DEL MAR — The San Diego County Fair has closed the curtains on its 2024 season after a 20-day run at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, with officials reporting lower attendance but an improved overall visitor experience.
This year’s fair, “Let’s Go Retro,” was two days shorter than in 2023, with a total attendance of 877,452 — a decrease of around 120,000 — and an average of 44,000 guests daily. The fair also began later than in previous years, starting June 12 and running until July 7, marking the first time since 2015 that the fair has run past the Fourth of July.
While attendance continues to be well below pre-pandemic levels of around 1.5 million, 22nd District Agricultural Association CEO Carlene Moore marked this year a success. The fair continues to focus on improved layout and limiting overcrowding.
“The San Diego County Fair this year looked and felt better, cleaner, safer and more fun than ever before. In our third year back after an extraordinarily challenging two-year hiatus, we feel we have truly hit our stride and set a new Fair standard that we can build upon for years to come,” Moore said.
Wednesdays and Thursdays proved to be the busiest days, including the Juneteenth holiday and July 3, which saw 64,000 guests.
This year, fairgoers had their pick of 70 total rides, including 18 new rides, 49 carnival games, 95 local concessionaires and vendors, and 275 total entertainment acts throughout the fair. The most popular new ride, the Raptor Coaster, sent shivers down the spines of over 73,000 riders.
The Toyota Summer Concert Series drew nearly 66,000 people and saw three sold-out concerts, with the performance by Los Tucanes de Tijuana drawing the largest crowd with 7,785 attendees.
Over 300 youth ages 9 to 18 participated in the Junior Livestock Auction with 487 animals, raising a total of $657,565. “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian paid $14,229 for the FFA Reserve Grand Champion Beef from exhibitor Emily Ragsdale of Pine Valley.
The Fairgrounds hired over 1,200 temporary workers to support this year’s fair, in addition to employees hired by vendors, concessionaires and contractors.
Planning for next summer’s fair is already underway.
“We already cannot wait to have San Diegans back out in 2025 for the biggest, best, and oldest community celebration in the region,” Moore said.
