County fair season officially kicks off today as the Sonoma-Marin Fair in Petaluma melds old-time fair traditions with 21st century technology.
It includes the customary livestock competitions, arts and crafts, carnival rides and fattening foods, but this fair also offers crazy new contests and high-tech events to please everyone from the diapered to the 100-plus crowd.
Fair-goers can enjoy down-home favorites like funnel cakes and corn dogs, and uptown faves like boutique olive oils and locally made artisan cheeses.
"We're the best small fair going," said marketing director Vicki DeArmon, touring the fairgrounds Tuesday as midway rides were rising and animal stalls were laid with straw.
"We have 100 events all rolled into one place," she said "There is stuff going on all day every day for all different ages."
With a nod to the new tech reality, teens can exercise their thumbs in the texting contest or show their theatrical prowess with YouTube video shoots.
A "gaming experience" called IGX will be available, which will include Guitar Hero and, for a slightly less-extreme adventure, Wii bowling.
The Sonoma-Marin Fair is one of only a few in the state that include midway rides in the price of admission: $8 for seniors, $10 ages 4-12 and $14 ages 13 and over. Today's opening day special is $10 admission before 5 p.m.
The 30 carnival rides include a 60-foot Ferris wheel, the Falling Star, Flippin' Out and the Flying Bobs.
"This fair is the best value," said Harry Mason, chief executive of the Midway of Fun. "You get live entertainment, food and you can ride yourself sick. It's a huge community event, all for the price of a movie ticket."
On Tuesday, dozens of 4-H participants readied their animals' stalls, laying bales of straw in their paddocks with pitchforks.
"This really is family oriented," said Paula Olufs, whose 11-year-old daughter, Carly, is showing two Holstein dairy cows.
Carly and other young farmers will compete for $36,000 in prize money, DeArmon said.
The youngest competitors in the five-day fair likely will be the contestants in the Diaper Derby, essentially a crawling contest where it's as interesting to watch the parents cajole their children to race as to see the kids scramble toward the finish line.
If racing babies aren't your cup of tea, then perhaps you'll enjoy the pig race. Billed as "Pork: America's best kept racing secret," swine named Arnold Schwarzenpigger and Claude VanHam will scamper around the track in pursuit of an Oreo cookie.
Human fair-goers can indulge in other treats fresh from the deep fryer: mushrooms, artichokes, zucchini, onions, Twinkies and Snickers.
And no Sonoma-Marin Fair would be complete without the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, Friday at 6 p.m. The beauty-challenged winner and his or her owner will receive $1,000, a modeling contract and worldwide fame.
The Marin County fair runs from July 1-5, and the Sonoma County fair is July 27 through Aug. 8.
UPDATED: Please read and follow our commenting policy: