Top 20 things to see and do at the Fair

Summer kicks off with the Contra Costa County Fair, June 3rd – 6th. Don’t miss these top 20 things to see and do at the Fair:

20. Rides. When you think of the County Fair, one of the first things that come to mind is a Ferris wheel. Am I right? Well, don’t miss all of the exciting rides for all ages at the 2010 Contra Costa County Fair! Get your discounted carnival ride wristband (unlimited carnival rides any one day of the fair) for only $15 online at http://www.contracostafair.com/ now!

19. Concerts. Hip-hop legend MC Hammer will headline the Fair on Friday, June 4 at 7 pm. Skynnyn Lynnyrd Reloaded: A Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd starts at 8:30 pm on June 4. Platinum artists Great White will perform at 8 pm on Saturday, June 5, and retro band Summer of Love will groove on Thursday, June 3 at 6 pm and again at 8 pm. The Great White, Summer of Love and Skynnyn Lynnyrd shows are free with fair admission. MC Hammer tickets can be purchased on the Fair’s website at http://www.contracostafair.com/.

18. Food. Everyone loves all of the great Fair favorites like corndogs, funnel cakes, caramel apples and cotton candy. Did you also know that we offer some healthier options such as salads and wraps.

17. Shopping. You’ll find so many unique and interesting items at the Fair from hand-crafted jewelry to t-shirts and personalized wood signs to designer handbags.

16. Pig Races. A Fair classic, Cook's Racing Pig Racing’s free betting allows each spectator to have a stake in the race. Everyone is offered a free numbered color ticket and after each race the Cook's have a drawing from the winning tickets for a Cook's Pig Racing t-shirt.

15. Hammertime. MC Hammer, who soared to the top of the charts in the late 1980s and early 1990s with hits like "U Can't Touch This" and his album "Please Hammer, Don't Hurt 'Em," will take the stage on Friday, June 4. Hammertime begins at 7pm in the Grandstands. MC Hammer tickets are on sale NOW. The cost is $20 for reserved seating and $15 for general admission. MC Hammer and fair tickets can be purchased on the fair’s website at www.contracostafair.com.


14. Livestock. The livestock barns are the heart of the Fair. Celebrate the tradition with the many youth livestock shows and at the Junior Livestock Auction on June 6 at 10 am. The animals sold at the auction have been raised and shown by the youth of Contra Costa County. A complete schedule of livestock shows can be found online at http://www.contracostafair.com/.

13. Exhibits. There is something for everyone’s tastes including special contests like recycled art and marshmallow creations as well as traditional exhibits from preserved foods to homemade wine and from quilts to outdoor landscapes. Some of the kids’ exhibits include Lego creations, short stories, paintings, photographs, scrapbook pages, and jams and jellies.

12. Kid Zone. A 10,000 square foot fun zone of FREE hands-on, kids’ activities all day. In and around Kid Zone, you will find 11. Fables of the West - the cowboy comedy team (often referred to as ‘the little cowboys on the little horses’), 10. the Balloon man and 9. the Clown of Many Faces.

8. Pie Eating Contest and more at the Kids Korral. Kids of all ages can join in the fun. Check the online schedule to find out when you can participate in the Pie Eating Contest and other great activities for kids like Potato Sack Races!

7. Community Building. You can visit with organizations from around the county and learn about the community we live in from exhibitors such as the Sheriff’s department, the Bee Keepers Association and the City of Antioch.

6. Mangini Agricultural Museum. The days when Contra Costa County was mostly farms and ranches are gone, but important elements of our agricultural past are being preserved at the Mangini Agricultural Museum. Learn about our agricultural heritage and historical farm equipment, as well as the top agricultural commodities of our county, environmental issues, and facts about farm animals.

5. Wildlife of the World . This wildlife show will feature tropical birds, playful monkeys, massive reptiles, and several other multi legged creepy crawlers from around the world. You will be able to get up close and personal with the animals. After the show, the animal handler and one of the animal stars will be available for questions and answers. There will also be a Discovery Area loaded with hands-on animal artifacts. This show is filled with audience participation. Have your cameras ready and bring the entire family.

4. Community Stage. Watch local talent sing, dance and perform on the Community Stage. Performances take place throughout the duration of the Fair, so be sure to check the schedule for details.

3. Wild About Monkeys. Fun, educational and entertaining for the whole family, “Wild about Monkeys” is the only traveling animal exhibition that features trained baboons. The Mandrill baboon is the only one of his kind to be safely and humanely handled on stage today.

2. Hispanic Day Concerts. Sunday June 6 is Hispanic Day and you won’t want to miss popular Hispanic artists in from 2:00 to 8:00 pm on the Community Stage.

And the number 1 thing to do at the Contra Costa County Fair… have some “old fashion fun”! There is so much to see and do at the Fair happening June 3rd – 6th, you’ll need to check out the full schedule, admission prices and hours online at http://www.contracostafair.com/!