2019 San Diego County Fair-OZSome (Part One-before it opens)

mmm-yoso!!!, the blog about food has no food photos today...so you can skip if that's why you are here.  There are a few suggestions contained within and in a couple of weeks a 'Part Two' will reveal some tasty treats enjoyed.  Cathy is writing; Kirk is (still) on vacation.

Here is a link to Part Two

The San Diego County Fair officially opens at 4 p.m. today.  The Theme this year is "OZsome"... Reflected in the Front Gate design which includes a Yellow Brick Road and the Emerald City, along with poppy and corn fields.  The inspiration for the Fair is L. Frank Baum's classic children's novel,  The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, which The Library of Congress declared "America's greatest and best-loved homegrown fairytale." Its groundbreaking success and the success of the Broadway musical adapted from the novel led Baum to write thirteen additional Oz books that serve as official sequels to the first story.  (The 1939 musical film adaptation starring Judy Garland, which we see on TV every year is not at all as detailed as the original Children's novels).

The view down the Midway (with the Ferris wheel at the West end) is amazing without the crowds.  The corncob inflatable is a bit more realistic this year, with roasted corn kernels and three dimensional husk.  Next to that booth is the Mediterranean gyros booth, which I mentioned in my (only) 2018 County Fair post, where we purchased a wonderful food offering of bacon baklava.


Home and Hobby, the 'Heart' of the Fair has had entries already judged.
Table Settings will be displayed together on one of the outdoor patios. 
 Collections have so many unique entries this year.


 Crafts.  There are many hand made crafting Divisions.


 Quilting has a Fair Theme display.

Preserved foods, 

baked goods, candies,
and decorated cakes were judged yesterday.
The various Guilds will be represented, giving daily demonstrations. 

The Gingerbread Shop is advertising two Oz-centric treats.  Here's a link to the various food offerings at the 2019 Fair.

Map of food stands.
 The 2019 San Diego County Fair is going to be Awesome OZsome!

2019 San Diego County Fair Website Open May 31-July 4.  Closed Mondays and Tuesdays in June. Free Parking at Torrey Pines High School at noon on weekdays and weekends, MiraCosta College on weekends.  (Horse Park parking is now $5) Discount admission tickets sold at Vons and Albertsons

 

Comments

[Soo]

Thanks for the fair preview! I'm gonna try out the food next week. :-)

[Cathy]

I read the menu of one of the eating places inside the Ecke Garden Show area, Emerald Farm Eatery, and it looks good, with Oz-theme choices, just not wild and crazy fried Fair food, Soo. We will probably wait a week or so before going the first time this year.

[RedDevil]

Look forward to your fair posts every year!

[Cathy]

Thanks, RD. I'll have two more posts- During and After the Fair. If you look at prior posts, you'll see we tend to go to 'usual' booths and then try one or two 'new' items each year. Because there was more of an emphasis on 'unicorn' foods last year and I've seen a few 'Oz-centric themed offerings this year, those will be part of the posts.

[kat]

looks like it will be a fun event.

[Cathy]

I think it will be, Kat. The Fair attracts about 1.6 million visitors and is the largest event in San Diego County. The coordination of the theme with decor and food choices shows a determination to not keep it 'the same' every year and children attending will have different memories.

[caninecologne]

I am so excited about this year's fair! I love the "Oz" theme and it looks like Home & Hobby got their act together after last year's poorly displayed exhibits. Thanks for always previewing the fair for us readers. :)

[Cathy]

I'm more interested in this year's Fair, too, cc! I think maybe the whole 'Sweet' theme of last year and thought of candy everywhere was off-putting. Home and Hobby had new people working/in charge last year and some of the changes made then worked, other changes didn't and this year there is a happy medium.