Discover What's New at the 2008 San Diego County Fair

For many natives, the opening of the annual San Diego County Fair at the Del Mar Fairgrounds marks the beginning of our fine city's favorite season: summer!

Saturday, June 14 through Sunday, July 6, pack your sunscreen, don your summer duds and enjoy all the traditional trappings of an old fashioned county fair. But just because it's a local classic doesn't mean it's the same old fair; the 2008 San Diego County Fair is set to unveil many new events and entertainment options that you won't want to miss.

View the 2008 San Diego County Fair photo gallery here.

This year's theme is "Summer of Sports," highlighting athletics and sportsmanship both within our county and beyond. The Summer of Sports Exhibit will spotlight sports history, memorabilia, and interactive exhibits including an Olympic medal display with medals from each Olympic Games in the modern age. Learn how to tie knots used in boating or compare shoe sizes with famous San Diego athletes during the San Diego County Fair 2008 season.

Of course, rides are the essential ingredient to a successful and quintessential county fair and our Del Mar fair includes two new rides: the StarFlyer and Speed, two height-defying rides that appeal to the thrill-seeking and adventurous.

The San Diego County Fair also boasts the world's biggest barbeque in the Sparkletts Water Infield. Measuring 20 feet high, 83 feet long and covering nearly 100 feet of grill space, the Outlaw Grill can cook more than 1,000 items simultaneously, making sure your Chipotle Chicken Sandwich or Pork Chili Verde Burrito is fired to perfection as quickly as you order it.

At the end of the day, beat the heat as the sun sets and see an outdoor concert. New entertainment this year includes The Guess Who and Grand Funk Railroad on Tuesday, June 17 at 7pm, as well as other famous faces including the King of Blues, B.B. King, funky Earth, Wind and Fire, and reggae band Pato Banton and the Mystic Roots.

Only at the county fair can you see so many new and classic entertainers all on one stage alongside the food, rides, animals, and new exhibits. So make sure you check out the calendar for the best days to hit the 2008 San Diego County Fair.

And to think this is just one of the many reasons we locals love the Del Mar Fairgrounds. Stay tuned for the Insider scoop on the 2008 Del Mar Thoroughbred Horse Races.