Sonoma County Fair Diamond Jubilee
Don’t Miss These Special Events Commemorating the Fair’s 75th Anniversary
Opening Night Events
We have several very special events planned for this year’s Opening Night at the Fair. We’ll start at the Santa Rosa Wednesday Night Market (4th St. at E St.) for our Sidewalk Procession, led by Redwood Credit Union. Starting at 7 pm, we will begin to walk, saunter, stroll, skip or scoot our way toward the fairgrounds, walking along the sidewalks. To make it special, you’re invited to dress up for the occasion, walk with your friends in special costumes, decorate your strollers, or even just saunter arm-in-arm with your best friend. Tracy Hinson, 2011 Miss Wine Country Rodeo, will join the festivities! Participants will receive free admission to the fair.
Once at the Fairgrounds, we’ll make our way over to the Race Track at 8 pm, where we’ll begin to create a Living Flag. Fairgoers will be given a red, white or blue hat and arranged in the shape of an American flag. While the flag is forming, the crowd will be led in a patriotic sign-along.
At 8:15 pm, the One More Time Band will take the stage at the Racing Grandstand. Musicians of all ages, many of whom have played at the Fair in years past, will join together to play “one more time” in honor of the Fair’s 75th.
Our Opening Day celebrations will literally end with a bang – at 9:30 pm there will be a fireworks show! The best seats in the house will be at the apron in the Grandstands, and entry is free with fair admission. Be sure to get there by 9:15 if you want to see the show.
Sonoma County Airport Express is offering free rides back downtown for Procession participants from 9:00--11:00 pm!
Hall of Fair History Museum
What are your favorite memories of the fair? Is it the carnival rides? Livestock shows? Craft exhibitions? No matter what you think of, you can be sure there’s something at the Hall of History Museum you’ll enjoy. The museum curators have worked tirelessly to collect memorabilia from the past 75 years for each and every beloved aspect of the fair. For 75 years, the fair has united folks from all over Sonoma County, bringing together all the best parts of our agricultural and creative heritages, and given the community an entertaining and educational experience that cannot be matched. It was no surprise when the curators asked for help collecting items to display, they were overwhelmed with donations from people like you, who have been a part of the Fair experience for generations. Seventy-five years of cherished blue ribbons, trophies, uniforms, photographs, recipes, toys and crafts have been assembled in a museum full of memories. Come visit and walk through 75 years of the fair. Check it out just south of the Hall of Flowers in the Garden Building.
Anniversary of Fairs Display
While Sonoma County is celebrating the 75th anniversary of our Fair, the United States is celebrating the 200th anniversary of the very first fair, held in Pittsfield, MA, in September of 1811, where area farmers assembled to show their prize livestock. Since then, fairs have expanded to include produce, arts and crafts, entertainment and education. But the initial emphasis on community and culture remain the same. Come look at the display and see how fairs have changed over the years, and how they’ve stayed the same.
Golden Gate Bridge
We’re not the only locals celebrating a big anniversary! The Golden Gate Bridge celebrates its 75th on May 27, 2012. To celebrate this remarkable milestone, the Fair will showcase this incredible icon with a historic exhibit depicting the original construction. Look for the 20-foot-long history exhibit in the Garrett Exhibit Building.
Diamond Jubilee Fair Game
Use your knowledge of the Sonoma County Fair to come out ahead as you make your way around the life-size game board. Players will answer Fair trivia questions, take part in mini-contests, play a carnival game and more. All ages are welcome. To play, stop by the Game Board (west of Finley Hall) and sign up.
Scott Weaver
Scott Weaver has recently earned international renown as the artist behind the Rolling Through the Bay toothpick sculpture. You may have seen it on television, YouTube, or even in person at the Exploratorium.
Made using more than 100,000 toothpicks, it’s an amazing kinetic sculpture capturing many of the highlights of San Francisco. It even has ping pong balls that roll through different parts of the city, making it one of the largest and most unique toothpick sculptures in the world. Scott started working on this particular sculpture in 1974, but didn’t finish it until a couple of years ago, working on it off and on throughout the last 36 years.
Scott says he first began working with toothpicks when he was a child for the fun of it, and the sudden success of his sculptures is like a dream come true.
Rolling Through the Bay will be showcased at this year’s Fair, with a spot in the E.C. Kraft building. Be sure to check it out!
Don’t miss the Diamond Jubilee Review! This vaudeville-style variety show with a modern twist will be presented twice a day (and three times daily on the weekends), in the Redwood Theater.
Take “A Stroll Down Memory Lane” in this year’s Hall of Flowers. To commemorate the Fair’s 75th, the Hall of Flowers theme is a showcase of the best themes of the past 25 years.
Farmer’s Day, August 7, is the Fair’s tribute to its agricultural roots and, in honor of the Fair’s 75th, look for the revival of some classic Farmer’s Day events.
Also, on August 7, you don’t want to miss the Diamond Jubilee Cattle Drive! The drive starts downtown at 10 am and the steers should reach the fair by 11 am. Watch from along the route, or gather at the fairgrounds to see them arrive.
Another fair favorite who is turning to the Fair this year is the Couch Potato. Remember him? In 1988, he made news by spending the entire fair sitting on a couch, watching TV and eating junk food. Come see him again, 23 years later and see how he’s changed.
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