It’s time for the 2018 San Joaquin County Fair – the event at the fairgrounds in Stockton kicks off Thursday, June 14 and runs through Sunday, June 17.
Fair hours are 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, June 14 and 15; 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, June 16 and 17. No entry or re-entry after 9 p.m.
Admission is $10 for adults; $7 for seniors, military and students with ID; $5 for kids 6 to 12; five and under admitted free. Parking is $7.
Theme for this year’s fair is “Celebrating Our County’s Cultures.”
Special days include Kid’s Day on Thursday, June 14 with all kids admitted free; Friday, June 15 will be Seniors and Disability Day with gates opening early for senior citizens and those with disabilities. Saturday, June 16 will be celebrated as ‘Juneteenth’ with special performances and Sunday, June 17 is Hispanic Day.
Exhibit buildings are open daily, with entries from county residents ranging from fine art to photography, quilts to floriculture and more.
Around the grounds throughout the four days of the fair, attendees can enjoy a number of programs and entertainers. Steves Fun Balloons and The Magic of Rafael and Katia are a couple of the scheduled acts, along with Giddyup Productions, an audience participation show with comedic roping and magic. A Walk on the Wild Side features jungle animals from an animal refuge in Oregon. For youngsters, hands on activities include the Fusion Talent: Pedal Tractors and Mind Works, an interactive exhibit focusing on science. Skip Banks is a comedy group that will also entertain all ages.
There will also be food vendors, games and the popular midway, with $35 unlimited ride wristbands available along with different ticket packages.
Entertainment on the main stage features a variety of acts. Fresh, a Latino rhythm and blues band takes the stage on Thursday, June 14 at 6 p.m. and Uptown Funk, a Bruno Mars Tribute, plays at 8 p.m. Thursday. On Friday, country takes over, with Jackson Michelson performing at 6 p.m. and Jerrod Niemann at 8 p.m.
Saturday, enjoy Chains Required, a power soul and rock group at 6 p.m. and The Dazz Band, with funk and dance, at 9 p.m.
Featured performer on Sunday will be Latin favorite Gerardo Ortiz, appearing in the Grandstand.
Special programs scheduled include the West Coast Summer Nationals Tractor Pulls, scheduled for Friday, June 15 in the Grandstand. Ticket booths and gates open at 5 p.m., racing starts at 7 p.m.
On Saturday, June 16 it’s the Lodi Motorcycle Club bringing its AMA sanctioned motorcycle race to the fairgrounds. Ticket booth and gates open at 2 p.m., sign-ups for racing are 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. with practice from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. and racing starts at 5 p.m.
Admission for these special grandstand shows is $10 for ages 11 and older, $5 for kids 5 to 10, with paid admission to the fair; kids 4 and under free.
