The San Diego County Fair will feature a Fourth of July celebration with fireworks, a parade, speakers, livestock auction and the Most Patriotic Costume contest. The final day of “A Fair to Remember” is Sunday.
Night activities begin at 7 p.m., when the “Hometown Heroes Parade” kicks off the evening, followed by the Navy Band Southwest and fireworks.
After the fireworks, comedian Dana Carvey performs on the Heineken Grandstand Stage. The Fun Zone, food stands and exhibit halls are open until midnight.
July 4 activities:
9:30 a.m.,Opening Ceremonies at the O’Brien Gate
10 a.m., 66th Annual Junior Livestock Auction
Each year nearly 3,000 animals are brought to the fair. 4-H and FFA members will sell their blue-ribbon-winning market animals to the highest bidder. The auction is a way to purchase hand raised, locally grown beef, lamb, pork, goat, chicken, rabbit and turkey and support local youth. Many youth use the funds raised to pay for higher education. The auction order starting at 10 a.m. will be swine, goats, rabbits, chickens, turkeys, lamb, beef.
10:30AM: Stars, Stripes and Stems Floral Design Contest (Flower and Garden Show Stage)
Noon, Pie Eating Contest (Plaza Stage)
1 p.m., Cookie Contest (Home and Hobby One Day Contest)
1 p.m. and 5 p.m., Monster Truck Free Style Contest Jr. Outlaw Sprints and Vintage Motorcycle Racing
1 p.m. Guest Speaker Ramon Rodriguez, a decorated Vietnam War soldier and Medal of Honor Nominee (Plaza Stage)
1:30 p.m., Patriotic Costume Contest with special guest judges (Plaza Stage). This contest also will be at 3:30 p.m. at the Fiesta Stage.
2:30 p.m., World Memorial Guest Speaker Joe Torrillo, Tommy Fenech and John Lightsey (San Diego Showcase Stage)
Grandstand Schedule:
6 p.m., Frog X Parachute Jump with 1,100-square-foot American Flag
6:30 p.m., Meet the Frog X Parachute Jump Team
6:45 p.m.: Guest Speakers: Joe Torrillo, Tommy Fenech, John Lightsey and Ramon Rodriguez. Torrillo, Fenech and Lightsey helped in the rescue of people in the World Trade Center attack on Sept. 11, 2001. Ramon Rodriguez was awarded three Silver Stars, five Bronze Stars and five Purple Hearts as a result of Vietnam War combat, and is a current nominee for the Congressional Medal of Honor, a nomination supported by the Hispanic Medal of Honor Society.
7 p.m., Hometown Heroes Paradefrom Family Funville to the Grandstand. Hometown Heroes are people who make a difference in the lives of others, such as first responders, nurses, teachers, and volunteers. One hundred people will receive special recognition in the Hometown Heroes parade.
7:30 p.m., Navy Band Southwest performs on the Heineken Grandstand Stage.
9 p.m., Fireworks (visible throughout the Fairgrounds)
9:30 p.m.,Dana Carvey performs on the Heineken Grandstand Stage
After the Grandstand show:
On the Coors Light Rock On Stage:Pete Johnson Show Band
On the Ford Dealers Paddock Stage: Justin Myers Band
On the O’Brien Stage:Tom Griesgraber
On the Plaza Stage: Honeyrock
On the San Diego Showcase Stage:Mark Yuzuik – Master Hypnotist
Sunday, July 5 (last day of the fair):
2 p.m. and 4 p.m., World Pro Wrestling: Battle of the Belts World Championship features The Legendary Honkytonk Man, Former Road Warrior Heinrich, Mexican Championship The Superstar, So Cal Crazy, Ladies Championship Matches, Little People, The Ninja, Ricky Mandel, Tommy Wilson, Duke, and more. This event is included with Fair admission.
7:30 p.m. on the Grandstand Stage:Calibre 50 a regional Mexican quartet comprised of Eden Muñoz (vocals, accordion), Armando Ramos (guitar, vocals), Martín López (tuba), and Augusto (drums). They made their full-length album debut with “Renovar ó Morir” with Disa Records in 2010. The album includes the singles “Callejero y Mujeriego,” “Culiacán vs. Mazatlán,” and “El Tierno Se Fue.”
Banda Carnaval is a regional Mexican band from Mazatlán, Sinaloa, whose teen-oriented banda style is heavy on cumbias and romanticas. The band has well over a dozen members, most notably teen Rafael Becerra (aka Rafa) on lead vocals. Banda Carnaval made their full-length album debut with “Entre Suspiro y Suspiro” (2001). Later albums such as “Aquí Estamos” (2009), “El Número 1” (2011), and “Maximo Nive”l (2012) spun off hit singles, among them “Pídeme,” “Olvidarte No Será Sencillo,” and “El Mentiroso.”
