After a seamless and joyous 20-day run that attracted over 874,000 guests and included a variety of new attractions, bargains, and pet-themed programming, the 2025 San Diego County Fair wrapped on Sunday night.
With themed exhibits, entertainment, and educational activities, this year’s fair, which had as its theme Summer Pet-tacular, celebrated the joy of pet ownership while upholding its goal of giving all San Diegans a fun, safe, and reasonably priced experience.
Carlene Moore, CEO of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which organizes the yearly event, stated that fair season is the most joyful time of the year because it allows us to celebrate our community with our community. This year, we provided top-notch entertainment, experimented with new concepts and layouts, and created an amazing guest experience. As a result, people of all ages enjoyed a festive environment, savory and sweet delicacies, and smiling faces.
Pet-Centered Fun and a New Exhibit
Pets Rock: Live on Tour, a 20,000-square-foot show by Kahoots, brought the 2025 theme to life. With adoptable animals from the San Diego Humane Society and interactive features like a little pet store and daily presentations, the immersive experience highlighted life through the perspective of pets. Half of the 42 animals on display have already found homes.
Stunt dog displays, puppy yoga, DockDogs and Flyball tournaments, Corgi and Wiener dog races, and a special visit by dog trainer Cesar Millan were among the other pet-related events. Before the Fair opened on July 5, dog owners even had the opportunity to take their pets for a run or walk.
New Attractions and Expanded Deals
In order to guarantee accessibility for every guest, the fair expanded its value-driven promotions and included additional experiences beyond the theme. Among the highlights were:
-
Foodie Fridays
50% off select food items from 11 a.m. 4 p.m. -
Game On Fridays
All games are available for four credits on Friday afternoons -
New $15 meal deals
and
discounted tickets
at Albertsons | Vons, for military families, and through community programs -
Fair Tripper
transit discounts for Juneteenth -
The return of
season passes
This year saw the opening of the San Diego Marketplace, a newly designed retail area featuring artisan merchants, a tattoo parlor, and a photo studio. Farm 2U, an agriculture-focused display at O Brien Hall that included local farmers, culinary demonstrations, and the farm-to-table method, was another significant addition.
Entertainment Highlights
Every night of the Fair, the Corona Grandstand Stage was packed with the Toyota Summer Concert Series for the first time since 2019. EDM artist Zedd (8,323 attendees) and country music artist Jon Pardi (8,333 attendees) both had sold-out gigs.
Comedy concerts, the Summer Nights at The Sound series, and cultural events including the first K-POP Festival, Native American Heritage Day, Out at the Fair, and Spanish-language Sundays under the well-known Domingueando en la Feria banner were also featured in the evening programming.
Economic and Community Impact
Once more, the fair offered small companies, artists, entertainers, merchants, and contractors substantial financial prospects. The 22nd DAA hired about 1,200 temporary workers, while concessionaires and partners also hired thousands.
Vendors including Farmer in Del, whose Super Volcano Fries won the People’s Choice Award, and Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls, which sold over 7,200 of its new Tres Leches rolls, were elevated by the third-annual Fair-Tastic Foods Competition.
With an average of roughly 44,000 visitors per day over 20 days, this year’s attendance of 874,263 virtually matched 2024 numbers. U.S. Representative Mike Levin, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, and other local politicians were among the dignitaries present.
The Fair also carried the celebrations to Rady Children’s Hospital for the first time, giving kids and their families a taste of a mini-fair.
According to Moore, the fair excels at making everyone in San Diego happy. We are already eager to repeat the entire process the following year.
By the Numbers: 2025 San Diego County Fair Highlights
-
874,263
attendees -
$293 million
regional economic impact (inflation-adjusted from 2019 study) -
0
major safety incidents -
70
rides, including
10
new additions -
1,268
temporary employees hired by the 22nd DAA -
7,200
Tres Leches Cinnamon Rolls sold (2,600 pounds total) -
30,321
turkey legs sold -
18,222
performers -
17,481
competitive exhibit entries -
4,212
blue ribbons awarded -
75,730
attendees at the Toyota Summer Concert Series -
547
tattoos inked in the Marketplace -
105
buyers participated in the Junior Livestock Auction, which raised
$664,128
-
12,000+
water bottles saved by new refill stations -
682
items turned into Lost & Found -
917
entries in the Pet-tacular Photo Challenge -
15,016
free tickets distributed through the Fair-for-All Program -
58,520
single busiest day attendance -
87
piercings performed -
628
local fairgoers featured on community banners
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