Sonoma County Fair 2008 opening day video and blog entry can be found here.

The Sonoma County Fair is a potpourri of events with something for everyone. Featured events at the Sonoma County Fair range from live music on several stages to horse racing to a full carnival with rides, games and prizes. There's a rodeo, livestock contest, a special kids area and of course the huge hall of flowers, which has a different theme every year. The Sonoma County Fair is also a showcase of local arts and crafts. In a nutshell the Sonoma County Fair is good clean fun on a grand scale.

(See more fair info beneath the entertainment schedule.)

2008 Sonoma County Fair Entertainment Schedule

Tuesday July 22 Heidi Newfield
8 p.m. Redwood Theater
Reserved Seats including Fair admission available

Tuesday, July 22 Freestyle MX
8 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

Wednesday, July 23 Freestyle MX
8 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

Friday, July 25 Batalla de los Bandas
Redwood Theater FREE SHOW

Friday, July 25 PRCA Rodeo 8 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

Saturday, July 26 Blues Festival
2 – 9 p.m. Redwood Theater FREE SHOW

Saturday July 26 Farmers Day
1:30 – 3 p.m. Chris Beck Arena FREE SHOW

Saturday, July 26 PRCA Rodeo
8 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

Sunday, July 27 Mexican Rodeo 7 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

Tuesday, July 29 Ozomatli
8 p.m. Redwood Theater
Reserved Seats including Fair admission available

Wednesday, July 30 Clay Walker
8 p.m. Redwood Theater
Reserved Seats including Fair admission available

Thursday, July 31 Three Dog Night
8 p.m. Redwood Theater
Reserved Seats including Fair admission available

Thursday, July 31 Sheep Dog Trials
6 p.m. Chris Beck Arena FREE SHOW

Friday, August 1 Singing Contest
7 p.m. Park Stage FREE SHOW

Friday, August 1 Batalla de los Grupos
7 p.m. Redwood Theater FREE SHOW

Saturday, August 2 Elvis Day
Elvis Contest 8 p.m. Redwood Theater FREE

Saturday, August 2 Destruction Derby
7 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

Sunday, August 3 Fiesta Day
6 p.m. Redwood Theater FREE SHOW

Sunday, August 3 Destruction Derby 7 p.m. Chris Beck Arena
Pit/Box and Grandstand Seats including Fair admission available

The Daily schedule with all the smaller individual events and times is here

Parking $5 - $8

Not to be missed is all the decadent carnival style foods like deep fried twinkies, funnel cakes and hot fudge sundaes.

Specials discount prices for carnival rides: Mondays all rides are $1 each. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays get unlimited rides with purchase of a $25 wristband.

Wine Country Horse Racing takes place during the Sonoma County Fair, starting at 12:45 except on Fridays, when they start at 2:15. There is no racing on Tuesdays.

The Sonoma County Fair Flower Show is the largest themed flower show in the United States. The region’s best pro and amateur garden designers showcase their work at the Hall of Flowers. And each year, the display is one of the most popular things to see at the fair. It’s especially nice during the afternoon heat to come into the cool hall and relax next to the foliage. This year’s theme is “Red, White & Blooms-a Salute to America” and the floral show “celebrates the seasons of New England, from the autumn foliage of New Hampshire to the rocky coast of Maine, from the quaint villages of Vermont to the sunny beaches of Cape Cod. Imagine yourself in Concord, where American patriots fired ‘the shot heard round the world.’”

Click here for general information about Sonoma County - California Wine Country