San Rafael, CA – The 74th edition of the award-winning Marin County Fair, set for July 1-5, is officially titled “On With The Show!”
Held at the Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Marin Center and Fairgrounds in San Rafael, this year’s Marin County Fair will feature longtime favorites alongside brand new attractions, highlighting what Marin residents love most about their local fair. For years the fair has reflected the County in all of its colorful traditions and innovations; its farm animals, family activities, popular concerts, thrilling rides, leading-edge exhibits, and spectacular fireworks displays each night have made the fair one of the Bay Area’s most beloved and anticipated summer events.
The new Director for the Department of Cultural Services, Gabriella C. Calicchio, is excited to carry forward the rich traditions of the Marin County Fair from retired Director Jim Farley.
“I’m looking forward to meeting Marin residents at my first fair as director and sharing my vision for one of the most innovative, creative, and exciting fairs in the country,” Calicchio said.
Calicchio added, “Some of our new events bring the STEM to STEAM concept to the forefront, adding the arts to science, technology, engineering and math. These events are loads of fun for kids of all ages and at the same time underscore the fundamentals of innovation and creativity.” STEM stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, and the “A” in STEAM signifies the addition of “Art” to these fundamental principles.
Some highlights of the 2015 fair:
- Two Bit Circus performers create imaginative and interactive entertainment which blurs the line between the spectator’s physical and digital worlds.
- LEGOJEEP is for the maker kid in all of us. The LEGOJEEP is a retired U.S. Postal Service Jeep covered in LEGO panels. Kids and adults alike can build LEGO designs off of any available panel space.
- Something Ridiculous is a high-energy juggling and acrobatic act performed by slapstick stuntmen Mark Wilder and VonJon.
- The Amazing Bubble Man, Louis Pearl, has thrilled audiences around the world for nearly 30 years with the art, magic, science and fun of bubbles.
- Stars of the Peking Acrobats perform breathtaking stunts such as pagoda of chairs, a trick cycling kaleidoscope, treacherous wire walking and amazing displays of contortion.
The competitive exhibits program features nearly 800 new and returning exhibits ranging from fine arts and crafts, photography, flowers, art chairs and dairy cows. New competitions this year will be held for decorated baby strollers, hula hoops, and paper lanterns. There will even be a “selfie” competition sure to be popular with younger fairgoers. Contest entry is open to anyone.
Lastly, with its solar-powered carousel and stage, commitment to water conservation and a record of 90 percent waste diversion to compost and recycling, the Marin County Fair plans on proudly maintaining its status this year as the Greenest County Fair on Earth.
For more information, go to www.marinfair.org.