The San Diego County Fair is 20 days deep into its season and about to celebrate an annual milestone: the one millionth visitor will soon walk through those gates and into the fairgrounds.
According to fair spokesperson Linda Zweig, the 2015 fair guest count will likely reach the big 1 million mark this weekend.
The San Diego County Fair has managed to reach the milestone 26 times in its history – or every year since 1989 – and this year should be no different.
Fair organizers say the lucky millionth patron will be celebrated with “special VIP pomp and circumstance,” including confetti cannons, noisemakers and a huge crowd of onlookers.
But wait, there’s more.
The special visitor will receive lots of prizes, too, including a lifetime fair admission pass, concert tickets of their choice for any of the remaining 2015 fair shows, tickets for a Clubhouse visit to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club, fair food vouchers and other fair gifts and goodies.
Last year, the one millionth guest was Encinitas Tania Cotta. As she walked through the O’Brien Gate and into the fairgrounds, she was surprised with loud cheering, bells, whistles and a big crowd celebrating her arrival. Cotta, at the fair with a friend, had no idea she was the lucky one millionth and was definitely in the right place at the right time.
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Fair organizers said 1,457,130 people attended the San Diego County Fair last year and they expect to break or reach the 1.4 million mark again this year. The highest attendance on record was reached in 2012 with 1,517,508 visitors. With those large attendee numbers, the San Diego County Fair continues to be one of the top 10 fairs in the United States and Canada.
The fair runs through July 5 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds in the North County.
If you're planning a trip this weekend, check out this list of highlights happening behind those gates.
