The 2011 San Diego County Fair- Part One: Before it opens

mmm-yoso!!! is a blog, concentrating on food with explanations.  Just some writings that Kirk, ed(from Yuma) and Cathy, (as well as a few other friends) post online.  Today, Cathy is posting online.

Yes, it's that time of year again and on Friday morning at 11 a.m., the fifth largest County Fair in the nation opens.  Right here, in San Diego. I've done a few posts about each San Diego County Fair since 2007 and just don't enjoy change, so here is the 2011 version.

I've been to the Fairgrounds a few times already this year, seeing things shape up and will post a few "before" and "after" photos so you can get a small taste of what awaits you and let you sort of see how it happened.
Before Memorial Day, the front gate entrance was a shell, Don Diego was 'naked'...
Today, the Theme (Race to the Fair) is decorating the front gate, Don Diego is clothed (and apparently starting the races) and there is excitement in the air.

A few weeks ago, the midway was barely set up.
Yesterday, you can see the rides are set up, the booths are filled with product and people are bustling around.
You can see Chicken Charlie's, way down the aisle there...pretty much alone.

Now, the other Chicken Charlie Booth is set up, and so is everything around it...
The entrance to Home and Hobby (what I like to call the "heart' of the Fair) was clearly seen before Memorial Day.
Now, it's just behind the giant Ice Cream Cone.

 
The Preserved Foods have been judged.

and are on display in multiple cases on the second floor...

The hundreds of quilt entries have been judged...

and are also on display all around the second floor.
Hundreds of cookies were just judged and will have ribbons and be on display, along with
decorated cakes, candies, breads and other baked goods...and collections...there are a lot this year.  I got a peek at the "Best of Show" of all the hobbies and collections.  It's titled "Race to the Historic Back Country Diners of San Diego County"...and I am inspired!
The back side of the main entrance, is already greeting you back for next year...but there is so much which will be happening...daily contests get you in the gate for free if you are entering.

Check out hours(the Fair is closed on all Mondays except July 4), specials (Tuesdays most food booths offer sample sizes of some items for $2, there is free parking  with free transportation to the front gate in school buses and a few Double Deckers and you can buy discounted tickets at all San Diego County Albertsons stores) and the new food items(Chocolate covered hot dog on a stick, batter fried jalapeños stuffed with a Snickers bar and much more) all on the website: www.SDFair.com

 

I hope to see you there!

 

Comments

[caninecologne]

hi cathy - very nice preview of the fair! i was lucky enough to be gifted with free tix to the fair so i am definitely looking forward to going! free is always good. well, the food won't be free but it will be fun (and probably disgusting) to see what the husband will try eating this year. don't know about the deep fried koolaid though.

i've always enjoyed your fair posts...looking forward to seeing the collections as well!

[Alyssa]

I scored some free tickets to the fair, so it's nice to know what I'll be in for. I'm looking forward to going, if only to marvel at the newest concoctions that the vendors have come up with.

[kirbie]

I love seeing the before and after pictures of everything. It's so interesting! Can't wait to read part 2 of your post

[Faye]

I am going next Tues. It's $3 admission if you go to Albertsons (I think you have to purchase min $5 of items there). But that, on top of the $2 sample Tues, yesss!!! I have not been to the fair in YEARS so I really hope we make it next tues .

Hope to see your food posts from your next visit!

[ed (from Yuma)]

Great post. Love the before/after shots. And the quilts. And race to the diners -- now that's so mmm-yoso!

[Cathy]

Thanks, cc! The deep fried Kool-Aid looks like fresh made donut holes with the dough flavored with dry cherry flavored Kool-Aid. There are some very interesting collections (including a year of toilet paper tubes)...

Good on the free admission, Alyssa. If you use the free parking, then you'll have even more $$$ to spend on tasty treats or gadgets. Don't forget the reasons for County Fair-for Farmers to show off their harvest, the skillful and animals that have been raised.

Thanks, Kirbie! I've tried to make each group of annual posts different.

If you can't get in this Tuesday, Faye, I may be able to get you some tickets. Since you haven't gone in a while, Tuesdays are good days to be able to taste a bunch of items. I'll be posting about a one day contest in addition to some of the more interesting as well as 'healthier' food choices.

Exactly, ed! I did post about Smokey's Lake Hodges Diner last year, but never thought of doing all the back country diners in the county...wish I had thought of it!

[Carol]

I've been waiting for this post. :-) I saw a shot of the chocolate covered corn dog this morning on Fox 5 news. It did not look very appetizing but the fried onion rings looked delicious. I really want to go this year but with so much going on this month, not sure if we'll make it out there.

[Cathy]

I crave good onion rings too, Carol. I'll try to let you live vicariously with some good follow on posts.:)

[PedMa]

KoonThai is now open. Ms.PedMa has been 3 times now, pretty authentic. Had moo ping, boat noodle, fish ball noodle, sukiyaki, they have some good stuff on the menu. Ask for Com and say Cookie sent you!