The DEL MAR FAIR

Picture of the Del Mar Fair down the Fairway by Pooja

Del Mar Fair

So, in San Diego we have always called it the "Del Mar Fair" because it IS in Del Mar, and it was historically known as the "Del Mar fair" to introduce the racing season in Del Mar.  Calling it the San Diego County Fair, I guess, works on paper.   Only the newbies to San Diego call it the SD County Fair.  Those of us locals say:  Are you going to the "delmarfair" this year?  Who are the headliners this year at the "fair"?  I'll get the corn on the cob and the tasty chips at the "delmarfair".  We need to get the "delmarFair" cinnamon rolls.  To paraphrase Shakespeare:  What's in a name, right?

 Well, whatever, we'll still go and pay a fortune in food and kids' activities.  We'll go to see the baby animals and the huge bulls.  We like reading what the "heart attack cafe" is selling.  I like going to the art displays, the carnival games, woodworking, Bing Crosby's Hall, Gingerbread cookie house's strawberry lemonade, and looking at the schools' senior yearbooks.

TANGENT:  visiting the yearbooks-

[Just pass by the Mt. Carmel HS yearbook; it is really embarrassing.  I'm REALLY sorry to do this to you MC, because I have "nothin but love for you", but the yearbook writing was really bad!  It's really sad because the Class of 2012 was SPECTACULAR in their achievements and awards!  You SUNDEVILS had an awesome year but, seriously, YEARBOOK STAFF did you run out of time?

What's wrong with it you ask?  For the most part the photos are good but  . . . .  .The written portions, however, are/were not proofed.  The spelling is atrocious!  the word "COMPETITION" is spelled just as I've spelled it, not "compition".  (See girls tennis page).  The font used is unreadable and requires a magnifying glass.  I think this is what happened: they developed a theme, and uploaded a bunch of "cool" pictures, and the writing just went by the wayside because: someone had to type all of the information into the program.  Kids being kids, it wasn't proofed (in this day of TEXTING).  NEWSFLASH:  spellcheckers don't really work!  (The word "apart" indicates "divided", it does not mean "in addition to").  The yearbook staff omitted names and titles under the captions, and, those names that were/are listed are probably in a 2 or 3 font (10 and 12 are typically normal).   At 40, when all of those kids are wearing reading glasses, those captions will be a smeared blur when they try to read them at their reunions.  Sorry SUNDEVILS, I really love your school, but you will not be winning any yearbook awards at the "delmarfair" this year.  Try again next year.]

Back to the fair:

I used to think that I could just go by one of the food stands and pick up a quick bite and find a piece of wall to sit under.  Nope, can't do that anymore, my OLD butt can't handle that.  I have to sit and enjoy my meal; besides, where are the kids (teens and up) going to return to in order to beg for more money?  YEP you guessed it, to Mom and Dad!  They return to where my hubbie and I are eating, dutifully holding their bags of junk, 40 lb. stuffed animals and bowls of goldfish, to say that they've run out of money!  Dad always wears his green Crazy Shirt that says he's the Good OLE BANK OF DAD.  24/7 ATM. 

Another fish, yippeee. . . . . . .  .NOT!

So all of the IRC's have seasonal tickets to the fair.  Goodrich has the season pass for $13 through employees.  Northrop Grumman has the season ticket for $14 (fundraiser); for that price, you are admitted to the fair, any and every day, during the season.  If you plan on going to the fair a lot, especially the concerts, it's worth the money.  If your IRC doesn't have the seasonal pass, you can purchase a 1-day ticket packet at Costco for $57.  It includes a meal and drinks and parking pass for 4.  We did that last year and found out that you basically get admission and parking.  The "meal" depends on which vendor you select and they have a "special" for those ticket holders.  (In other words, it's what they pick and size for you).  GOTTA LOVE THE DEL MAR FAIR!!  I'll have another cinnamon roll please!