So what is YOUR favorite memory at the San Mateo County Fair? We asked our readers to share their favorite memories for our GAME ON and we received 31 wonderful replies. We randomly selected a winner, ERICA A HERNANDEZ, and she has won tickets to this year’s fair which starts June 7 and runs through June 15th. Her prize includes admission for 4 plus 2 wrist bands allowing rides all day long – Enjoy! And stay tuned for more chances to win prizes to this years San Mateo County Fair!
We thank our readers for sharing such incredible reflections and hope everyone adds more great times this year. (For more information on the fair please scroll to the bottom.)
Shared Memories
Desiree MontanatoRicetouchdown Finau Best memory is when my husband won the pie eating contest at the fair!
Amanda Sky Best memory is taking my kids for the first time and remembering when my Pop who was deported over 12 years ago took me and my brother
Nicole Johnson Best Memory is 2 years ago. It was my daughters first time at any fair. She was so excited to ride the trains and swings. The look on her face was unforgettable.
Ava Jalapeno Popper Romero my best moment is I won best in show- in the casserole division at the san Mateo county fair culinary arts department in 2010 when I entered my auntie Laura’s my dad’s sister’s chicken enchilada casserole. then in 2012 won 5th place for one of the best snickerdoodle cookies, this past year won 2nd place for both heart healthy entrée- caprese quinoa salad, Chili contest- turkey mole chili, make the recipe contest-lemon cream pie 3rd place and 1st place for yummy brown bag lunch contest so I just love competing this is my 4th time. but when I was 9-15 years old I was first introduced to the fair by my mom/I’s neighborhood friend who now lives in Oregon Renee Muscat she is a German shepard lover and the ladies took me to pet animals and the rides, although I still love the animals but grew out of the rides as an adult now, but culinary contests are my new thing will be competing every day except for Thursday, Friday and sunday the 15th
Trisha Revilla Taylor Where does one start–so many great memories of the County Fair. From riding the Yo-Yo swings and the Graviton, over and over, (advantage of having a wrist band) to playing carnival games and winning an oversized stuffed animal or live goldfish! As I get older it’s enjoying the live concerts and listening to bands play music I grew up to. Then, of course, who can pass up a fried Oreo cookie or hot mini donuts?! Thanks for the memories!
Victoria Neri-Chin As a kid I remember getting my long hair caught in the chain of those swings that spin you around in a big circle. My grandma wouldn’t let them cut my hair. She untangled me and everyone had to wait….Maybe thats why they cover the lower part of the chains now….Ops!!!
Joanne Testo Sharing fudge with my Mom!
Isabel Monster Cervantes This past year I went with my parents and little brother and I was the only one with a pass for roller coasters so I went on by myself like a loser and the bar thing in front of me practically flew open on me while we were going down a fall.. frikkin awesome!
Matt Fuentes I puked from the top of the ferris wheel…oops…hey I was 6 ok….was not liked that day…
Jon Lee One of the best things about the San Mateo County fair is that it is our fair. When I was a child my dad would take me and we would sit there and look at all the arts and crafts that won ribbons and I wanted to have something that I did be represented in the fair. And in 1996 I submitted a poem that I wrote about my recently deceased grandfather. I got a 1st place ribbon and I was able to take that and leave it on his grave knowing that he helped me get that award. So each year I bring my family and see all the great things produced by people in our county. And to see the bunnies as well!
Jose De Jesus Duenas I got hypnotized on stage and was made to do a lot of wacky things! After we got let go back to the seats. He kept saying my band and I hired he hypnotized me to every tone he said my name I’d give him my wallet and go sit down. Then he would say I find this wallet and he said my name I’d check my pockets and go get it. He did it like 5 6 times. I wish I woulda remember lol the video kills me with laughter
Stephanie Miller I was 12 and talked my cousin into going on the zipper. He threw up, then I threw up because he did. We were a mess when we got off of that ride. Haha!
Karen Wapp Landi Seeing & hearing Dwight Shane sing his blues
Ricco Thompson Sr. Corn dogs and the rides were always a must, love the big swing.
Gina Marie Seeing Sugar Ray when I was like 13!! They were my all time fave band
Joshua Troche One year my family decided to each enter. My mom made her bread pudding, my brother entered his woodshop project, and I entered an oil pastel drawing of a flower. We all took first! Was really cool. I believe it was 2008. We all entered just for fun but we surprisingly all won
Erica A. Hernandez I’ll never forget 2006, tentatively walking toward the case where a baby blanket I’d entered was and hearing my then-six-year-old say, “Mommy, you got a ribbon!” I had won first place in my category. The ironic part? Nobody could tell WHY I had won b/c they had it folded up small with the wrong side showing, LOL!
Jackie Diaz Hinderliter I won my first rock n roll mirror. (ACDC mirror)! So much fun!
Michele Nestor Tanico Dancing with Chubby Checker on stage in 1993 or 1994 also met Crystal Gale there one year! My Mom and I always went together…
Karen Davenport I’ve never been to the San Mateo County fair. The only fair I’ve ever been to was the North Dakota state fair, while visiting relatives, and we had to run for our lives when a tornado hit. I will check out the fair this year, for the first time, since my friend’s band, Freight Train, is playing there on the 13th.
Maria Jauregui-Lopez The pig races are the best entertainment you can see. It’s exciting to see which little piggy will win and they are so cute too!
Carol Worswick Mazza I’ve been going to the fair as long as I can remember. My parents would go to the racetrack for the day and my cousins and I would go to the fair. I remember my mom giving me 10 bucks and that would last me the whole day. An all day wrist band and enough to eat and play games. I remember seeing Ricky Nelson and BJ Thomas. I remember getting the sweaty towel off Bj Thomas neck. I thought I was cool. I also remember Eddie and the tide playing there. My cousin got to go on stage and sing with him. I remember an Elvis impersonator playing there and I got his scarf from his neck. Which I actually still have. The towel not so sure where that’s at. Can’t forget the most recent years seeing Night Ranger. I never get tired of hearing Sister Christian. Also seen Trisha Yearwood. Can’t forget her. She was awesome. All these concerts were outside except Trisha now they are in the hall. And man the cheese/pepper steak sandwiches used to be so awesome. I heard the guy who used to make them passed away. They were the best. What happened to the almond guy? I love the candied almonds especially hot. Oh and can’t forget the funnel cakes. Ohhhhh the funnel cakes. They have always been good. Also I think it’s the one time where I really get my wedding ring cleaned for free. Love to see it bling after. The fair has sure changed tho. It’s a lot smaller. They used to have a double ferris wheel and way more rides. I still go every year but it can never be like it used to be. Glad I grew up when I did and experienced the good times. I have more stories but those to me are the most memorable. Does anyone remember the pond in the back of the parking lot? I used to catch tadpoles there. The one thing I miss the most is Bay Meadows racetrack. Now if u want me to tell a story about that I can write a book.
Julie Marie Martinez We went as a family for the first time last year. The looks on my kids faces after seeing all the animals and having my daughter go on her first roller coaster was priceless. Definitely a place to make memories and have fun! Would love to take them again this year.
Nick Fitzpatrick Getting banned for having sex by the teepee
Geneva Wisnewski Walking into the fair and smelling all the goodies and seeing the clown with the balloons just brightens up my day
Nicholas A. VejmolaFor this week’s GAME ON: My best memory was a couple of years ago with my mother and two friends. It was a hot one that day but we had a HUGE blast there. We laughed a lot (and spent a lot) and there was SHAVED ICE involved (EPIC stuff BTW). Best day ever! 🙂 #GameOn#ESC
Stanley Williams Watching the Fair circuit racing at bay meadows
Karen McEvoy When I was a kid was in 4-H and would always have animals entered in the fair would pretty much spend 2 weeks at the fair, have many good memories of getting there at 6:30 a.m and staying till 9 or 10 at night. In 2008 watching my son and the band he was in play 3 times on the main stage, he was lead guitar and singer.
Ashley Bowerman My memories of the fair are all kinda mixed together, so I don’t remember exactly when all these things happened, but one is probably two years ago when I finally decided to ride the mechanical bull and I’d just bought Ash Ketchum’s hat (from the show pokemon) and I wore it backwards while riding and I lasted a lot longer than I’d expected (though I probably won’t ride that again because the people who run the mechanical bull can be rather unprofessional when it comes to women riders). Another memory is a long time ago when I was a little kid and I watched the pig races and my pig won so I got a pig snout and had to do the little dance lol
Marie BlackOwl Two Fav’s My Friend Shelley and I brought our Children to the Fair and we were Blessed with bumping into Johnny and June Carter Cash by their trailer we actually got to speak with them for a bit … Very Nice People I was lucky enough to get autographs and I did not even ask for them … My second is Dance Party KOFY was being filmed there one year and we went and watched My Mom and Dad and Aunt and Uncle dance they were always on that shows…
Patricia Baker Seeing Tower of Power perform. Entering baked goods in the competition. Participating in the KOFY dance party with my friend Lorraine, eating fried foods from the food stands.