San Rafael, CA – Calling all talented, artistic, technologically savvy, green-thumbed, and creative people: The exhibit categories are now open to the public for the 2017 Marin County Fair. With the theme of Let the Funshine In!, the fair is June 30 through July 4 at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael.
Dasha Lazaryuk of Fairfax was a big winner last year for her decorated cakes.Let the Funshine In! celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Summer of Love and emphasizes Marin’s dedication to the things we value most in our community: family, art, agriculture, and the environment. This summer’s fair will honor that 1967 spirit with music, art, fashion and more featuring tie-dye and macramé competitions, Flower Power floriculture, “groovy/psychedelic” and abstract art and photography, and daily ‘60s fashion parades.
The deadline for submitting entry forms for most categories is Thursday, May 11. Last year’s fair featured more than 800 categories, 13,500 exhibits and some 7,000 entrants in exhibits that covered everything from performing arts to baked foods and from fine wine to fine art.
The Marin County Fair is award-winning for its innovative, creative, and inspired competitive exhibits program. “We hope to inspire the entire community, both young and old, to harness their ‘60s spirit and enter imaginative, artistic, and perhaps groovy exhibits and celebrate our true creative spirit,” Fair Manager Charlie Barboni said.
Many families come to this fair to see a neighbors’ creativity and talents and see the latest innovative exhibits. Programs range from international short films to fine arts to chickens, tamales and quilts, just to name a few. The fair is known for offering traditional and innovative competitive student exhibit categories.
The juried Fine Arts, Crafts and Photography Show is considered by many to be the best among the 78 fairs in California. The International Short Film & Video Festival is the only one of its kind in North America at a county fair.
Special themed contests this year include tie dye, Play-Doh, flashback to the ‘60s, macrame, kaleidoscope arts, tangle art, spin art, Flower Power floral arts, zen gardens, and a Let the Funshine In! themed contest.
For information on the competitive exhibits, participation and entry forms, go the “enter the fair” option on www.marincounty.org. The 285-page exhibitors’ guide answers questions about categories and participation.
For more information about the competitive exhibit programs, contact Charlie Barboni, Fair Manager, at cbarboni@marincounty.org or 415-473-7048.