2012 Marin County Fair: ALWAYS FRESH, FUN, & LOCAL Celebrating Marin's Agricultural Legacy

Description

Celebrating Marin’s Agricultural Legacy. 5 days of great headline entertainment each day, many new competitive exhibits, award-winning arts and crafts, short film and video festival, lush and bountiful gardens, a barnyard with some new and exciting animals, 28 FREE carnival rides, and the spectacular nightly fireworks over the Civic Center lagoon.

For 2012, fairgoers will enjoy a spectacular theme focusing on Marin’s agricultural legacy and innovation that will showcase local products. The many exhibits and activities at the Fair will offer fairgoers plenty to see and do as they experience and gain a greater understanding of the past, present and future of farms and ranches in Marin County.
Highlights include:
• NEW - Marin’s Agrarian Roots - the photography of M.B. Boissevain a farm advisor during the early 20th century who documented agricultural practices of farms and ranches throughout Marin County. The exhibit features 70 images that present a historical retrospective and rarely seen view of the people and the land during the early part of the 20th century. The photographs along with Boissevain’s detailed farm reports, document the development of new animal breeding practices, forage crop and soil improvements, water quality, and erosion control improvements. M.B. Boissevain served as an agronomist, community leader, and photographer for 30 years bringing progressive ideas and technological innovations, while advocating farmer cooperation. During his tenure, Boissevain organized 4-H clubs in rural communities where young people and their families could practice new techniques with hands-on agricultural projects. These activities produced a new generation of farmers interested in education and enhanced the productivity of Marin agriculture for decades after.
• NEW – Grown in Marin Pavilion – this 6,000 square foot pavilion that celebrates Marin agriculture will be filled with exhibits and artifacts of all kinds as well as hands-on activities for the younger set. Highlights include the stunning photographs of M.B. Boissevain, farm films including the Hidden Bounty of Marin, farm related hands-on activities for children, new farmstead local products display, and a Marin farms exhibit by Marin History Museum. Additional highlights:
• Photography of West Marin Farmers and Ranchers by Art Rogers. Renowned Pt. Reyes photographer Art Rogers has been taking photographs for over 35 years and is known for his portraits of families, children, babies, and rural landscapes of West Marin.
• Clover Stornetta poster art exhibition – iconic posters featuring Clo, the lovable quirky cow who stars on the whimsical billboards with those clever puns promoting her favorite dairy, Clover Stornetta, will delights fairgoers of all ages
• A chance to meet the farmers and ranchers of Marin County! – many of our award winning Marin ranchers and farmers will be available every day in the Grown in Marin Pavilion to greet the public and answer questions about farming– Cow Track Ranch, Nicasio - organic produce, fruits and vegetables; Stemple Creek Ranch in Tomales - cattle ranch with grass fed beef and lamb; Rossotti Ranch, Petaluma - grass fed meat goats and veal; Martinelli, Fresh Run Farm, Bolinas - organic produce.
• NEW competitive exhibits celebrating the agricultural theme – scarecrows; cheese-making; flavored butters; chicken coop designs; rooster crowing, cow mooing, turkey calling and hog calling contests; a Marin grass-fed beef cook-off; and fine arts of all kinds.
• NEW – Meet the Cheesemakers! - Daily presentations on the Blue Ribbon Stage with Marin’s top cheesemakers including Nicasio Valley Cheese Company, Cowgirl Creamery, Barinaga Ranch, Marin French Cheese Company and Point Reyes Farmstead Cheese Company.
• NEW – Bounty of the County – Attention foodies! - As you enter the Fair, there will be local food products for sale including Drake’s Bay oysters, Marin wines, beers, and a “Cheeses of Marin” cheese plate offered by the Agricultural Institute of Marin.
• NEW – Clover Stornetta Farm – featuring many of our favorite barnyard friends and introducing some new ones, including a baby water buffalo, heritage turkeys, Marin grass-fed beef, Rossotti Ranch Boer goats, racing pigs, petting zoo, and much more!

This year’s headline acts include a line-up of crowd-pleasing, world-class concerts all included in the price of admission.
2012 MARIN COUNTY FAIR HEADLINE CONCERTS
Saturday, June 30, 3pm – MARCHFOURTH MARCHING BAND – Portland’s 20 piece marching band with acrobatics, dazzling dancers and a blend of musical genres
Saturday, June 30, 7:30pm – DICKEY BETTS (Mastermind of hits “Jessica”, “Blue Sky” and “Ramblin’ Man”) AND GREAT SOUTHERN – co-founder of the Allman Brothers band; recognized by Rolling Stone as one of the world’s 100 greatest guitar players
Sunday, July 1, 3pm - MICKEY THOMAS & STARSHIP – features platinum selling hits of Jefferson Airplane and Jefferson Starship with Thomas’ soaring vocals
Sunday, July 1, 7:30pm – LOS LOBOS – Grammy winning East LA roots-rock band influenced by rock ‘n roll, Tex-Mex, country music, folk, R&B, blues and traditional Mexican music
Monday, July 2, 7:30pm – JOAN JETT AND THE BLACKHEARTS – punk pioneer, visionary, innovator, and hard rocker whose hits include “I Love Rock ‘n Roll”, “I Hate Myself for Loving You”, “Crimson and Clover” and “Bad Reputation”
Tuesday, July 3, 7:30pm – STEEL PULSE – roots reggae masters and musical legends with multiple Grammy nominations
Wednesday, July 4, 2pm & 4pm – PRESERVATION HALL JAZZ BAND –New Orleans jazz at its finest, now celebrating their 50th anniversary
Wednesday, July 4, 7:30pm – THE TEMPTATIONS – Considered the giants of Motown with decades of smash hits, The Temptations dance through those decades with all their hits from “My Girl” to “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”

Bicycle valet parking is available at the Main Gate, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Fair guests can ride Golden Gate Transit and Marin Transit to stops at the Marin County Civic Center campus. Car and Motorcycle parking is $6. Ice chests, coolers, pets, cans or glass bottles are not permitted. The Marin County Fair is a Smoke-Free Fair.

More Info

Link

http://www.marinfair.org/

Call

415.473.6800 (Box Office)