Where the West Is Fun at the 2017 San Diego County Fair offers a stampede of fun, food, and entertainmentJune 2 through July 4at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. The fair is closed the first four Mondays and the first three Tuesdays.

The Western theme is featured throughout the fair, focusing on the culture of the region from the 1880s and merging it with pop culture elements inspired by it. For many people, the recollection of the West was formed by movies and TV shows, names of favorite sports teams, and even toys like “Woody” from the movie Toy Story. But the story begins at the beginning with the Original People of this western land, their lifestyle, preserved lands, and culture which also will be exhibited in various ways throughout the fair.

Specific to this year’s theme there will be country music, a rodeo, Fiesta del Charro, a Frontier Town, and a themed exhibit with a saloon, art, and history displays about this period of time in America. Where the West Is Fun is a creative way to bring the fair to life, but the tried and true standards that fair guests love, year after year, will still be at the San Diego County Fair, like music at the grandstand stage, fair food extremes and traditions, exhibits by children and hobbyists, and displays of California agriculture, which was the original purpose of the annual fair.

Entertainment: Music always is a main feature of the fair and includes the Toyota Summer Concert Series on the Heineken Grandstand Stage with a wide variety of performers in paid and free concerts, including the music genres of country, Mexican regional, pop and legends such as Toby Keith, Patti LaBelle, Peter Cetera, and Roberto Tapia. Four other concert series, free with fair admission, include The Paddock Concert Series with 10 nights of music, including the Yardbirds and John Michael Montgomery; Solid Gold Concerts offer Thursday afternoon Oldies acts on the Showcase Stage; Coors Light Rock On Stage includes Belly Up-sponsored Thursday evenings; and Acoustic Showcase starts at 11 a.m. in the the relaxing Paddock on Saturday, July 1, featuring music with no electronic amplification all day, finishing with headliner Tyrone Wells at 9 p.m. The full concert lineup can be seen at sdfair.com. There are many other stages on the fairgrounds featuring local music, dancing, magic, and comedy performed by San Diego locals. Some former fair entertainers have made it big, like the Red Hot Chili Peppers. The San Diego County Fair is a great way to experience the local music scene.

Multicultural Festivals promote diversity at the fair: As San Diego has grown from a more agricultural area into a metro urban community, the San Diego County Fair has integrated special festivals, free with admission to the fair, as a way to share with everyone the diversity of our county.

Asian Festival: Saturday, June 3, at the Paddock. A celebration of Asian & Pacific Islander culturesrepresenting China, India, Japan, Philippines, Korea, Hawaii, Polynesia, and Vietnam. Featuring traditional and popular entertainment, martial arts, food, and local non-profit organizations. New this year: An Asian art exhibit at 17 Hands Restaurant & Barand Sake flights at the Paddock Tavern.

Gospel Festival: Saturday, June 24, brings gospel music to many stages throughout the Fairgrounds all day, ending with a Grandstand concert featuring Hezekiah Walker & Tasha Cobbs, all free with admission.

Mariachi Festival: on Sunday, June 11, at the Fiesta Stage, there will be a full afternoon of authentic Mariachi and Folkloric Dance groups from San Diego and Baja California. New this year: Tequila sampling and a piñata striking session for the public. The “Fiesta del Charro” will be in the Del Mar Arena, and Roberto Tapia will perform Mexican regional music, rounding out the day’s festivities on the Grandstand stage that day.

Out at the Fair: Saturday, June 10, at the Paddock and Coors Light Rock On Stage. A full day of family-friendly entertainment and activities celebrating the LGBTQ community, including Diva Drop, Dunk a Hunk, the Newly Married Game, musical performances, and female impersonators, featuring Simply Barbra. New this year: An Art Exhibit celebrating LGBTQ culture will be displayed in the 17 Hands Restaurant Bar.

Whole Life Festival: Saturday, July 1, brings the Whole Life Festival to the Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show area, presented by Think Blue, featuring healthful and upbeat lifestyle choices for natural living. There will be demonstrations, lectures, authors, and organic growers all sharing their ideas about health and well-being.

Food: Fair food always is a conversation starter at the fair. Deep-fried Oreos are among the craziest, and roasted corn on the cob is among the most popular. But the fair also has gourmet foods and beverages found throughout the fairgrounds and at special events held within the fair. New this year is the Gold Medal Beer Dinner, limited to 100 guests, which will provide a gourmet dinner, pairing courses with this year’s finest medal beers. Tickets must be purchased ahead of time at sandiegobeerfestival.com and include a sneak peek of the San Diego International Beer Festival, which starts the next day.

Beer, Wine, and Spirit Competition & Festivals: The medal-winning wine and beers served at the featured VIP events and other events at the fair are from some of the fair’s competitions, including The Toast of the Coast Wine Competition, which draws entrants from throughout the United States and Mexico. The Toast of the Coast Wine Festival, which pours the award-winning wine in the serene Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show, is held on Saturday, June 10, in two sessions between noon - 7 p.m. Tickets include fair admission and can be purchased at thetoastofthecoast.com.

The San Diego International Beer Competition draws entrants from throughout the worldand is placed among the top 10 of beer competitions nationally. Within the fair is the three-day San Diego International Beer Festival, from June 16-18 in the Del Mar Arena, featuring five sessions for beer lovers. Tickets include fair admission and can be purchased at sandiegobeerfestival.com.

Just three years old, Distilled: Spirit & Cocktail Competition & Festival is becoming a place to present personally crafted distilled spirits. The competition received nearly 200 entries from distilleries around the globe and will share their spirits from 1-5 p.m., June 24, in the Paddock, capturing the best of the best in whiskey, tequila, vodka, gin and other spirits. Tickets include fair admission and can be purchased at distilledsandiego.com.

Exhibits: The purpose of the county fair always has been for the community to showcase their skills, creative abilities, livestock, and food from the land. One of the most popular exhibits is Design in Wood, featuring handmade furniture and pieces of art in a display that always captures a great crowd. Home and Hobby shows off traditional arts such as quilting and unusual collections, and offers classes and competitions in cooking and food preparation.

New this year is the “Journey to the Winners Circle” exhibit celebrating the pageantry, traditions and history of horse racing at the Del Mar Race Track. Special features will tell the story of the “Backside,” Hollywood & Horses, and a chance to take your photo in the Winners Circle. Next to the entrance to the Student Showcase exhibit, the fairgoer will encounter another new exhibit, the Awareness Gallery, a three-dimensional display focusing on teen life and all of the trials and tribulations it brings. It is an interactive experience meant for people of all ages.

The Paul Ecke Jr. Garden Show is well-known as the quiet and shaded part of the fair. There are professional exhibits and club entries displaying garden ideas within the fair’s theme. This year’s Garden Show theme is “Happy Trails.” The Flower Show, adjacent to the Garden Show, features fresh blooms, judged every few days and displayed for everyone to enjoy. Many other exhibits feature fine art, photography, student projects, gems and minerals, and junior livestock competitions.

The Jr. Livestock Auction, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, July 1, is one of the foremost traditions of the fair. Area youth will auction their livestock projects to raise money for scholarships and higher education. Contact the Livestock Office at 858-792-4283 to participate.