Up Ahead: The 2014 San Benito County Fair

2011 San Benito County Fair

Yaay! It's county fair time in our part of the world. Over the next four days, children and adults are taking their entries down to Bolado Park for the San Benito County Fair. Then all through next weekend, we can stroll among the exhibits and check out all the wonderful entries—livestock, art, flower arrangements, photographs, paintings, crafts, cookies, pies, pickled vegetables, quilts, crafts, and so on.

2009 San Benito County Fair

The 91st annual San Benito County Fair runs from Friday, October 3 to Sunday, October 5. For details about hours, admission, and schedule, click here to go to the fair's website. The San Benito County Express will be offering a free bus shuttle to the fair, which will make stops in Hollister and San Juan Bautista.  Click here for the shuttle schedule.

2012 San Benito County Fair

Today, I'm hanging out at Smiling Sally's Blue Monday. Come join me by clicking here. 

By the way, I'll be posting photos from the past six fairs this week. 

2013 San Benito County Fair

The Flashbacks

Yesterday afternoon at the Hollister Downtown Farmers Market, The Flashbacks, a doo wop group got the crowd smiling, clapping, tapping their feet, and swaying to their groove. You can hear them yourselves at the San Benito County Fair on Saturday, October 4, and at the San Benito Olive Festival on Saturday, October 11. Both events will be at Bolado Park.

San Benito County from the Bus

This year the Husband and I took the San Benito County Express's free shuttle to the San Benito County Fair. It was the best way to travel. The only stress for us was making sure we got down to the bus stop in time. We could've driven and parked next to the stop, but the whole idea was to experience getting from here to there and back by just walking and riding the bus.

The final assessment: We would do it again. The bus was clean, comfortable, and safe. Every seat had a seat belt. The drivers were friendly and courteous. The fair had someone on board to sell us our tickets. Convenient, yes? And, the shuttle stop at the fairgrounds was precisely in front of the Pavilion. Hello, no hiking a fair distance from the car over uneven ground. A very nice plus for young old fogeys like the Husband and me.

We got on at Veterans Park, the first stop, so that we could see the sights on the shuttle's full loop around Hollister. To see the photos I took from the shuttle, head over to the album Riding the Free Shuttle to the County Fair at Take 25 to Hollister's Facebook page. You don't need to be signed on or even be a Facebook member to access this link.

Another Great County Fair!

Who else went to the San Benito County Fair this past weekend? The Husband and I had lots of fun. Hope you all did, too.

There's nothing like wandering about the grounds. . .watching people. . . picking up free stuff. . .walking around the livestock. . .seeing the 4-H and FAA kids in their crisp uniforms. . .eating Silva hot link sandwiches. . .checking out the  entries. . .being amazed at the clever entrants' interpretations of themes. . .wishing we could eat the ribbon-winning cookies and cakes on display. . .bumping into friends. . .learning about new things around our county. . .hearing ribbon winners squeal in delight. . . and much, much more.

A huge round of applause to Kelly Ferreira, the manager of the San Benito County Fairgrounds, to his dedicated staff, and to the many volunteers for putting together another wonderful county fair for us. Thank you very much!

Would you like to see more photos of the 2013 San Benito County Fair? You're welcome to view my Facebook album by clicking here.  You won't need to sign on or even have a Facebook account to view it. Enjoy!

The 2013 San Benito County Fair

Whooo-hooo! It's the San Benito County Fair this weekend -- Friday, October 4 through Sunday, October 6. Are you excited, too? For information about this year's hours, ticket prices, and schedule, head over to the County Fair's website.

This year, the County Express will be offering a free shuttle to the fair. It drops off passengers near the Pavilion. That's rather convenient. Just think, no hiking a distance over uneven lawn. For the County Fair shuttle schedule, click here.

What do you like best about the fair? Me? I like it all.  To see some of my favorite things, check out the 2012 San Benito County Fair album at Facebook. (You don't need to have a Facebook account, or even be signed on, to view the album.)

F is for Fair

The San Benito County Fair, that is.

This year, the county fair will be held October 4,5 and 6. To learn more, check out the San Benito County Fair Web site.

I'm going through the alphabet this month as part of the A to Z Blogging Challenge.  Click here to check out other blogging participants.

A Model Railroad

Did you happen to see the elaborate model railroad at the San Benito County Fair this year? Or, last year? Or, maybe the year before? The San Juan Pacific Model Railroaders lay out their miniature world of fun in a large room.  It's so worth a visit to the fair just to see the model trains at work. Toot! Toot!

San Benito County Fair: Sept. 28, 29, and 30, 2012

"Saddle your pony, here we go. . ." Oh wait, that's the ditty to sing to go down to the Mickey Mouse Talent Rodeo. Hmmm. How about, "Get in your car, here we go, down to the County Fair."

Yep, it's that time of year again to head over to Bolado Park and enjoy the day (or days) checking out the county's agricultural bounty, the livestock that the 4-H and FFA kids have raised year round, our neighbors' and friends' food, crafts, quilts, and gardening entries. And, then  there are the carnival rides, the fair food, the vendors' booths (Will "See the Strange Thing" be there again?), the live music, the truck pulls. . . .And, of course, the bumping into and gabbing with friends we haven't seen in years or just saw the other day.

All fun at the San Benito County Fair. Just like the poster says.

Here are some photos from last year's County Fair.

The 2011 San Benito County Fair

It's always fun wandering the county fair.  As you know, it's one of the 100 things I like about living in Hollister. Tomorrow is the final day of the fair. Click here for more details.

The Two Horsemen

Fair Fare

The Hypnotist

What did one chicken say to the other?

Food Art

The Best of Show Cake

Bustle included!

Local Bounty

It was a great day for the fair!

100 Things I Like: San Benito County Fair

At the 2009 SBC Fair

The livestock, the crafts, the fine arts, the performers, the carnival, the exhibits, the vendors.  .  .  . Yep, it's that time of year again, folks. The San Benito County Fair starts this Friday (September 30) and ends on Sunday (October 2). I'm looking forward to it! Click here for a list of events.

For more 100 Things I Like About Living in Hollister, click on that link. 

Coming Up: 2011 San Benito County Fair

This year's San Benito County Fair will be September 30 to October 2.  Cock-a-doodle-doo! 

If you're still thinking about entering a photo, cake, quilt, or something else in the fair, you have until September 2 to send your entry form. For all the details of the fair, as well as to download an entry form, head over to this page at the San Benito County Fairgrounds Web site.

Coming This Weekend: The San Benito County Fair

The 2008 San Benito County Fair

"Let's Stirrup Some Fun" is the theme of this year's county fair. Are you ready?

The fair opens on Friday, October 1 at 10 a.m. and closes at 7 p.m. on Sunday, October 3. Whoo-hoo! 

Friday is Kids Day. All kids 12 and younger get in free.  Saturday is Armed Forces Day. If you're in any branch of the military, show your military ID for free entry into the fair. For more details about hours and rates, click here. And, click here for a schedule of events and performers for the whole weekend.

Here are two more links to check out:

• San Benito County Fair Facebook page
• San Benito County Fair Photo Albums

Coming Up: The San BenitoCounty Fair

Autumn is around the corner. And, that means it'll soon be time to take Highway 25 down to Bolado Park for the county fair. This year, our fair county will be celebrating its 87th county fair. Whoo-hoo!

October 1 to October 3 are the dates. Mark 'em now on your calendar, before you forget.

If you want to enter your baked goods, crafts, photographs, paintings, flowers, or other items in the fair, you still have time. The deadline for entries is September 3, 2010.  You can send your entry form and fees to the fairgrounds office or take them directly there.

For entry forms and details, head over to the San Benito County Fair Web site.

The baker definitely deserved top prize!

The County Fair is Coming!

First things first. I gotta brag about my recent contest winning at Sew, Mama, Sew! I won a yard of free fabric in its recent Free Fabric Friday contest. So many wonderful choices. Thank you Sew, Mama, Sew!

If I had more time, I’d sew something with the fabric to enter in this year’s San Benito County Fair. Maybe next year. But I still plan on entering photographs. My quest is to be bestowed a ribbon. Blue, red, chartreuse.... I don’t care. I just want a ribbon.

The fair will be from Friday, October 2 to Sunday, October 4 at Bolado Park, which is several miles south of Hollister on Highway 25. You can't miss it.

The deadline for entries (crafts, baked goods, art, livestock, floriculture, and so forth) is Friday, August 28. You can download entry forms from the San Benito County Fair Web site. You can view the schedule of events at the Web site, too.

Want to read about last year’s county fair? Then clickity-click here.

Hanging Out at the County Fair

A pocket holder for band-aids from Hazel Hawkins Hospital.

A yellow rubber stress reliever from the Seniors Council.

A box of cute note cards, by students of San Benito rural schools, from the E Cubed Foundation.

Trail maps of Henry W. Coe State Park http://www.coepark.org.


Six raffle tickets for a hand-made quilt fundraiser by the Community Pantry.

Those were a few things that we brought home from the San Benito County Fair. That and a cozy feeling of being relaxed and protected from realities, even when passing by the NRA, the Democratic and Republican parties', and the various law enforcement booths. It was ironic, though, that no one was manning the bank booth when we passed by.

I didn’t bring home an honorable mention ribbon like I had hoped. Qué bummer. Maybe next year, I’ll enter different crafts and flower arrangement categories to expand my chances for a ribbon.

There was quite a lot of good stuff to see, especially among the children’s entries. My favorites were

. . .the vegetable animals

. . .the flag made of marshmallows

. . .the white chick who reminded me of Phyllis Diller

. . .the ceramic piggy and the real piggy named Oreo

. . .the cake made in the shape of a ladybug

. . . the humongous pumpkins

. . .and these two gentle horsemen!

The San Benito County Fair

The San Benito County Fair will be this weekend. I’m ready to go!

It’s not an annual thing for me, but I like to go now and then. I enjoy wandering around the commercial exhibits and picking up freebies, as well as Ooh-ing and Wow!-ing as I gaze at the arts, crafts, food, and plant entries. Checking out the goats, chickens, pigs, and cows in the livestock pens is fun, too. I would love to raise a few chickens and a goat or two. To check out the Fair schedule, click here.

The last time we went to the fair, Dick and I each paid a buck to see The Strange Thing. It was a creepy, shriveled looking thing called the Chupacabra. Yuk! The buck was well worth it though. Not because we saw something strange and mysterious, but because we got to travel through a time warp and feel like kids again waiting to be surprised and coming out of the tent cracking up at ourselves for giving up our dollars so easily.

This year, I’ve entered something in the fair. Actually three things in the novice division of the photography category. Hee-hee. First time I've ever entered something in a county fair, and I've always wanted to do so. (Thanks Linda B. “Lady in Red” for inspiring me!) For all I know, there may be an honorable mention ribbon hanging from at least of ‘em right now. That’s what I hope.

Tuesday evening, Dick and I drove over to Bolado Park so I could drop off my entries. We had no idea where to go, but fortunately a couple walked by carrying artsy-looking stuff. So we followed them. They were delivering their kids’ entries. The mom was lugging a ceramic rendering of a stack of pancakes, while the dad held a firm grip on several photographs. We passed by people who were setting up their booths and tables. We heard (and smelled) livestock as we made our way to the appropriate building.

It was a wonderful joyous, and determined, feeling in the air. So much sparking and sparkle of energy as people flitted here, flitted there to make sure everything and everyone was where it, he, or she needed to be. That is what I missed all these years of not entering something into the fair. I’m glad had a chance to experience it.

I can hardly wait to go to the Fair. Maybe, there’ll be a new strange thing to see. Maybe I will have won an honorable-mention ribbon. Maybe I will see you there!