County Fair reflects Marin community values ​​– Marin Independent Journal

The Marin County Board of Supervisors invites you to attend the award-winning Marin County Fair, open now through Sunday.

The Marin County Fair is an annual celebration of our vibrant community, attracting more than 120,000 visitors. The fair is fun for all and includes rides, film festival screenings, on-site entertainment, community stage productions, a farm and petting zoo, an art and food exhibit hall, concerts and fireworks.

The fair has a rich history, dating back to 1879, when the Marin County Journal newspaper mentioned W.T. Coleman’s plans for a fairgrounds and race track. The first Marin County Fair and Harvest Festival were held in 1925. They were discontinued after four years. In 1946, the fair began again at the Marin Art and Garden Center in Ross. In 1956, the county purchased 140 acres to build the Civic Center campus in San Rafael. By 1971, the site was ready to host the first Marin County Fair. For more than 50 years, the people of Marin have enjoyed the fair at its current location, set against the backdrop of Marin’s rolling hills.

Each year, the fair continues to grow and adapt, reflecting Marin’s values ​​of art, agriculture, the environment, and connection to our community. Since 2008, the Marin County Fair has set the standard for sustainability, being named the healthiest and greenest county fair in the world. Today, the fair proudly showcases a carousel and stage, both powered by solar energy, as well as an impressive 92% waste diversion rate. The fair will also see the first wind turbine installed at a fairground in California, with the demonstration project of a vertical turbine without a propeller outside the entrance of the Marin Veterans’ Memorial Auditorium. It also offers a variety of fresh and healthy food options, non-alcoholic sponsorships, and a smoke-free and inclusive environment for everyone to enjoy.

You can help keep the fair green by riding the free Marin Transit to the fairgrounds, taking the SMART train, or riding your bike and using the bike parking service.

On Wednesday, I officially opened the fair with the annual ribbon cutting. I look forward to visiting the information and education booths of our local nonprofits and county agencies at the fair. I also enjoy going to the exhibit hall to see the creativity of our communities, from the contributions of youth to the contributions in the areas of fine arts, photography, crafts, and clothing and textiles.

I am grateful each year to see the county’s rich agricultural heritage at the Barnyard. Marin’s agricultural community continues to inspire and engage the next generation by providing information and resources about our local food sources and sustainability.