News Details

Main Street Solano at County Fair

July 14, 2011


This year's Solano County Fair, running from August 3-7, will feature new attractions and returning favorites in an exciting themed area in Exposition Hall designed to show off the bounty of Solano County as well as take a look through time at the history of fairs in America, including the Solano County Fair. 

Dubbed "Main Street Solano", fair guests can stroll through informative displays from the county, its seven cities and Travis Air Force Base; discover the history of the modern agricultural fair and the Solano County Fair; and sample a variety of local wines from the Suisun Valley.

“When you think about a place that represents the heart of your hometown, 'Main Street’ is often one of the first places to come to mind,” comments Fair General Manager Mike Paluszak.  “We wanted to create that same feeling of community and nostalgia by designing Main Street Solano as an experience of the heart of our county, our cities, and of the Fair.” 

Centrally located on Main Street Solano, Made in America: the Story of the Modern Fair, is a special exhibit celebrating the 200th anniversary of the modern agricultural fair. 

This exhibit unveils the history of the first modern fair and shares the traditions of our farms and ranchers through the years from past to present.  Through the use of story boards, artifacts, personal quotes and colorful photos, Made In America will take fairgoers back to the first fair in America held in 1811, through the evolution and growth of fairs across the country during the last 200 years, to the modern fair of today. 

Made In America will give guests a chance to discover the history of interesting fair foods, the expansion of entertainment and livestock, and what it takes to create the magical fun and educational experience of fairs everywhere.  The unique history of the Solano County Fair will also be explored through images and stories dating back to the fair’s first year in 1950.

Building on the success of last year, the Solano County & Cities Expo will celebrate the people, places and things that make Solano County a great place to live, learn, work and play. The Expo booths will be the central thoroughfare of Main Street Solano and will be a showcase of the heart and soul of the county, its seven cities and Travis AFB. 

Travis AFB will also have a special exhibit area directly outside of Exposition Hall with an extensive display of mobile command center equipment, technology and information.

Inside Exposition Hall, each of the Solano County & Cities Expo booths will be a collaborative effort of government, business, cultural organizations, museums, tourism bureaus and other groups.  These partnerships will direct the design and presentation of their booth with a focus on the icons and attributes that are distinct to each city and the county. 

Fairgoers will be invited to participate in choosing the “People’s Choice Award” for their favorite booth by filling out a short form and ballot at an adjacent booth staffed by volunteers from CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) for Children. 

CASA of Solano County advocates for abused, neglected, and other identified children within the court system, with the belief that every child is entitled to a safe and stable home.  CASA’s participation in the Fair has allowed them to recruit new volunteers, generate public awareness of their mission, and educate the community on how it can help with the needs of abused and neglected children.  This is the second year the Fair has partnered with CASA to coordinate the People’s Choice Awards ballot, building a mutually beneficial partnership for both organizations founded upon the common ground of making life better for children.

The journey down Main Street Solano will be capped off by a new exhibition at the Solano County Fair: The Wineries of Suisun Valley.  Bringing together several wineries from the Suisun Valley appellation, this collaborative effort of local vintners will give fairgoers a chance to socialize and relax while enjoying a selection of wine varieties and vintages from our home county.  Tastings will be available for $7 per person and will provide three 5 oz. glasses of guests’ choice of offered wines.  Exact wineries and wine varieties will vary by day and times, making each visit a fresh opportunity to discover a new favorite Winery of Suisun Valley.

The Solano County Fair runs from August 3-7, 2011 at the Solano County Fairgrounds in Vallejo.  All entertainment, including concerts, is included FREE with Fair admission.  Pre-sale tickets to the Solano County Fair are available online through August 2 and offer a discount off the regular prices. 

Fair admission prices are $6 in advance and $8 on-site for adults, $3 in advance and $4 on-site for children ages 6-12, seniors 60+, and military personnel with an active duty card.  Children 5 and under and military personnel in uniform are always free.  Seniors 60+ receive FREE admission all day on Seniors Day, Wednesday, August 3 and children 12 and younger receive FREE admission on Kids Day, Thursday August 4. 

Select activities, carnival rides and games have a separate cost.  Carnival wristbands, good all day any one day, are $20 in advance and $25 on-site. 

Visit www.SCFair.com or call 707-551-2000 for more information.