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Helen Sandeman had barely set foot in the Marin County Fair when she spotted the Electric Wheels Car show. For the next 10 minutes, she and her husband wandered from vehicle to plug-in vehicle, peering into the slick red Tesla Roadster and opening the doors of the tiny Tango.
"This would certainly be good for people who are living in a city situation," the Corte Madera resident said.
But while she loved the environmental aspects of the fair, which opened its five-day run on Wednesday, Sandeman insists it wasn't the electric cars, solar-powered carousel or even "green" magician Steve Trash that brought her back this year.
"I like that they have a little bit of everything here," Sandeman said. "The contests, the rides - it's not
all franchised out. It's a nice little bit of country life."The 64th annual Marin County Fair aims to have something for everyone. Those with green thumbs will appreciate the Dr. Seuss-inspired "victory garden" of drought-friendly plants. Those with green thoughts will enjoy the sun-powered performance stage and "Fun Fest" environmental activities. And everyone else can take in the concerts by the Motels, Berlin and the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, the nightly fireworks displays, and the racing piglets of the Hambone Express.
Presley Drenner of Novato knew exactly what she wanted. It's the reason she's come to the fair on her birthday for as long as she can remember.
"I just come for the rides," said Presley, who celebrated her 11th
Presley wasn't the only one. On Wednesday, the fairgrounds swelled with children and their parents taking advantage of Youth In Arts Day, in which every person under 12 received free admission.
"I'm here because I have a kid and a day off, and because we live so close," said San Rafael resident Oulay Hedlond, standing in line for one of the many carnival rides while bells clanged, children screamed and softballs failed to connect with their targets in the midway behind her. "We like the rides, and the animals."
"And the food," husband Tim Hedlond said. "I love fair food."
Fulfilling every child's fantasy, Yvonne Brown found a way to make the start of another year's fair last forever. Brown and the other members of her plein-air painting group gathered along the shores of the Civic Center lagoon, each choosing a particular aspect of the fair to capture on canvas.
"We've traveled all over Marin, from China Camp to the cheese factory," said Brown, a Peacock Gap resident who has been coming to the county fair, off and on, for the past 46 years. "I thought since this was voted the best fair in California, we should at least give it a try."
Brown believes the fair, like many things, has gotten better with age.
"It used to be more country. Now it's gotten sophisticated," said Brown, who chose to paint the fair's signature Ferris wheel. "There are a lot more people who come now. And the food has gotten a lot better."
The flavors of the fair ranged from garlic chicken to crawfish etoufee, from southern barbecue to Thai barbecue and from Lydia's Lovin' Vegan Food to the Italian sausage stand next door. Throughout the lunchtime hours, 12-year-old Graham Martin of Novato remained stoically by his post at one of the fair's recycling stations, reminding visitors that their plates, cups and utensils were made of reusable stuff.
"People want to know what they can do to help," said Graham, who attended the fair as a volunteer with the Conservation Corps of the North Bay.
Past the red barn facade of the Marin Agricultural Land Trust, 5-month-old calf Livia made her way gingerly through the crowds of children near the animal exhibits, looking for reassurance at the face of her owner, 17-year-old Kelli Carstensen of Petaluma.
"She was really delicate when she was small," said Carstensen, who has raised calves like Livia since the time she was 7, and hopes to take part in a national livestock competition in Indianapolis later this year.
A few feet away, Karin Donlan of Santa Venetia kept watch over her four children while at the same time watching a series of miniature horses stomp and caper their way around the review ring at the edge of the barnyard.
"The kids all wanted to see the animals and the rides. They were really excited about the solar carousel," Donlan said. "I haven't even had a chance to look at any of the art exhibits in the auditorium. But that's why I did the three-day pass.
"We can do all the rides, and then I can come back to look at the art," Donlan said. "Without the kids."
IF YOU GO
The 2009 Marin County Fair continues its run from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. through Sunday at the Marin Civic Center in San Rafael. Admission, which includes concerts, exhibits, entertainment, nightly fireworks and 28 carnival rides, is $14 for adults; $12 for children 4-12 and seniors 65 and over; and children under 4 are admitted free.
For information, visit www.marinfair.org
Read more San Rafael stories at the IJ's San Rafael section.
Contact Rob Rogers via e-mail at rrogers@marinij.com
