Monday, October 31, 2011

Calling All BBQ Lovers


Don't miss the Smokin' on the Delta", Kansas City BBQ Competition on November 12 at the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds! Let those BBQ smells lead the way and taste some spectacular food!



You won't want to miss this authentic BBQ experience!
* Kansas City BBQ contest - 28 contestants competing to see who is the Champion BBQ'er on Saturday
* Rib Cookoff on Sunday
* BBQ event in conjunction with Fall Faire, crafts and holiday shopping



BBQ'ers seen on TV show "BBQ Pitmasters" will be there competing with their special recipes and techniques, including:

Big Poppa Smokers, Mike Clark, Head Chef
Bad to the Bone, Brian Cotariu, Head Chef
Slap Yo Daddy BBQ, Harry Soo, Head Chef

Get your taste buds ready and come out to the event November 12 & 13. Learn more on the Fall Faire website.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

BBQ Pitmasters at the Fall Faire


We have 3 teams signed up for the KCBS BBQ competition on Sat. Nov. 12th at the Fall Faire that have been on the TV show “BBQ Pitmasters”.

Big Poppa Smokers, Mike Clark, Head Chef

Bad to the Bone, Brian Cotariu, Head Chef

Slap Yo Daddy BBQ, Harry Soo, Head Chef



In addition to the Saturday KCBS BBQ competition, we are having a Backyard BBQ on Sun, 11/13. This is a ribs only competition. $100 entry fee and all the money will be divided up between the winners. Learn more on the Fall Faire website.

What is your favorite thing to BBQ?

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Fall Faire 2011 Accepting Applications


Fall Faire 2011 is sure to have something for everyone! We're bringing back our ever popular tradition of holiday shopping with 2 buildings filled with quality crafters and local businesses. Come enjoy a great variety of jewelry, clothing, holiday items, woodworking, novelties, food, and so much more.



New this year...we're proud to present "Smokin' on the Delta", our first KCBS Sanctioned BBQ Competition. Professional BBQ teams will be at our event, putting their best grill forward! We're also hosting our 3rd annual amateur Backyard Cookout Contest with local teams from all over Contra Costa County, they'll be grilling up some fall fun during the festivities...you can even be a part of the fun by taking part in our public judging of the chili cook off!



As always, our Kids Zone will be FREE! Take a break from all the festivities and let the little ones have some fun of their own including visits with Santa on his sleigh! Fall Faire 2011...don't miss it!

· Event Hours: Saturday 10am-5pm Sunday 10am-4pm
· Admission: Adults $5 Kids 12 & Under FREE
· FREE Parking

The vendor and BBQ Contest applications are available now. For more information please call 925-757-4400 or email info@ccfair.org.

Wednesday, August 17, 2011

12 Things to do at the Fairgrounds



Did you know the Fairgrounds are open year-round? Here are 12 things you may have not known about the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds.

1. Play Paintball. Antioch Paintball Park has one 140’ x 140’ field and two 140’ x 70’. They host both X-Ball and Rec ball and are open weekends. Learn more at www.antiochpaintballpark.com or call 925-75-PAINT.

2. Race at Delta RC. Delta RC features a well-stocked shop, world-class banked paved oval & on-road track, year-round (indoors in the winter) off-road racing, and one of California's last dirt oval racing programs. www.DeltRaceaRC.com

3. Go Skating. For the best in family fun and recreation visit Paradise Skate. Open to all ages! Both traditional quad and inline Rental Skates are available. Paradise Skate is located at the fairgrounds on O Street off of West 10th street. www.Paradiseskate.com

4. Go to the races. Antioch Speedway runs under the All Pro Series, featuring Dirt Modifieds, Wingless Sprints, Super Stocks, Modified Street Stocks, Pure Stocks, Dwarf Cars, BCRA Midgets, BCRA Lites and the California Sprint Car Civil War Series. Races are every Saturday night, late-March through early October. For more information visit them at www.AntiochSpeedway.com.

5. Visit the museum. The Mangini Agricultural Museum is approximately a 10,000 square foot facility that has an array of early California agricultural and industrial equipment including antique wagons and a fire engine, a state of the art educational classroom and outdoor facilities to accommodate visitors.

6. Go to school here. We have two preschools. So Big Co-op Preschool and Kid’s Club (Contra Costa County Preschool Program). To learn more about So Big call, 925-757-6474 and to learn about Kid’s Club call 925-427-8529 or visit State Preschool Program. Also, Contra Costa County's original charter school started here. Now the Fairgrounds are the home of Antioch Charter Academy II. The school is operated by The Learner-Centered School, Inc., a non-profit, public benefit corporation. They combine positive discipline, understanding of multiple intelligences and brain compatibility, multi-age grouping, Montessori philosophies, natural and logical consequences, classroom meetings, lifelong guidelines and lifeskills, with parent volunteering, an excellent teaching staff, and terrific children, to make a school of which we are very proud. Learn more www.antiochcharteracademy.org.

7. Play ball. The Contra Costa County Fairgrounds are home to Antioch Little League. www.antiochlittleleague.com

8. Stay at the RV Park. The RV Park is open year-round and is perfect for travelers seeking some of the Bay Area’s best offerings. We have 20 beautiful sites for only $20 a night.

9. Rent our facilities. Rent any of our beautiful buildings or large park for your next birthday party, wedding, anniversary party, trade show, or club event. Learn more on our Rental Facilities page.

10. Buy a pre-owned vehicle at the Fairgrounds. Antioch Autoland has friendly sales people to serve you and all vehicles are safety and smog inspected. They have great prices and a wide selection, in house financing for select models, and no credit/bad credit is OK! http://autoland.esmartbuyer.com

11. Get your Transmission repaired. Deans Transmission Shop. Call 925-757-5240 to for more info.

12. Learn to drive a truck. The American Truck School operates on the Fairgrounds. To find out more, call 925-753-0220 or visit www.americantruckschool.com.

Find out more about all of the above and more at www.contracostafair.com.

(Originally posted on Nov. 3, 2010)

Thursday, June 23, 2011

75th annual Contra Costa County Fair


Despite the unusual weather, the 75th annual Contra Costa County Fair went off without a hitch. We rocked out to some great bands, awarded a host of blue ribbons to our talented county residents and ate some good (and interesting, if you swung by Jungle George's stand with his raccoon on a stick and kangaroo burgers) food.

And if you can believe it, we're already planning for next year's event. No rest for the weary!

Throughout the year we'll keep you posted on events happening at the fairgrounds, along with updates on the Fair itself as we get closer to next year's big event.

Thank you all for enjoying this longstanding tradition with us! Let us know what your favorite part was, if you won a ribbon, or if you tried George's raccoon on a stick. Leave a comment below or share your photos on facebook.

Friday, June 3, 2011

Fair Gets Mooovin'!




I can smell the corn dogs and hear the lowing of the cows as the 75th annual 2011 Contra Costa County Fair is underway. Except this year, the meaty treats inside those cozy corn cocoons include alligator and kangaroo. And some of the mooing coming from the barn is from six recently shaved and sunscreened (I'll explain later) dairy cows.

The attractions are quite varied this year. George Sandefur, known as Jungle George, will delight Contra Costa fairgoers for the first time ever with outlandish dishes including raccoon on a stick and, for the truly adventurous, kangaroo burgers, just to name a few. So make sure you bring your appetite! And local 4-H group Delta Diablo will be showing off six primped and preened dairy cows for the first time at the Contra Costa Count Fair in 20 years.

The six local girls in Delta Diablo decided to raise and show dairy cows this year simply because they'd never done it before and were looking for something new and challenging, said Brentwood resident Brenda Dominguez, whose granddaughters are both in the group. Also, the cows will retire to a dairy after they're shown, which appealed to the girls.

The group will show their heifers early Saturday morning and are pretty nervous, especially after they shaved the cows (part of the rules, Brenda says) and most of the animals got sunburned. But now that they're properly lathered with plenty of sunscreen, the girls are hoping everything goes off without a hitch.

Between the dairy cows, rocky mountain oysters, live music, midway games and everything else, the next few days will be a blast.

Come on down and see us today, Saturday and Sunday at the Fairgrounds in Antioch, to experience all the Fair has to offer!

Bonus: to see a list of ways to get free or discounted tickets, check out our website.

We'll see you at the Fair!

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Top 20 things to see and do at the Fair


Summer kicks off with the Contra Costa County Fair, June 2 – 5. Don’t miss these top 20 things to see and do at the Fair:

20. Food. Everyone loves all of the great Fair favorites like corndogs, funnel cakes, caramel apples and cotton candy. Are you ready to try raccoon on a stick, kangaroo burgers, or smoked alligator ribs?


19. Exhibits. There is something for everyone’s tastes including 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.


18. 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.


17. Special contests. Participate in one of our many special contests like Marshmallow creation, or You’ve Got Mail. Pre-entry is preferred but late entries may be accepted if space is
available. Details can be found in the Exhibitors Handbook online.


16. 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.

15. A World Of Music. Our totally ‘hands-on’ museum of music features several hundred instruments from around the world, drum circles throughout the day (accommodating up to seventy guest participants at a time), an ongoing Rhythm Workshop (for young and rhythmically challenged guests), a Blue Man Group Station, a Kids Band Area, and an Electronic Instrument section, featuring the amazing Beamz Laser Music Player (in which guests can conduct an entire orchestra with lasers). Our unique, unusual and historical instruments come from all corners of the globe for everyone to experience AND experiment with!


14. Dr. Solar's Good-Time Sunshine Traveling Medicine Show. In his Traveling Medicine Show, Dr. Solar has blended nostalgic arts of times past, added a bit of old-time Medicine show flair, a blend of vaudevillian showmanship, comedy, magic, a little flim-flam, and a whole lot of pizzazz. With the slapstick frolics of his “woodpile wonders”, and an assortment of animated objects, you have an inspiring show for all ages!

13. Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. It’s not everyday a kid gets a chance to become a star of a show, unless of course they’re at the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull Competitions! Kids from ages 4 to 12 are welcome to participate in a fast paced, action packed pedal tractor pull. Fast Track Entertainment, Inc. has been performing at Fairs and Festivals since 1994 and the attraction is always “tops” for audience participation, education, and down home fun!

12. Kids Town. Kids Town America is a hands-on activity zone perfect for kids of all ages! All activities in Kids Town America are family oriented for both children and parents. Parents can relax while the kids have a blast building with blocks, driving mini cars, whirling around with hula hoops, getting their faces painted, drawing on marker boards, making crafts, and even having a treasure hunt! Kids Town America is a fun and FREE attraction!


11. 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 5 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 www.contracostafair.com.
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.

10. Flo The Clown. The one and only Flo the Clown is back! Flo and her clowning antics have been delighting audiences for more than 20 years from the West Coast of the United States to Russia, Taiwan, Japan, Korea and Singapore. She has even toured with the Yankee Doodle Circus in New York and beyond. Look for Flo riding her tricycle down the midway, carting fair guests around in her custom car, or running all the fun games and activities at the Kids Korral stage…she’s a delight to fairgoers of all ages!


9. Fables Of The West. Get ready to ride with the biggest little cowboys in the Old West! This strolling cowboy comedy team is always 100 % G-rated, family friendly, and fun. Performing at over 550 Fairs from California all the way to Alaska, these crazy cowboys have been entertaining crowds of all ages for over 10 years. Be sure to keep a look out for them and their trusty steeds during your visit to the Fair!

8. Play With Gravity. Spectators will be amazed by their motorcycle show in which riders overcome obstacles on the motorcycles using control, balance, and fitness. Showing their audiences what type of riding can be accomplished on trial motorcycles is a huge pleasure for the team. Now riding, performing, and competing all over the country, Play with Gravity is determined to fascinate audiences and push this sport to new limits.

7. 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 2011 Contra Costa County Fair!


6. The Movie Stunt Adventure. An incredible and interactive attraction where you can be the STAR! Many have dreamed of being stuntmen or stuntwomen in an action movie, now for the first time ever you can be! Watch amazing jumps and high falls from real stunt professionals, then it’s your turn to take a leap! Receive a training course from a professional stunt coordinator which can qualify you to take your own high fall!

5. Wildlife Of The World. For more than 20 years, Pacific Animal Productions has been dedicated to conserving wildlife and endangered species while educating people about the wonders of wildlife. We incorporate "edu-tainment" into our presentations to engage the audience and give them a safe environment to see, touch and learn about a monkey, fox, parrot, kinkajou, alligator, snake, bugs and more! Come take a walk on the wild side!

4-2. Concerts. Kicking off the concert series is Whiskey Dawn, California's hottest country band, on Thursday June 2 at 5:30 and 7:30. The Lost Boys rock band will rock the stage on Friday June 3 at 5:30 & 7:30 followed by the ultimate 80’s experience: The Spazmatics at 9:00 pm. On June 4 you won’t want to miss the SATURDAY TRIPLE TRIBUTE with Swift Country Tribute To Taylor Swift at 5:30, Paradise City Tribute To Guns N' Roses Saturday at 7:30 and Pyromania Tribute To Def Leppard ending the night at 9:30. Finally to end the Fair, Hispanic Day Entertainment will be on the Fiesta Stage Sunday from 2:00 -8:00 featuring Bruno d Jesus- Culsillos, Komando de La Sierra, Los Kinos, Los Grandes de Tijuana and more!

And the number 1 thing to do at the Contra Costa County Fair… help us celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Contra Costa County Fair! There is so much to see and do at the Fair happening June 2 - 5, you’ll need to check out the full schedule, admission prices and hours online at http://www.contracostafair.com/!

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Winner!


Congratulations to LouElla M. of Oakley for winning the family four pack to the Fair in our giveaway!

Don't worry if you didn't win this giveaway, check out our website for ways to attend the Fair for FREE and special discounts. You can still save up to $8 by getting your tickets at Walgreens, but June 1 is the last day to get your tickets at Walgreens, so hurry!

Go to www.contracostafair.com/fair to start planning your Contra Costa County Fair experience.
See you at the Fair!

Thursday, May 26, 2011

Win tickets to the Fair!


We are thrilled to have a family four pack (four one day admission tickets to the Fair) to giveaway! One winner will be chosen at random on Tuesday 5/31 at 4:00 pm PST.

Enter to win:
1. Comment on the blog or facebook: What is your favorite memory at the Fair? What are looking forward to most at the 2011 Contra Costa County Fair
2. Become a Fan of the Contra Costa County Fair on Facebook
3. Subscribe to the Contra Costa County Fair Email Newsletter
4. Follow the Contra Costa County Fair on Twitter

Leave a separate comment for each entry below letting us know which entry method you’ve done. Without a comment, we can’t pick your name and you’re not entered into this giveaway. You get a separate entry into the contest for each action you take so you can do one or all of the things above.

The Annual County Fair will run June 2 - 5, 2011 as "The Tradition Continues - 75 years" at the fairgrounds in Antioch. The Fair has 4 days packed with live entertainment, carnival rides, food, free kids activities, contests, livestock exhibits and special food contests including the ever popular Backyard BBQ contest. Best family value entertainment available. Check out the website for ways to attend the Fair for FREE and special discounts.

UPDATE: due to technical difficulties with the comments on this blog any post on our Facebook page or mention on twitter will count forthe contest even if you aren't able to let us know here on the blog.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Just added to the concert series: Spazmatics Friday 6/3 at 9pm after the Lost Boys.


We have a concert series you won't want to miss and we just made it better with another band in the line-up.

If you want to be sent back to the 80’s, The Spazmatics are the ultimate experience. The band lends it’s geeky charm to performing 80’s hits complete with “nerdography” and “spaztic” movements. They add a unique dimension to their performance, demonstrating the common ties between 80’s new wave and today’s popular music. In addition to a recently filmed national commercial for Comcast, The Spazmatics have been regularly featured at top nightclubs and perform for many of the highest level private events in the United States, including a performance at The White House for President George W. Bush, as well as for celebrity Jessica Simpson's birthday bash.

Check out our full line up at www.contracostafair.com/fair.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Your Ticket to Fun


Are you already looking forward to the fun you’ll have at the Contra Costa County Fair this summer? Be sure to check out these fun acts included with your Fair admission!


The Movie Stunt Adventure. An incredible and interactive attraction where you can be the STAR!



Kids Pedal Tractor Pull. It's not everyday a kid gets a chance to become a star of a show, unless of course they're at the Kids Pedal Tractor Pull Competitions!





Play With Gravity. Spectators will be amazed by their motorcycle show in which riders overcome obstacles on the motorcycles using control, balance, and fitness.




A World Of Music. A totally ‘hands-on’ museum of music. These unique, unusual and historical instruments come from all corners of the globe for everyone to experience AND experiment with!




Fables of the West . This strolling cowboy comedy team is always 100 % G-rated, family friendly, and fun.




Dr. Solar’s Good-Time, Sunshine Traveling Medicine Show. In his Traveling Medicine Show, Dr. Solar has blended nostalgic arts of times past, added a bit of old-time Medicine show flair, a blend of vaudevillian showmanship, comedy, magic, a little flim-flam, and a whole lot of pizzazz.




There is so much to see and do at the Fair happening June 2 -5, you’ll need to check out the full schedule, admission prices and hours online at http://www.contracostafair.com/!

Monday, May 9, 2011

Ways To Attend The Fair For Free


There so much to do at the Fair that you don’t want to miss. See the World of Music ‘hands-on’ museum, concerts, Kids Town America, livestock shows, Fables of the West, Flo the clown and so much more all for the price of Fair admission.

Salute to our Armed Forces day
Thursday, June 2
All active military with I.D. receive FREE admission all day

We Love Seniors Day
Thursday, June 2
All seniors who are 62 & better receive FREE admission all day

Kids Day
Friday, June 3
Kids 12 & under FREE admission all day

Support Our Youth In Agriculture
Sunday, June 5
Be a buyer at the Junior Livestock Auction to receive FREE admission

Show Off Your Cooking Skills
Compete in one of the special food contests and receive FREE admission

Kids 5 And Under Enjoy FREE Admission Everyday
Bring the little ones to enjoy our always FREE Kids Zone and so much more!

Find out all of the great Fair savings programs and a schedule of events at http://www.contracostafair.com/.

Monday, May 2, 2011

Savings During The Fair



There so much to do at the Fair that you don’t want to miss. See the World of Music ‘hands-on’ museum, concerts, Kids Town America, livestock shows, Fables of the West, Flo the clown and so much more all for the price of Fair admission.

Transportation To The Fair
Save $3 on your admission when you ride the bus to a fun filled day at the Fair.

Free 'Til Three Thursdays
Admission and ride wristband specials on Thursday, June 2nd include:
• FREE Admission from 12pm - 3pm
• Buy one wristband and get one FREE from 12pm - 3pm

* Wristbands are put on at time of purchase by the ticket agent. All riders must be present at purchase to receive discount.

Refillable Fair Souvenir Cup
Purchase a souvenir drink cup from one of the food concessionaires and save on refills. 32 oz. Souvenir Cup $5, Refills $2.50

Ride With A Buddy Wristband Specials
Buy one wristband and get one FREE:
Thursday, June 2 - 12pm to 3pm
Friday, June 3 - 12pm to 3pm

* Wristbands are put on at time of purchase by the ticket agent. All riders must be present at purchase to receive discount.

Find out all of the great Fair savings programs and a schedule of events at http://www.contracostafair.com/.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Be A Part Of The Fair!


Be a part of the tradition this year and showcase your work at the Contra Costa County Fair! Bake your best cookies, take your best picture, create the best scrapbook page ever, and nurture your prized plant - then enter it into one of the Fair's contests and competitions.

Paper forms are due by May 3rd - less than two weeks away. Special office hours on May 3rd, 8am-8pm. Online entry is available through May 8th. Go to www.contracostafair.com/fair to download entry forms and an Exhibitor Handbook.

Make sure to save the date as summer kicks off in June 2011 with the Contra Costa County Fair, June 2nd - 5th.

Also check out our Facebook and Twitter pages for more up to date information!

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Earn a free ticket to the Fair!


All volunteers who work four or more hours at the Contra Costa County Fair receive free admission to the Fair.

We need volunteers – lots of them – on the following days:

May 18th – Exhibit judging day
Need lots of volunteers for clerking.
Put stickers on tags, bring items to judges, misc. paperwork.

May 19th – Decorating Home Arts Building
Help display items in building.

May 20th – Education receiving day
Help teachers with their entries, put tags on items.

May 25th – Education judging day
Need lots of volunteers for clerking.
Put stickers on tags, bring items to judges, misc. paperwork.

May 26th – Education building decorating day
Help display items in building.

These are the big days, but there are lots of other days available to volunteer. Another bonus to volunteering is you get a sneak peak at all of the exhibits. If you are interested in volunteering, please call Karen Howe, Exhibit Superintendent at (925)757-4400 or download an application. Contact us today to volunteer!

Wednesday, April 13, 2011

2011 Concerts at the Contra Costa County Fair









The 2011 Concert Line-up has been announced! Get ready for four days of Concert Entertainment! Who's on the top of your list to see?


Whiskey Dawn Thursday 5:30 and 7:30

Whiskey Dawn is California’s hottest country band.


The Lost Boys Friday Times TBD

The Lost Boys rock band is made up of 5 teenage young men, hailing from Lake County, CA.


SATURDAY TRIPLE TRIBUTE

Swift Country Tribute To Taylor Swift Saturday 5:30

Swift Country, is excited to bring this energetic brand of fun to our Fair!


Paradise City Tribute To Guns N' Roses Saturday 7:30

Paradise City delivers what all the old school Guns n Roses fans want.


Pyromania Tribute To Def Leppard Saturday 9:30

Pyromania’ll make yiou believe you are really watching a Def Leppard show, from the first note to the very last!


Hispanic Day Entertainment on the Fiesta Stage Sunday Times: TBA

Hispanic Day performers and times to be announced shortly.


Come join the fun as The Tradition Continues - celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Contra Costa County Fair! Check out all the fun and happenings with our upcoming daily schedule including live music on our Main Stage, entertaining shows, fantastic fair food, traditional exhibits, youth livestock, our always FREE Kids Zone, and much, much more! Check back regularly for updates to the Fair schedule as well as Fair savings!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Discount Advance Ticket Sales

There so much to do at the Fair that you don’t want to miss. See the World of Music ‘hands-on’ museum, concerts, Kids Town America, livestock shows, Fables of the West, Flo the clown and so much more all for the price of Fair admission. Buy Your Tickets Early The Contra Costa Fair is a great value for family entertainment. By taking advantage of some of our special discounts, it can be even better! Advance Ticket Sales Save even more money on our already low admission and ride wristband prices: Adults (13 & over) - $7 Seniors (62 & better) - $5 Kids (ages 6-12) - $5 Ride Wristbands - $15 "What A Deal" Wednesday! Every Wednesday starting April 13th, come to the Fair office and purchase a Family Fun Pass for only $20 Family Fun pass includes (4) 1 day Fair admission tickets available for purchase on the following dates: • Wednesday, April 13th • Wednesday, April 20th • Wednesday, April 27th • Wednesday, May 4th • Wednesday, May 11th • Wednesday, May 18th • Wednesday, May 25th Available only at the Fair Office! Stop by the Fair office at 1201 West 10th Street in Antioch between 8 am – 5 pm for your ticket to fun! Find out all of the great Fair savings programs and a schedule of events at http://www.contracostafair.com/.

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Meet your 2011 Fair Queen


Just as you’d expect the Fair Queen to be, Brittney Ray is poised, outgoing, and charismatic. But would you guess that she has been riding horse since before she could walk? Meet your 2011 Fair Queen Brittney Ray!

Brittney is no stranger to the Fair. She sang with her pageant friends when she was just five or six years old. She also showed livestock at the Fair for the past seven years. Her favorite Fair memory is camping out on the fairgounds with her 4-H club. What Brittney looks forward to most during her reign as Fair Queen is the week of fair itself.”I love the atmosphere and this year is going to the most special to me because I get to live every little girls dream and be the queen,” said Brittney. “I can't wait to see all the kids faces when they get to meet a ‘real queen’!”


You can meet Brittney at the Contra Costa County Fair, June 2 – 5. You can find her helping out with kid’s contests, the livestock auction, opening ceremonies and interacting with guests during the entire Fair. She will also make special appearances at community events as a spokesperson for the Fair during her yearlong reign.


We are so pleased to have Brittney as this year’s Fair Queen and look forward to her being an excellent example for youth in the county. Please make sure to come and visit her and all of us at the Contra Costa County Fair June 2 - 5 and celebrate with us as “The Tradition Continues”. For more information visit the Annual Fair section of our website at www.contracostafair.com/fair.


Monday, April 4, 2011

Be A Part Of The Fair


Be a part of the tradition this year and showcase your work at the Contra Costa County Fair! Bake your best cookies, take your best picture, create the best scrapbook page ever, and nurture your prized plant - then enter it into one of the Fair’s contests and competitions.

There is something for everyone! Special contests include You’ve Got Mail contest – decorate a mail box with a barn theme, Recycled art -- create a masterpiece using recycled items found around your home (ex. cans, nails, wire etc.), and Marshmallow creation -- create an imaginative farm animal, a cow or maybe a rooster, using marshmallows as the main structure. There are too many to mention. Check the special contests section of the online exhibitor handbook at http://www.contracostafair.com/.

There are traditional exhibits as well from preserved foods to homemade wine and from quilts to outdoor landscapes. Kids will enjoy showing off their Lego creations, short stories, paintings, photographs, scrapbook pages, jams and jellies, needlework, and so much more.

Entry Forms and fees must be received by the Administration Office
before 8:00 pm on May 3, 2011. Be green and enter online!

Make sure to save the date as summer kicks off in June 2011 with the Contra Costa
County Fair, June 2nd – 5th.

Friday, April 1, 2011

Antioch Little League wins a makeover


Antioch Little League is the winner of contest where local youth sports fields are selected to be renovated with a full makeover.


O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc. created TLC for Kids Sports (http://www.tlcforkidssports.org/), a non-profit community outreach effort aimed at improving kids’ sports fields. Through an ongoing partnership with KNBR 680/1050 AM Radio and Brent Jones (former SF 49er), they created the contest.


The league has been serving the area for over 50 years, and includes boys divisions from T-ball through Majors, girls softball divisions, and The Challenger Division. The Challenger Division is a very special free program designed for physically and mentally disabled boys and girls, ages 5–22 years old, to enjoy tee ball or coach pitched baseball. Play is adaptive and the rules are very flexible with the focus of providing kids with a positive and rewarding recreational experience.


The league has a rich history in Antioch, providing positive experiences for youth for many decades. O.C. Jones & Sons, Inc., founded in 1924, is also an organization with a long history and values similar to the Little League.


Work is already underway to transform the rundown fields into a place of great pride, and where the Challenger program can flourish. Imagine a new field where local youth can meet together to experience the benefits of belonging to a little league – sportsmanship, teamwork, confidence, fitness – to name a few.


We would be honored if you would be our guest in the Opening Day/Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of the Antioch Little League Field at the Fairgrounds in Antioch. The event is scheduled for Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 at 10:00 am. The dedicatory Challenger game will take place at 11am. The Challenger Invitational will be held that day, with games immediately following the opening ceremonies. Teams from all over the area will be participating.

Monday, March 28, 2011

California's Golden Fairs


Huell Howser, host of the long running public television program "California's Gold" is producing a twelve part series highlighting the broad array of fairs throughout California called "California's Golden Fairs". Episodes started airing in late 2010 and will air for years to come. The mission of this series is to promote the awareness, importance, and admiration of all California fairs.

Contact your local PBS affiliate for show times. To find a fair near you, http://www.cafairs.com/. To learn more about the Contra Costa County Fair in June 2011, www.contracostafair.com/fair/.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Blue Ribbon Rivals

Shatsky/Stanley Entertainment is currently seeking men and women for a new baking competition television series. The program is looking for any and all types of people who have won a blue ribbon for baking at a county or state fair. Candidates must be at least 17 years old.

Send an email to: blue.ribbon.rivals@gmail.com and include your photos, name, age, profession, contact information and explain why you would be great on the show and how many ribbons (blue or other) you have won.

For best consideration, make a 2-3 minute video presentation of yourself and include it in the email or post to YouTube and send us the link.


In your video:

-Clearly state and spell your name

-State your age

-Talk about your Blue Ribbon wins

-Other facts about your recipes

-Why you bake/cook

-What food means to you

-Tell us about your home life

....and show us your ribbons!



***Deadline: Friday April 1, 2011***

Information via: http://www.shatskystanley.com/blueribboncasting.html.

Monday, March 14, 2011

Being Queen




Guest Post by Meghan Wristens, 2010 Contra Costa County Fair Queen

Growing up as a fifth generation Antioch child, I went to all of the holiday parades and Fair events. Whenever I went to these events, I would always see this beautiful queen and every year I would look to see if I knew her and then I would guess who was going to be next. Finally once I turned eighteen I knew that it was my turn to apply, and I am SO glad that I did! I wanted to be able to continue the tradition that I had growing up and making appearances all over Contra Costa County. I loved letting girls know, that when they become the right age they can also become a real queen just like me!

I loved going to the Fair at two different times so that I could experience both the day and night time Fair atmospheres. My favorite part about the Fair is walking down the street at night and seeing all of the booths, games and rides all light up. I would buy something tasty to eat, and it would include a meal, drink and dessert because there was so much yummy food to choose from! Then once I had my hands full of food, I would just walk around and look at everything glowing in the dark night sky! I also loved going during the day to see all of the different shows and races growing up, having a set schedule of fun events to do all day kept me entertained. But in between shows I would walk through the exhibit halls and see what kinds of art where created and which ones won as well as what types of things people were selling!

Being able to take pictures with people and putting a smile on their face TOTALLY made my day every time I was at an event. Being able to help out in the community with my queen attire on showed others that everyone can help, even royalty. Working side by side with others making appearances at many venues it was truly an adventure. I also was able to make so many new friendships with people that I would meet at these events. I LOVED being able to make everyone feel encouraged, unique, and welcomed wherever I went.

Outside of my responsibilities as Fair Queen I have a passion for mission work. Since middle school I have been traveling overseas to do cross cultural ministry with my church. Annually we send out middle school, high school, and young adult students on various trips around the world. I have been to Mexico twice where we went to an orphanage and brought them toys and clothes. Then we also built 2 houses for some of the members of the church where we stayed, that didn’t have a home. In high school I went to Uruguay where we held worship and coffee nights, prayer walks, and we also organized a Vacation Bible School for the kids in the local community. We also gave out Operation Christmas Child boxes filled with school supplies to help out the under privileged kids. Lord willing this summer I am going to head to Jamaica where we also are going to sponsor another Vacation Bible School to reach out to the students and provide them with hope and the message of Christ that can change their lives forever!

In five years I will Lord willing be teaching Kindergarten wherever God leads me! I will therefore be done with school and have my teaching credential. I am currently at Los Medanos Community College where I am getting the other half of my preschool certificate to become a Preschool teacher. I am also in the process of getting my AS in Child Development at LMC so that I can become a Kindergarten teacher which is my main goal. I was the 2010 Deer Valley High School Senior Class President and I am very active in all sorts of leadership activities. I also played water polo and swam at DVHS while I also was able to graduate with academic honors!

Besides going to school, I am teaching swim lessons at The Prewett Family Water Park and I also work in the Caring Hands and Mothers of Preschoolers Programs at my church. Golden Hills Community Church is where I spend most of my free time, four days out of the week to be exact! I am involved and participate weekly in the Young Adult ministry, Middle School small groups, High School prayer support, and Student Ministries Internship Programs.

For the next 2011 queen I want her to have all of the knowledge I have about being queen, including how my events went and when or where they were located. So to do this I have created a “tips and tricks” folder for her to make sure that she has an example of what to do. I will also let her know that the year goes by really fast, and so with all of her events she needs to take time and enjoy them individually one at a time. Not being shy, but reaching out to anyone that she comes in contact with, is also advice that I will make sure I share with her! Other than that, being the Fair queen is SO much fun and I believe that there isn’t just one way to do it because every individual can make it their own!

Looking back at how I responded when I was first crowned and filled with excitement, I can honestly say that I feel the same way today as my reign is coming to an end. This is what I said: “I’m truly honored to represent Contra Costa County as the 2010 Fair Queen. It’s my passion to embrace every moment while fulfilling my duties with a smile and cheerful hello. I am looking forward to a year full of unforgettable memories and friends that will be made” I am delighted to say that I did embrace every moment, and I filled it with smiling hellos that led to memories and friendships that I will always remember!

If you or someone you know wants to represent Contra Costa County as the 2011 Fair Queen, please fill out the application on the Fair website and return to the Fairgrounds by 5pm on Monday, March 28, 2011. Fair Queen interviews and judging will take place on Thursday, March 31st at 6pm.

If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Burror at 925-757-4400 or jburror@ccFair.org. Good luck!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Fair Wins 10 Western Fairs Awards



The Contra Costa County Fair was recognized for its innovative ideas that drive the successful annual event.

The Contra Costa County Fair has received 10 awards from the Western Fairs Association (WFA) annual Achievement Awards. Lori Marshall, the Fair’s CEO, accepted the awards in January at the 88th annual Convention & Trade Show in Reno, NV. The WFA is a non-profit trade association serving the fair industry throughout the Western United States and Canada.

The Western Fairs Association Achievement Awards Program received 650 entries from 48 fairs throughout the West. Take a look at what awards the Contra Costa County Fair received:
1. Newspaper Advertising, Series: First Place
2. Our Best New Idea This Year , Marketing: First Place
3. Our Best New Idea This Year, Exhibits: Third Place
4. Outdoor Advertising: Third Place
5. Television Advertising, General Market: Third Place
6. Best Competition : Honorable Mention
7. New Fair Featured Event, Exhibit or Program: Honorable Mention
8. Newspaper Advertising, Single Ad: Honorable Mention
9. Non-Fair Event Sponsored by the Fairgrounds: Honorable Mention
10. Overall Children's Program Honorable Mention

The 2010 Contra Costa County Fair entries were judged among medium-sized fairs with an annual attendance of 50,000 to 150,000. Other fairs competing in the same category included: El Dorado County Fair, Madera District Fair, Marin County Fair, Merced County Fair, Monterey County Fair, Nevada County Fair, San Mateo County Fair, Santa Barbara County Fair and Sonoma-Marin County Fair.

The goal of the association’s awards program is to recognize excellence and to share innovative ideas and successful programs. “We work hard to put on a quality fair that offers something for everyone and are honored to receive these awards in recognition of that,” said Marshall.

Be sure to join us as “The Tradition Continues” at the 2011 Contra Costa County Fair. It's Your Ticket to Fun, so make sure to save the date, June 2-5, 2011 and bring the whole family out to enjoy the great tradition of the Contra Costa County Fair!

To learn more about what is happening all year long, visit us on our website at www.contracostafair.com.

Monday, January 31, 2011

The Lost Boys


We are so excited to announce that we have book the band, The Lost Boys, to play Friday June 3 at the Fair! The Lost Boys are an award winning teenage rock band from Northern CA, and have appeared with 3 Doors Down, Kelly Clarkson, All-American Rejects and so many more. Beau Bastian (18), Jordan Mills (18), Dustin Rudiger (18), Thomas Cano (18), and Jacob Gill (15), all hailing from Lake County, California, prepared for their musical career by winning a multitude of competitions. Their band has been featured in Nintendo national ad campaign with actor Seth Green, and named 2010 ROCK ARTIST of the YEAR at Los Angeles Music Awards! Learn more at http://www.2lostboys.com/.




The Lost Boys pictured with Fair staff and board at the Western Fairs Association convention early this month.

Be sure to join us as “The Tradition Continues” in 2011 at the Contra Costa County Fair. Save the Date: June 2-5, 2011 and bring the whole family out to enjoy the great tradition of the Contra Costa County Fair! Visit us on our website at www.contracostafair.com for more info.

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

We need you!


We need volunteers for various things before and during the Fair. Right now, we need lots of volunteers for Exhibit judging days on May 18th and May 25th. Volunteers are given breakfast and lunch and a ticket to the Fair for approximately 4 hours of help. You will also get a sneak peak at all the Fair exhibits.


You can find the volunteer application on our website, or you can always call our Exhibit Superintendent, Karen Howe, at the office for more info: (925)757-4400.

Mark your calendars:
Contra Costa County Fair
June 2nd - 5th, 2010
"The Tradition Continues!"

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Top five blog posts of 2010


What do you imagine are the top reasons people visit the Contra Costa County Fair every summer? Concerts. Food. Rides. Thinking the top blog posts will be about those things too? Not exactly. Read below to see the favorite posts of 2010.

#1 Happy holidays from the Contra Costa County Fair Dec 1, 2010

#2 The Tradition of Raising Livestock Continues at the Fair Dec 20, 2010

#3 2010 Contra Costa Fair Queen Crowned Apr 5, 2010

#4 12 things about the Contra Costa County Fairgrounds Nov 3, 2010

#5 Fair Theme Announced Dec 9, 2010

What are you looking forward to reading about in 2011?

Tuesday, January 4, 2011

We Need Your Help!


We are trying to reach 800 fans by the beginning of the Fair, June 2, 2011. It will be here sooner than you think and we need your help getting there!

Best way to help us increase our fans:

Follow the link below or paste http://www.facebook.com/contracostacountyfair into your web browser - once you have landed on our fan page, click the 'Suggest to Friends' link under our profile photo, then click as many friends as you can. *A little goes a long way.*

Other ways you can help:

1. Attach our link to your status update and ask your friends to become a fan. Our link: http://www.facebook.com/contracostacountyfair.

2. Re-post our status updates and keep your followers educated on Fair happenings.

3. Keep being a great fan and interacting with our daily posts

4. Word of Mouth - simply tell your friends to look us up on Facebook.

We have a great Fair in the works and can't wait to see you there as “The Tradition Continues” at the Contra Costa County Fair in Antioch.

Thank you so much for your continued support and thank you for being a loyal fan of the Contra Costa County Fair.

Happy new year!