Summer is around the corner, which can only mean one thing: the 2013 San Diego County Fair is headed to Del Mar.
This year, fair season runs for 24 days -- from Jun. 8 through Jul. 4. Hours of operation are Tuesday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. The fair is closed on Mondays, except July 1.
The theme is “Game On!” and will spotlight classic and nostalgic games, from board games and pinball, to TV, video and computer games, with a focus on how these have evolved over the years. The fair’s main “Game On!” exhibit will include a 10-foot “Monopoly” board and larger-than-life versions of dominos, chess and four-in-a-row for visitors to play.
Admission to the fair this year is $14 for adults, $8 for seniors 62 and older, $8 for kids ages 6 to 12 and free for children 5 and younger.
Besides rides, games and other daily activities, the fair will host several special events during its run this year, including the Big Bite Bacon Fest scheduled for Jun. 16, the San Diego County Fair Wine Festival on Jun. 15, the San Diego International Beer Festival scheduled for Jun. 21-23 and the Gospel Festival on Jun. 29.
The Bacon Fest will showcase endless bacon samples and craft beer samples. Tickets for the pig-out start at $55, which includes fair admission.
Tickets to the Fair Wine Festival cost $58, which includes fair admission, a souvenir tasting glass and unlimited one-ounce samples of wine to taste. Tickets to a session of the Beer Festival cost $55 and include a souvenir cup and samples of more than 300 beers.
Of course, it wouldn’t be the fair without tons of live entertainment hitting center stage. The 2013 San Diego County Fair concert lineup was released earlier this month, and includes notable headliners such as the Beach Boys (Jun. 8), Train (Jun. 27), the Steve Miller Band (Jun. 15) and San Diegan-turned-pop star Adam Lambert (Jul. 2).
For more on the musical line-up, click here.
Finally, those looking forward to indulging in different foods at the fair certainly won’t leave hungry.
Gloriously unhealthy fair foods offered this year in Del Mar include Deep-fried cookie dough, a Krispy Crème Sloppy Joe sandwich, bacon beer, wild boar kebabs, a mac-and-cheese melt sandwich, deep-fried bacon-wrapped pickles and more.
For an up-close look at these fair foods, click here.
And, for more details and information about the 2013 San Diego County Fair, visit this website.
Photo Credit: Getty Images