Sonoma County Fairs on the Cheap

Add it all up—admission, rides, the miscellaneous food on a stick, the cotton candy you regret on the stomach churning coaster –fairs aren’t cheap. But they are a tradition, and do you want your kid to grow up without having childhood memories of the fair?

Here a couple tips for keeping a day at the Fair from being a budget buster:

• Pick the fair food you can’t live without in advance, and plan to buy only that one. If the scent of kettle corn is firmly entrenched in your childhood memories, go ahead and splurge (and let your family decide the fair food they crave), but pack a lunch—and a dinner if you’ll be there for the long haul. Don’t pack alcohol or glass or metal containers—they’ll be taken from you at the gate. If you want to keep the Fair mood, put your lunch on a stick. C’mon, if they can fry Twinkie and put it on a stick, you can put a peanut butter sandwich on a wooden skewer. All’s fair in fair food.

• Pack water, twice as much as you think you’ll need. Freeze water the night before, and you’ll be thanking yourself when you are out in the sun the next day.

• Carpool. Parking is free but challenging at the Sonoma Marin Fair, and $5-$8 at the Sonoma County Fair.

• If your kids are small, and it’s not too long a drive, get your hand stamped, and go home for a nap in the afternoon. Everyone will enjoy an evening at the fair better after a rest. Or pack a blanket and pillow in the car, and find a shady stretch of grass nearby for a quick rest.

• If your kids are big enough to want to be on the rides all, day, go on a pay-one-price day for unlimited rides (the Sonoma-Marin Fair is pay-one-price every day, The Sonoma County Fair pay one price days are Tuesdays, July 28 & August 4 Wednesdays, July 29 & August 5 Thursdays, July 30 & August 6 11 am- 10 pm and Fridays either from 11 am-5pm or 5pm-10 pm).

• If your kids are small enough to get tired quickly, pick instead a special price day, and pay for the rides separately. (The Sonoma Marin Fair includes rides everyday, but has an “Everyone pays Kid price of $10 on Wednesday and Seniors day ticket in Tuesday for $2 for seniors; the Sonoma County Fair offers free admission to kids on both Thursdays).

Some other special offers:

Discounts for advance tickets to the Sonoma County Fair

Through July 27 you can purchase discounted admission and carnival coupons at all Sonoma County Mary’s Pizza locations and at Friedman’s Home Improvement Stores.

Monday – Friday HERO DAYS at the Sonoma County Fair

Active duty Police, Fire and Military heroes (along with up to 4 family members) can purchase a special wristband good for unlimited rides for $15 any weekday (M – F) of the Fair. Credentials are required to receive the discount.

Groups of 10 or more Save at the Sonoma County Fair Races

Save 20% when you bring a group of 10 or more to the races. It’s just $10 per person for fair admission and a seat in the racing grandstand when you order in advance.

Kids Are Free on Thursdays at the Sonoma County Fair

Children 12 and younger are admitted to the Fair free on both Thursdays, July 30 & August 6

Food Bank Fridays at the Sonoma County Fair

Bring 2 cans (or bags or boxes) of non-perishable food for the Redwood Empire Food Bank

and get $2 off Fair General Admission July 31 & August 7.

Become a Fair Volunteer

The Sonoma County Fair is seeking volunteers for the summer fair, July 28 to August 9, 2009. Volunteers will be asked to commit to 4 hour shifts and must be at least 14 years old (parental consent required for minors); volunteers will receive passes to the fair, a t-shirt and will be treated to a reception at the conclusion of the fair. For more information email sheila@sonomacountyfair.com

Sonoma Marin Fair June 24-28

75 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA

Hours: 1pm-11pm Wednesday and Thursday, noon to Midnight Friday and Saturday, and Noon to 11 pm Sunday.

TICKETS (includes unlimited rides): General Admission (13 and up) $15; juniors (ages 4-12) $10;  seniors (65 and older) $8; 3 and under free

Sonoma County Fair July 28-August 9

Just off 101 at the Hwy 12 eastbound exit on Bennett Valley Road

Gates open daily 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.  Carnival open daily 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. Exhibit buildings open 11 a.m. -10 p.m.

TICKETS: General admission (ages 13 and up) $9; Children (12 & under) $3; Seniors 60 & up free on Tuesday

Parking: Pavilion Lot – $8 Median Lot – $8 Veterans Lot – $6 Brookwood Lot – $5