2025 San Diego County Fair in Del Mar: What you need to know

The San Diego County Fair is going to the dogs this year. And the cats.

Fish too – and whatever other pets San Diegans know and love.

This year’s county fair theme is “Summer Pet-acular” to honor all our furry friends and loyal companions.

Now, this doesn’t mean you can bring your pet to the Del Mar Fairgrounds when the fair opens Wednesday. Only service animals are allowed. But there will be pet-themed exhibits and pet adoptions in partnership with the San Diego Humane Society. There also will be costumed dog and cat mascots wandering the fairgrounds – total selfie magnets, of course.

Where to start? Here’s the basics, from admission and parking to concerts and special events during the fair’s three-plus weeks.

Theme

In addition to the exhibits and adoptions, “Summer Pet-acular” includes the Pet-tacular Photo Challenge – take your best shots or videos of your pups, kitties, hamsters and pot-bellied pigs and enter them in several categories, from action shot and patriotic pet to cute and cuddly and best buddies.

Winning entries make it into the fair’s ” Pets Rock: Live On Tour” exhibit.

Days and hours

The fair starts Wednesday and continues through July 6. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, except Mondays and Tuesdays when the fair is closed.

County fair admission 

Listed prices require advance purchase. Price goes up $4 or more the day of the event; purchase on-site is cashless.

• Wednesdays, Thursdays (excluding July 4): adults (13 and up) $16; seniors (62+) and youth (6-12) $13; children 5 and under, free.
• Fridays: adults $20; seniors $17; youth and children 5 and under, free
• Saturdays, Sundays and July 4: adults $20; seniors and youth $17.
• Everyday – Children 5 and under, free, no matter the day.
• Season pass – $65 or $160.

Parking

• General: $20; $16 if paid online in advance.
• Preferred: $55; $50 if paid online in advance.
• Horsepark (off-site): $10
• Canyon Crest Academy, 5951 Village Center Loop Road: Free, with shuttles to fair

Purchase parking online. Fair Tripper tickets also are available from the North County Transit District and the Metropolitan Transit System for $20, with discounts for seniors and youth.

Discounts

Check out the fair’s Tickets & Deals page for admission, parking and ride discounts. For instance, promo codes are available at select stores, including Vons, Albertsons, Pavilions, Northgate Markets and O’Reilly Auto Parts. Wednesdays and Thursdays are Pay-One-Price Ride Days. Fridays in June are Kids Day, when those under 12 are admitted free.

As far as food deals, there are select discounts in June on Foodie Fridays and $15 specials, with entree, side and drink, at participating vendors.

In addition, military, law enforcement, firefighters, educators and government employees receive discounted entry.

Toyota Summer Concert Series

All grandstand tickets include same-day fair admission. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted. 

Here’s a selection of the scheduled acts: 

• Wednesday – Live + Collective Soul; $62 and up.
• Thursday – Foreigner; $69 and up.
• Friday – Maxwell; $96 and up
• June 18 – Jordan Davis; $85 and up.  
• June 20 – 2 Chainz and Lil’ Jon; $67 and up; 6:30 p.m. showtime.  
• June 26 – Yeah Yeah Yeahs; $80 and up.  
• June 28 – Jessie Murph; $59 and up.
• July 2 – Third Eye Blind; $65 and up.
• July 3 – Jeff Dunham; $52 and up.
• July 4 – Fireworks Spectacular; free, general admission; reserved seats start at $28; 9 p.m. showtime.
• July 5 – Ziggy Marley; $69 and up.
• July 6 – Los Tucanes de Tijuana; $56 and up.

Chevrolet Paddock Concert Series

See regional artists and cover bands during the fair’s run, with most shows beginning at 9 p.m. Ozomatli and Long Bech Dub Allstars perform. Cover acts will salute everyone from Michael Jackson and Selena to George Strait and Ray Charles, with a night set aide for arena rock too. Attendance is included in the price of fair admission.

Entertainment

Sure top musical acts abound at the fair, but there’s also a variety of other entertainers to delight fairgoers.

Look out. No, really, look out for the pair of costumed stilt walkers who will (carefully) stroll through the Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show at night.

Meanwhile, there is a new magician, Adam the Great, and a hypnotist, Jeff Martin. They will both be performing at the Michelob Ultra Stage. Let’s just hope the magician doesn’t get hypnotized.

And there will be returning performers, including Buck Trout, the driving puppet, a unicycle and juggling act, the Wilder Show, and high-flying trapeze artists The Flying Royals.

Festivals and special events

• Summer Nights at the Sound: shows include “laser spectaculars” for Taylor Swift and Pink Floyd, improv and comedy; tickets start at $25 and include fair admission.
• June 14 – Asian & Pacific Islander Festival
• June 21 – Out at the Fair
• June 28 – Gospel Day at the Fair
• July 5 – K-Pop Festival

Rides

You don’t have to go on them. You can watch other poor souls go on them. But the fair this year is introducing some hair-raising rides.

Take the Thunderbird. Rising to over 177 feet tall, fair officials call it the tallest portable swing tower in North America, and the tallest to date at the San Diego County Fair.

It’s one of five new rides in the Kid Zone this year including the Balloon Wheel, Enchanted Forest, Ghost Pirate and Saddle Up.

Fair food

Ah, what is the county fair without tasty, gut-busting food that would surely rile up your doctor or personal trainer?

In addition to the usual offerings, there will be new creations sure to tempt you. The fair is having a  Fair-tastic Foods Competition to narrow 45 semi-finalists to 18 finalists, to be announced on June 11.

Contenders include:

• Kit Kat Crunch sundae
• Cajun honey dog
• Lavender white chocolate Mexican funnel cake
• Pork belly bao buns
• Bacon churros fries
• Pork pupusas, and
• Deep-fried meatballs on a stick.

We suggest wearing your stretchy pants.

Shopping

Some people like to go to the fair to find that one item they never thought they needed until they spy it at a vendor’s table.

This year, there’s a new experience at the Marketplace, featuring arts and crafts from local artisans. Think of it as a brick-and-mortar Etsy with accessories, pet items, art, wellness products, sports equipment, prepackaged food and pantry items.

It will be located in the 31,000-square-foot Wyland Center.

More?

Yes! Scan the full calendar to plan for your best fair day.