Horsin’ Around at the 75th Annual Monterey County Fair

Ready for some mutton bustin’, bronco riding, trick roping, dancing horses, and bull riding?

Join us at the Monterey County Fair Aug. 31 -Sept. 5, a celebration of our county’s bountiful aquaculture and agriculture.

Besides cotton candy, corn dogs and carnival rides, there will be livestock, gardening, arts and crafts and cooking exhibitions, “cowboy bootcamps” for the kids, clowns, magicians, rodeos… and even a cake and ice cream eating contest.

Enjoy live music, from country star Lee Brice to rock ‘n roll by Blue Oyster Cult and fantastic funk from WAR. And if you’re over 21, The Turf Club Patio features microbrews, wine tastings and “After Parties” nightly at the Dive Bar.

Tickets are available online at http://www.montereycountyfair.com.

What The Locals Know–The Monterey County Fair 2010

The Monterey County Fair is going on now between Wednesday, Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 6, which is Labor Day.

A few of us staff members at Monterey Bay Property Management attended the Fair on opening day, and here were some points to ponder from a local perspective:

Parking–Parking around the Faire is extremely limited, so your best bet is to park your car over at Monterey Peninsula College and take a free shuttle. By parking at MPC and taking the shuttle, you’ll be able to spend your money on more rides and cotton candy rather than spend $25.00 for parking in a lot across the street.

Rides–Rides are what makes Fairs so cool. All the rides are safe and little-kid friendly, but the Ferris Wheel wins our hearts every time. The view is great!

Live Entertainment–We counted at least 3 stages with live entertainment that included a hypnotist (Mark Yusick, the Las Vegas-based hypnotist, is a cool guy), a KWAVE Kids Talent Show Contest, Karaoke machine, and a kid-friendly act that involved a gal with a guitar and a guy running around on stage. Ahhh, entertainment at its Fair finest!

Food–Fair food can be so wonderfully decadent! Try the funnel cakes, cotton candy, gelato, and BBQ booths to start. Don’t forget to check out the fudge booth near the Arena!

Surprise Food–If you’re into baked goods made by mom or your favorite auntie, go into the “Home Arts” building and have yourself a slice of German Chocolate Cake, Red-Velvet Cake, or Blackberry Pie made by a local. The bakers who entered the Fair’s contest are wonderful and many made extra of their award-winning desserts for the public. The German Chocolate Cake was a hit, but so was the Key Lime Pie.

Slow Walking–You know how it is…when you’re pushing a baby cart, holding hands with a 5-year-old, and strolling alongside Grandma, you tend to walk more slowly. If you’re in a hurry, remember to take a deep breath if you get stuck on the path behind a slowly ambling family. It’s the Fair, after all, and there’s plenty of time to get to the next ride or food booth.