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Sonoma-Marin Fair History
Sonoma-Marin Fair is part of Petaluma's rich past...
Happy 150th Birthday Petaluma! To find out more about what's going on during the yearlong Sesquicentennial Celebration click here.
The Sonoma-Marin Fair will be celebrating the anniversary as well. We invite you to watch as we recreate historic Petaluma! Updates on the fair's activities will appear on this page in the month's leading up to the fair, June 18 through 22. If you have a business that serves Petaluma, be sure and sign up for the Sesquicentennial Historic Roll Call of Petaluma Businesses. Click here for more info.
FIRST FAIR - The first fair was held in the 1850s at the intersection of Middle Two Rock
Road and Bodega Avenue and was devoted to fi re engine competitions and horse racing. After
a stint on Fair Street, the fair found a home at its current location in 1936 and became known
as the Sonoma-Marin Fair because it served both Sonoma and Marin counties. And except for
the war years of 1943 through 1945, a fair celebrating the region's people and agriculture has
been held in Petaluma every year since. Over the past 50 years, close to 60,000 people have
attended each year…
GREAT VALUE - The fair has always been a great entertainment value. In the 1960s,
fairgoers paid 50 cents to get in. Today, it's $14 for an adult and $9 for children ages 4 to 12,
and rides and entertainment are included in that pay-one-price.
SHOWCASING LOCAL AGRICULTURE - In 1936, youth showed dairy
cattle, sheep, swine, poultry, and turkeys with 118 prizes and $300 in premium money
awarded. Now the youth competitions total 10,000 entries with $37,000 awarded in
premium money each year. The fair remains one of the largest Junior Livestock shows in
the state.
DELIVERING HEADLINE MUSICAL ACTS - Through the years, fair
patrons have thrilled to see Eddie Money, Elvin Bishop, Jefferson Starship, Willie Nelson,
Merle Haggard, George Strait, Kenny Loggins, Huey Lewis and the News, The Village People,
The Beach Boys, Smash Mouth, Pat Benatar, and Tower of Power to name but a few.
CHANGING ATTRACTIONS - At the Sonoma-Marin Fair, fairgoers have
howled with laughter at the World's Ugliest Dog Contest, roared with the crowd
at the Demolition Derby, or shook it up at the carnival. They have marveled at the
exhibits of their neighbors' handicrafts, tasted local award-winning wines, learned
about sustainable agriculture and California's agricultural heritage, and tried recipes
from local chefs.
A FAMILY TRADITION - The Sonoma-Marin Fair is a country fair that still
delivers the best of our world–the traditions and values of our past with exciting
entertainment for the whole family.
Celebrating Petaluma's 150th Birthday
Walk our buildings to glimpse
Petaluma's rich past…
1858-1900s Celebrating Petaluma River
Showcase Building
Chef Demonstrations Daily, Baked Goods & Preserves, Cut Flowers
1901-1950 Celebrating Agriculture and
Petaluma as the Chicken Capital of the World
Community Building
Junior Exhibits, Adult Arts & Crafts
1950s Celebrating the 50s with American Graffiti
Fine Arts & Flowers Building
Fine arts, Floral, Quilts, Professional photography
Celebrating the last 50 years
Arts & Crafts Building
Amateur Photography and Painting
Wine & Flower Garden in Old Town Petaluma
showcasing Historic Gardens of Petaluma
and the Historic Roll Call of Petaluma Businesses
Special Event! Petaluma Celebrity Feud 5:00 pm
Honoring Petaluma's Elders
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Sonoma-Marin Fair • 4th District Agricultural Association
175 Fairgrounds Drive, Petaluma, CA 94952
voice: 707 283-3247 • fax: 707 283-3250 • email: info@sonoma-marinfair.org
The Fair Office is open weekdays, year-round from 8 am to Noon and from 1 to 5 pm
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