Solano County Fair

The new Solano County Fair management gets a big fat «F». Not only do I want my $ 10 back but I want my wasted time back. How dare you put Vallejo’s own ConFunkShun on this tiney (not tiny) stage then blow the power. This is kindergarten grade crap. Get it together or get the old management back. Trifling, are you familiar with that word? It’s an adjective that describes this experience
You get zero stars and I really do want my money back.

I recently did a mud run here, otherwise I probably wouldn’t have ventured so far for fairgrounds. The 3 mile obstacle course was spread out over the horse stalls/​track & golf course areas. Over all, I thought the course was done pretty well & was happy that it was mostly flat terrain compared to other mud runs I’ve done. The golf course area was actually pretty nice & the grass was still intact. The horse stall area was pretty rundown & old. I’m not sure if they still do races there, but it can definitely use a little TLC. As far as the MuckFest mud run goes, I thought the Solano County Fairgrounds was a good choice & everything was well organized.

Things have changed at the fair since the days of my youth: it’s gotten shorter, the gardening exhibits no longer exist and the fair itself has gotten smaller. All that being said; you can still have a good time at the fair.
Here are a few tips
1. Enter the fair :
I enter my photography every year and it only costs $ 3.50 per entry. The bonus is that every entrant gets a free ticket to the fair, which usually costs $ 10. Boom, you just saved some money and you might win some prize money in the process.
2. Come in the evening :
It’s not as hot in the evening and all the most «interesting» people can be seen at nighttime. Which leads me to my next tip…
3. Enjoy the people watching :
There are so many people to see; everything from ratchet moms having a full on argument with a four year old while wearing white high-​waisted booty shorts to the insanely cute guy who is cleary too good looking to be selling corn dogs. Not to mention the guy who sung 1000 miles by Vanessa Carlton. (P.S. You killed it… literally you strangled that song to within an inch of its life!)
4. Eat everything! :
Funnel cake and Turkey legs only come around so often. Relax whatever diet you’re on and just let it happen:)
5. Bring awesome friends :
I saved the most important tip for last. Me and my friends were dancing, singing and cracking jokes throughout the fair. We also shared our less than healthy food, mitigating the damage. And perhaaps there’s nothing better than sharing a funnel cake topped with strawberries, vanilla ice cream and whipped cream with your friends with fireworks booming in the background.
You can waddle back to your car with sore feet and a full tummy knowing you had a great time.

Came to show Bouviers at for Woofstock. Great facility and great selection of vendors.

For the Solano County Fairgrounds in my humbled opinion… I feel this piece of land is well used, well kept up and quite pretty! Its got huge matured trees between halls and everything is lush this time of year. I’ve been there a hand full of times now and used the restroom and ALWAYS the women’s restrooms were clean and stocked.
In the Color Vibe 5K Run is usually held here. I participated this year and the «party» was out in the parking lot and we ran all around the horse stalls along the freeway (not THAT close), through the track and finish at the Exhibition hall (which I think there is only one of. the others are called something different).
I’ve frequented the Gun Shows they’ve had here. They are held in the Exhibition Hall. A little tight but if folks would LEAVE HOME THE KIDS AND STROLLERS it might be a bit easier for those of us whom choose to think of the Show to be of mature adult kinda show. C’mon folks… don’t hate! Remember this is MY OPINION.
Dog shows are also held here.
Usually its $ 10 bucks to park and whatever the shows fee which can be bought at the Tickets booth. One located at the front of the Exhibition Hall. Also in that hall is a snack bar. Sells hot dogs, corn dogs, chicken strips… finger foods, few drinks, chips, coffee. A few tall tables are in the area to eat at. No vending machine.
Many years back I came to a wedding here and even from what I can remember from then is that I thought it to be a very spacious and pretty place. Not sure if they still allow weddings here but if there was… it’d be hella cool!
Horse Racing is fun here… usualy free parking. Sundays are $ 1 BEER!
And of course the Solano County Fair! Usually the last weekend of July and the first week of August.
#15/​365

Went here for the Color Vibe 5K and it was so cool to run around the old horse track and see all of the stables. It’s amazing to see how many horses that place had capacity for.
There’s a ton of parking and it’s very close to the freeway.

Came here for the 2012 Solano County Fair. This place was over priced, had vomit on the ground, smelled bad and I absolutely loved it.
Kinda trashy and never classy, it has everything you would expect and want from a summer fair. Greasy pizza at 4 $ and coke at 6 $, hitting the rides with a 25 $ wrist band and riding till you almost puke is pretty fun.
The side shows were great. Saw the hypnotist perform twice, and in the second show went up and I got halfway hypnotized. The Amazing Arthur show was full of puns that were way above the heads of the kids watching and I laughed till my sides hurt.
Do not pass up the opportunity to hit this place up! Yes your wallet and stomach might hurt, but its well worth it for the lasting summer memories.

DOG SHOW WEEKEND!
I was here back in March 2012 for their 4 days dog show cluster weekend — hosted by the «San Mateo Kennel Club» and the «Oakland Kennel Club.» My company also setup a Pilot booth here testing the waters in the pet industry.
Most of the dog shows are usually held at a county fairground. The Solano County Fairgrounds holds special memory for me. This is where I showed my very first show dog. Back then, I was a «puppy» too! It feels like it was only yesterday!
Times have change and with the economy — I have seen the deterioration in the showground. They used to be all spiff up and newly painted almost every year. Today, the grounds have a lot of pot holes and in need of TLC. Some of the buildings are getting pretty worn down compare to when I was a kid when they were spotless! After Mare Island closed, the city of Vallejo really had a dramatic impact of low turnout! Fortunately, the horse racing brings regulars to the grounds and keeps the revenue steady! I hope!
Interestingly enough, I have also noticed a significant drop of entries at the dog shows particularly at this show in Vallejo. Back then, Vallejo being centrally located, it drew thousands of exhibitors as far as neighboring states because of its central location. Back then, I would see lots of people everywhere on the show grounds, and back then — you had to fight for space to even groom your dog outdoors!
Sadly today — with this tough economy and with the price of gas soaring up to $ 4.50 per gallon — many exhibitors have decided not to participate or show closer to home.
I hope that the economy will pick up and that more and more events will be held here so that the Solano County Fairgrounds will continue to live up to its legacy of being a «family fairground!»

If the locals supported it… this would be awesomeness.
As a native Vallejoan, I’m sad that for most of my adult life, I have had a conference out of town that made me miss the fair like EVERY YEAR! So I was please that the last TWO years, I had the chance at redemption. I had a GREAT time. I mean who in the hell doesn’t love fair food? Not into the animals? Have a funnel cake. Could care less about exhibits? Eat some corn on the cob.
I had a great time walking around, seeing the kids enjoying themselves and enjoying all of the local flair from community groups, county city booths and other exciting exhibits and entertainment. I know this fair has caught hell over the years for being lackluster, but every time I’m in the building it’s always great times. I mean who in the world has time to complain with a corn dog in their mouth? That’s not just un-​American, but un-​Vallejoan too!

I went here on a whim with my husband to show him what a county fair is like. It was an okay experience but there wasn’t much to see and the singers were horrible. I won’t be going back…

First off, this is a general review of not only the fairgrounds but the events I’ve been to.
The county fair that passes through each year is as mediocre as it can get. However, one cannot expect the fair to be the level of an actual theme park. The rides are questionable and the workers are… um…dare I say creepy? The horse races are usually quite fun, although I haven’t bet on a four-​legged animal in years as I just don’t have that gambling blood in me.
Next, we have the 9-​hole Mortara Golf Course located in the middle, yes middle of the race track! How sweet is that?! I’ve played that course many times over and it’s always enjoyable. Weekends are obviously the worst times to play but on some days… it’s just worth the wait.
Who doesn’t like to attend a gun show? No, I’m not flexing my own guns. Ha! Several times a year a gun show rolls through the fairgrounds. For a mere $ 15 (including parking) you can walk through a showcase of weapons for that inner-​redneck in you. Grown-​up toys are they are sometimes referred as, you can buy and sell anything from guns (of course!) to war-​time paraphanalia and everything in between. One of my personal favorites.
Lastly, I do need to mention that I had my wedding reception at one of the halls on the fairgrounds. 500+ guests… most of whom I’ve never met before that nightmare of a day. While I do remember some of the goings on during the after party, I’d rather forget the whole thing happened. LOL! You know what they say, there’s a soulmate for everyone… and that bitch I married that day sure as hell wasn’t it! Glad I’m divorced from her! Haha!

By California standards, this is an OK County Fair. There’s also a golf course and race track here, and if the kids revolt, there’s always Marine World next door. Solano County also maintains exhibit space where dog shows, gun shows, and other events can be held. Also take some advice from this Iowa Boy — The Alameda County Fair is a better choice within this largely mediocre field.

Came here for a car show my bf was in. I really really REALLY wish we knew it would get freezing at night and there would only be 1 food stand in the entire fair grounds. We ended up ordering delivery pizza, picked up at the gate. There were tons of teenagers because it was combined with a dance competition. It would have been great if we didn’t have to leave the San Jose area but we ended up making the drive. It also sucked that most of the day was prepping and waiting when we could hear the distant screams and roars of the roller coasters from six flags.

this fair is crap. this is the second and last time i will be going to this fair. as usual, there a lot of cops because of immature kids looking for trouble. i have only been to it at night and it might be a different story during the day.
last night i saw some kid steal a caramel apple from a vendor when he wasnt looking, poor dude. all he wants to do is make a living selling apples and some immature kid steals from him.
this place is garbage. if you would like to see a bunch of kids running around with disrespect to others, come to this fair and you will love it.
i need to get out of vallejo this place is turning into a crappier place everyday.

It must have been eons ago since I’ve gone to a local Fair. This year happens to be Solano County Fair’s 60^th Anniversary and our first time visit.
I suggest you give yourself about a half an hour window to deal with the traffic jam immediately after you take the freeway exit. Same exit for folks who are headed for Six Flags Discovery Kingdom.
Parking was 6 bucks and general admission 8. Seniors and kids discounted pricing, 5 and under free. I purchased our tickets online.
Pretty neat Fair! A good number of food vendors to choose from. Of course I went straight for the smoked pork ribs yummy!
Lots of exhibits, from food cooking competition winners to awarded school science projects. Hosted vendor booths showcased their products as well.
All sorts of farm animals, carnival games and rides, live shows, labeled artist concerts and arts & crafts for the kids.
Weather was beautiful and it was fun for the whole family…

Total agreement, this place has become depressing. I remember the granduer of it in my younger years. I remember the excitement you would feel walking thru the gates and see all the lights and action. But now its just a hoodlum infested place where you fear for your life more than anything else. Only plus was seeing Keith Sweat there this summer but the security at the concert sucked big time. I don’t know any folks anymore that take their kids to the fair because its so gross. SAD!

I came here to shoot 9 holes of golf with my neighbor last Saturday. While it’s certainly a far cry from Blue Rock Springs Golf Course and Mare Island, it’s a nice little place to play a quick game of golf in an hour and a half and be on your merry way. The cost do do so? $ 12, which ain’t that bad and doesn’t sting too much… As far as depressing, yes indeed, it is very much so. It feels like a place that was festive in days of yore and is now forlorn and desolate. Picture the world of Stephen King’s Gunslinger, if you will, and you won’t be too far off.
That said, fuck it, y’know? $ 12 averages out to $ 1.33 per hole of golf and you don’t have to wait for twilight either. I will knock ‘em a couple of points, though, because they watered the shit out of the course which meant that I wasn’t always golfing, opting sometimes to do all terrain golfing instead. Now granted if I knew how to keep the motherfucker on the green, it would go much smoother… That, though, is another story.

Advice from someone who has lived in the V one exit away from the Solano County Fairgrounds… don’t bother… don’t slow down… don’t take the exit to see what it’s all about…
if we’re lucky, the thoroughbred racing will move to Dixon Downs (if they pass the initiative)…and then, maybe… we might get year round harness racing in the V… not that I condone horseracing of any kind… but something is better than nothing…11 ½ months out of the year… with a sad little 9 hole golf course covered in Canadian Goose goo stuck in the middle of a racetrack…
yeah, Alameda County Fair… closest thing to Disneyland compared to this venue… sad…but true.

A LOT of free shows. but scheduling is usually craptastic. Ex: $ 2 entrance day was scheduled for those who came early enough. This was while Vallejo was in the triple digits! They (but not many bay area cities were) equipped for the heat which left many fairgoers feeling BLAH!!!

Terribly depressing. Makes the Alameda County Fair look like Disneyland…
Where are all the people?!
I came here to see Jim Gaffigan, and that made it all worth it.
For almost the same price as the Alameda County Fair, you get nothing. It’s hot… so freaking hot, and not one of the buildings has air condition. I see you are equipped for it, you sick sadistic building!