Top 10 Things To Do at the 2012 Sonoma County Fair

The Terry Hanck Band (Photo by Joseph Rosen)

9.    Free Live Music  
All around the grounds, you can hear the sound of music. From oldies to country to rock, blues, Hawaiian, folk and swing, you can enjoy free live music all afternoon and well into the evening every day of Fair. Be sure to hang out in Shade Park where bands hit the Park Stage daily between 1:15 pm and 9:00 pm (check out the website for a full schedule). What better way to wind down your afternoon than in the Blues & Brews Lounge, located in between Garrett and Finley Halls where you can catch the Blues Hammer from July 25 – July 29 and The Terry Hanck Band from August 1 – August 12. Music at the Blues & Brews Lounge happens daily from 4:30 pm to 8:00 pm, except on Tuesdays. And just around the corner in Mexican Village you will be entertained daily between 4:00 pm and 7:00 pm by bands such as Nuevo Amancer and Oyé World Drummers. On August 2, Rocio y su Sonora will be performing with Los Cadetes in the Community Theater and don’t miss the Concurso de Bandas and Concurso de Grupos on August 3 and August 10.

10.    Greentivities – Recycle, Reduce, Reuse  
New this year at the Fair is “Greentivities”, a fun, interactive venue for both kids and adults held in the Garden Building from 11:00 am till 10:00 pm daily. Everyone will enjoy this opportunity to play, experiment and interact with state-of-the-art exhibits and demonstrations. Greentivities will showcase exhibits not only from local organizations but also from the Maker Faire, a family friendly, two-day festival of invention and creativity held annually in San Mateo. Dive in to 3,800 square feet of exhibits which include ‘The House of Pressure’, the ‘Energy Bike’, hands-on Paleotechnic bead and cord making, and worm composting, as well as other green and inventive surprises. You will also find a speaker series with topics ranging from local farming lore to water conservation tips, all playfully educational.

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During the Fair, gates are open daily from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm. Tickets are available at the Fair box office and online. Admission is $10 ($8 presale) for 13 and up and $5 for kids 7 to 12. Kids 6 and under always get into the Fair free. Please note these special days: free admission for kids on Fridays; free admission for seniors on Thursdays; Two Good to be True Tuesdays ($20 covers general admission and unlimited carnival rides for all ages). For more information, go to www.sonomacountyfair.com or call (707)545-4200. You can also find “Sonoma County Fairgrounds” on Facebook.