purchases).

Fair hours are 1 to 11 pm on Wednesday, June 22 and Thursday, June 23, noon to midnight on Friday, June 24 and Saturday, June 25, and noon to 11 pm on Sunday, June 26. Gates close at 10 pm each evening. The Sonoma-Marin Fairgrounds are located at 175 Fairgrounds Drive in Petaluma, off East Washington Street on the west side of Highway 101.

For more information on the Sonoma-Marin Fair, visit www.sonoma-marinfair.org or call (707) 283-FAIR.