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Marin County Fair
Rating Details »
Categories: Local Flavor, Arts & Entertainment [Edit]
10 Avenue of the FlagsSan Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 499-6800
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
19 reviews for Marin County Fair
Out of the 3 Bay Area County Fairs I've been to (San Mateo, San Francisco, and Marin), Marin County Fair blows the other two out of the water.
Their rides are amusing here, and they have more than enough. The food is authentic fair food - fattening and GOOD. The attractions are fair (pun intended) and it definitely can keep a group amused for a couple for hours. What really took the cake, out of all the fairs, were the selection of shops here (AHHH Bob Marley stand!!!!) and the fireworks. San Mateo, I don't think, even had fireworks. The Marin county fair fire works were astounding.
Definitely worth traveling all the way up to Marin for this fair
During the days of the Fair, they have a fireworks show every night.
My house sits above the civic center overlooking the fairgrounds. From the patio of my house, I can sit back and watch the show with relaxation and excitement.
Its so cool to be able to enjoy the show without leaving my front door!
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I am reserving 1 star for their extremely congested parking situation. I mean seriously, this is the worst parking gridlock ever!
That being said, we were able to finagle free parking thanks to an overpriced $20 price tag for a lot that was like 1 mile away from the fair but still in the line of fire for congestion at the end of the evening. I guess we were just awesome like that, who knows.
I thought the fireworks this year were better than previous years. I am a fan of the pixi dust fireworks and there was plenty of that happening with purple explosions of color. Just beautiful!
I love that this fair goes green with recyclable products, local organizations that offer food to help raise funds for their causes and there is the best mom and pop stand for smoothies, ice cream and hot chocolate ever!
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I skipped the bad parking situation by going down N. San Pedro a tiny bit towards the JCC and there was a church (BayMarin Community Church) offering parking for $5, which was cheaper then the parking the fair offered. (And it went to a good cause, a mission trip to mexico to build houses for families in need.)
They said they do it every year so I'll definitely be going back again next year to park there.
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I can't complain at all... it is one of the most organized, most funniest, events in the year in Bay Area. You will find the fair is universal-friendly regardless your age, your group and your interest.
Only one person was complaining, my-husband-the-smoker.
You pay $14 for ALL-YOU-CAN-HAVE-FUN in this mega playground. You pet animals who you used to eat. You grab souveniors from companies or organizations you used to pay (e.g. PG&E, County Sheriff). You go into a theatre with a 3-D paper viewer to watch a movie called "Actually it is just some photo slide shows" with crowds of people. You go to the exhibits where you find so much fun by getting into the lines of people under 4' tall, and wait there just to hold a bubble blower to blow a bubble surrounding your body, or to catch the ball flowing in the air.
Seriously, it is so much fun to DO rather than to TALK about all of the above.
I must return this place next year (If I had a choice, I would come back tomorrow) for those fun I missed today due to the untold reasons:
- those 28 free rides
- garlic fries spoiled with the fresh squeezed organic lemonade
- $3 roller coaster and shooter
- and the lame fireworks
Additional information about the fair:
- we came here early at 1:30pm, so parking was not a problem.
- my friend got the prize of free admission to Monterey Bay Aquarium for 2 adults + 2 children at the vendor's booth... good for them and their unborn(s)...
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This would be a five star event, but the parking is really-really horrible, and also the surly ticket seller who complained that everyone was using credit cards to pay for their tickets. The fair however is great. There are more vendor tents than the other local fairs. There are interesting displays and some decent food. The fine art and photography show is hung inside, and the lighting is well done. The bonsai display in the center of the arts building adds a touch of elegance to the hall. The rides are included with the price of admission, and they are spread out over the grounds, so there is not a true midway. The garden display is almost okay. The creative writing and creative chairs are well worth lingering over. Like the other fairs Marin has concerts and fireworks. The fireworks light up the lake they explode them over, it is a great show.
If you want to enter any of the contest that requires a fee, you can not do it on line you have to mail it in which would be okay but the exhibitor books says they are a green fair and tout their on-line entry system; it is only when you go to the different competitions that you see that this is only for the "no entry fee" contest. They are really behind the times with this policy.
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Admission gets you access to the free big act concert, carnival rides, and a pretty decent fireworks show.
It's probably a bit smaller than other fairs, but keep in mind that almost everyone drives to this thing so parking and traffic will be insane.
There's also a limit to how many people they let onto the little island where the concerts are held, so get on there earlier if you want a good view.
Pretty much any spot is good for the fireworks and people are more than happy to point you in the direction of the best food.
Get there during daylight hours for the best in parking, food, and everything else.
Went there with a friend and it was my first county fair in decades due to my being out of the country. This review concerns more the concerts/performances and the organization of such.
Went there early for the best parking ($6) at the south end, the same parking for the arts festival held just a few weeks ago. Had online tickets in hand which were scanned then tore up; amusement rides in the immediate area were free though farther toward the concert tent area, were the pay attractions and amusement rides.
Went to the concert tent to hear the first concert of the day: The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and it was "organized" to a point. Volunteers stand everywhere looking for empty seats, as there are no "saving" a seat for a friend or a partner. So picture this: you are seated but need to go to the potty toilets or buy food/drinks... as soon as these volunteers see you're gone during the concert, they try to seat someone else in your spot?! Stupid!! This poor attitude/rule gets as many people in to fill every single seat, at the expense of everyone enjoying the show. Imagine these volunteers moving back and forth in front of you, trying to get more people in during the concert!! Plus after you are seated, they have this barricaded area just in front of the performers' stage which remained empty, and soon after the concert starts, people are allowed in that area standing in front of ~ guess who? YOU! What a bunch of idiots!!! That is not what I want to "see" in a concert, so aside from the volunteers trying to steal seats from people who leave for a moment for the bathroom/drinks/foods, now you have people constantly passing in front to get to empty seats, and now there are people standing in front of the stage! What idiots planned this concert? grrrrr
The NGDB themselves were excellent and if not for a great performance and great humor, I think a LOT of people would have not tolerated the hassling and people passing in front, and departed.
Got in to see the great magic show of Steve Trash, using things he has found in the trash as props to use in a very creative and original performance that appeals to every age group! Again, the volunteers trying to fill every seat at the cost of passing people constantly in front of YOU, so you want to see but with all these people passing, going, waiting.... what gives?
I will not attend next year's fair.... it's "organization" like this that gives people the feeling that they were cheated if not for the great work and performances of the people they want to see. Granted you can have a great time here, but these "little" big things are very distracting. Seconds after I departed, my parking space was taken and there were crowds of people coming toward the fair for the night portion....
I almost forgot: GO see the art exhibit featuring a bit of creative everything: sculptures, murals, paintings, photography even!!! the one children's exhibits are very interesting and you should see the young talents on show! The other for grown-ups is just as nice, and many of the imagery is just awesome!! There's also a flora exhibit which I really enjoyed and snapped a few!! ;-)
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I live close by so its an easy walk. Steve trash, the hip hop dancing and 3d films were awesome. Its great to see the electric car display. Rides? Meh. The food now has healthy option but none of it excites me. Tried the cajun stand but food was bland. Other places I tried in the past were not much better. Still a great time though.
Urghh.. My fault for attempting to go 4th of July evening for fireworks, but the parking situation is terrible and the police & rent-a-cops don't have a damn clue what they are doing.
We watched the fireworks from the car.
Finally made it in the fair around 9:45 only to be stopped by cops once again trying to cross a bridge where somebody was trying to start a fight.
We made it to the beer "garden" at 10:04 only to be told they stopped serving at 10:00. We go back to the entrance to try to get a refund and the lady in charge said, "You will have to come back tomorrow, pay to get in again, to get to the customer service center and they might say no"
Yeah, that makes total sense. I'm going to pay another $14 dollars to maybe get a refund?
Never again...
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Sitings of adults carrying GIANT stuffed animals on backs and shoulders. A guy sprawled on a tiger next to a bale of hay, aww the big kid in us...
Giant ferris wheel...topsy turvy rides...fun house...barnyard animals...porto potties...elephant and teddy bear topiaries a la Edward Scissorhands....
Funnel cakes...snow cones...obscene turkey legs...garlic fries...corn on the cob...
Bands in the tent (Play Fair Pavilion) on the lil' island...nice spot to watch the fireworks @ 9.30p. Be sure to claim your spot in the afternoon. BTW, this lil' isle closes to foot traffic once it gets to capacity, so hurry back if you're going off the island.
Cute county fair continues this weekend for more ol' school fun.
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This was my first time to the Marin Fair and I loved it! Beautifully laid next to the lake. I just did minus one star because I wish that it could be bigger and have more animals to pet and get closer to. I grew up behind the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds, before they tore everything down. So I know my fairs! Okay, what I enjoyed about this fair was that the rides were included and there were no tickets for the 28 free rides.
My biggest beef, was there was not a single booth with cinnamon rolls. You can't have a fair without your super sweets. Oh and tons of older men were not wearing their shirts and it was disgusting to look at them. We went the day War was performing as the musical talent. The guy behind us, was not wearing his shirt and his nipples stood out like 1/4 an inch, gross! Why?
In the end you have to love this fair. : )
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Me Profiling fans at the Marin County Fair ROCKIN' Joan Jett Concert:
Hair Styles: Schlong, scrunchy, dreadlocks, fros, buzz cut, metro-sexual do, the Farrah.
Job Descriptions: Hot Dog dipper at Hot Dog on a Stick, waitress, student, artist, professional hippie, coffeshop girl, CEO of IBM.
Mode of Transport: Beemer, Prius, Eddie Bauer Stroller, '63 Chevy, '63 Camero, '63 VW Bus, bitchin' Saturn Station Wagon (my sexy beast), Mom's Vista Cruiser Olds, Wheelchair.
Sexual Orientation: Straight, Gay, Bi, Whatever's got a pulse, Confused.
Hand Signs: Rock On, Peace, the Bird, We're Number One, Thumbs Up, Waving like a moron screaming "HI JOAN!" (again...that'd be me.)
T-Shirt Slogans: The Sperminator, Sturgis, I'm Rick James Bitch!, Iron Maiden, Rocker Stalker, Miette's (c'est moi), Cher Tour '88, Hanson (that guy got beat up after the show, tho'.)
Social Status: Yuppie, Baby Boomer, Pixie Punk, Indie Rocker, Funk Master, Gen X, Y, and Z.
Lip Balm: Chapstick, Carmex, Bonnie Bell Dr. Pepper Smackers, Mac Lipglass, Yelpstick.
Inhalants: Cigarettes, Cloves, Cigars, Albuterol (yo), Pipes, Doobage, Oxygen Tank.
Favorite Radio Station: KFOG, KLLC, KMEL, KGO, KISQ, KISS
Last Concert Attended: Clearwater, The Dead, Jesus Lizard (hi), Dave Matthews, Billy Ray Cyrus, Rolling Stones, Madonna, Manilow Farewell Tour.
I wanted to take a star off because I finally found someone who has a bigger head than mine...and she sat right in front of me.
I also had to sit next to the two oldies that needed oxygen tanks to live...but Joan Jett rocked, and deserves nothing less than FIVE BIG STARS!
I love rock and roll! Woo hoo!
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I had to ding it one star for lack of sufficient livestock to qualify as a fair. I unfairly compare all fairs to those in Ohio. When's the horse pull? 4H milking contest? Sculpted butter cow and calf? All absent, and no one noticed but me.
It was, however, one fantastic festival! Here's why:
1) Admission includes all the rides-the kids are blissfully busy, not buggin' for anything but a funnel cake.
2) Full suspension of dietary concerns that haunt the other 362 days out of the year. You want some fried ice cream to go on that funnel cake? Add deep-fried banana and choco-syrup for only a buck more! The lines for funnel cakes were so long that I opted for a deee-lish caramel apple, much to my wife's relief. Everything was reasonably priced-a little less than half ballpark prices.
3) Hormone-drenched Jr. High Schoolers going through summer co-ed withdrawal chase each other in pairs and trios. Watch for the occasional run-by butt-slap.
4) Exhibitions of youth art/poetry/pine wood derby cars/Lego sculptures/Star Wars stuff and artistic, moldy, ('cause it's 5 days old) baked goods.
5) Beautiful setting on a pond for a terrific synchronized symphonic fireworks display. What it lacked in scale it more than made up for in proximity.
6) Joan effin' Jett! She's been hitting the gym or fighting a lot, cause she was CUT! She coulda smacked down any 'nouveau-bubba' in the house! The pinnacle of the night followed her encore when a young man of generous proportions held a half-eaten Philly cheese steak, loudly singing '...I HATE MA-SELF FOR LOVIN' YEW!...'
Ear worm or catharsis? It's win-win, baby...WIN-WIN!
[5th star reinstated]
UPDATE 7/3/07: BENATAR ROCKED!
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I don't dig fairs. I HATE the Sonoma-Marin fair (in Petaluma), and we will not even address that shitbox Sonoma County Fair (in Santa Rosa)! Yuk-o! The carnies are g'damned FREAKS, the little bastard gang-bangers suck ass, the backwoods hillbillies are just plain scary, the vendors are pushy and rude and the place is usually filthy and crawling with strange, alien/sea-creature looking bugs clinging to the cinnamon rolls and meat on a stick.
My kids aren't accustomed to attending fairs. We were a bit snobby about fairs during their upbringing, because of the basic instability and ingrained feeling of chaos widely inherent at fairs. No, my kids were too precious to be exposed to such lowliness.
... but ... this year is different. The Marin County Fair was nice. The crowd was decent; the food stands were good; the livestock and flower exhibitions were pretty cool ... am I getting old? I think SO! ... and if this is what getting old is like ... I'M IN!
Even the cops patrolling around the walkways were humane and friendly.
The grounds were clean and kept up.
I really enjoyed this fair.
I attended with my newly acquired Horse People. A decent lot; I'm being invited into 'the fold', so to speak. This includes attending functions at fairs. I saw Evi ride 'Tiger' as he did his thing and met 'Libby' (these two characters are Morgan horses, and Evi is the rider, BTW) ...
A thoroughly enjoyable time. Keep up the good work, Marin.
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We had such a great day at the fair! It's on from 11 am to 11pm, and we arrived around 4. There was no traffic & parking wasn't too terrible. It's a great deal--$13 gets you in the gate and then ALL THE RIDES ARE FREE!
I couldn't believe it!
They had some pretty decent rides too; my favorite was this one where you lay down and the thing swoops you up and down through the air so it feels as though you're flying. Cool!
Food at the fair was hit or miss. My husband wasn't impressed with his jumbalaya or his hamburger or his burrito. He still managed to eat alot though. I had a frozen chocolate-covered banana--I forgot about those! It was extremely yummy.
This fair has everything a fair should have--art exhibits, people performing (and selling) Ginsu knives, henna tattoo stands, rides, food, ribbons for the best tomato and other veggies...and animals!
The animals are my favorites, especially the pigs. There were the cutest little piglets! I told one of the cows how pretty her eyes were and she began to moo at me! It was awesome.
..."God Bless the USA" was on the loudspeaker at one point, but the rest of the fair was fantastic, so I can overlook that one little indiscretion. I'll be back next year for sure!
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Cute. Harmless. Less tacky than most county fairs here in California. Also fewer juried displays of home made arts & crafts.
Livestock pens are very few.
Music venues are mostly crap. Almost famous old acts. The sound systems lack real clarity.
The crowd comes more from the east bay than local Marin residents. No history of physical violence at this fair, but the attendees mostly are economically disadvantaged / poorly educated.
4th of July fireworks show on the lake is small & just 20 minutes in length but fun since you sit right under it.
Marin locals really don't take this fair seriously. If this event stopped making money for the county, it''d be gone in a NY minute.
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Six stars, even. Or possibly more.
I hate the fair. I have six kids. Who wants to drag six kids through a fair just to get yelled at by half-human carnies just for the pleasure of spending a month's salary on questionable food and rickety rides?
But I'm not reviewing the Sonoma County Fair, am I.
The Marin County fair is glorious. Glorious! It's smaller and family-oriented. It's has a big lake in the middle. You pay to get in, and then there are 28 free rides to choose from! You get to look at the beautiful Marin Civic Center - designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. It's clean and not too crowded.
I had a great time dragging my six kids to the fair.
But please understand me: There's no getting away from the half-human carnies, no matter what fair you attend.
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I still give this fair a few stars. Been a few years since I was at one, but I went this year to see Elvin Bishop...good choice for me. They still rock too!
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