The San Diego County Fair offers more than 80 rides — including several new ones — this summer at the Del Mar Fairgrounds.

The 2023 San Diego County Fair’s theme is “Get Out There,” a celebration of the great outdoors and all that the county has to offer, including the fair (and its rides). Spread primarily throughout the Fun Zone and Kids Zone, the San Diego County Fair — which began Wednesday, June 7, and runs through July 4 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds — also includes two Ferris wheels that offer ocean views.

“We choose the very best of the best rides, and we are excited for all the joy, thrills, and gorgeous views that we will offer our Fairgoers when they ‘Get Out There’ this summer,” said Katie Mueller, chief operating officer of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which produces the San Diego County Fair. “And we are confident that with our lineup of fun, games, rides, food, and entertainment the San Diego County Fair will serve as the cure for June Gloom.”

New rides 

Among the new rides added this year is The Joker 360. A giant 16-seat pendulum swings clock-and counterclockwise, up, and over and back again, offering an exhilarating g-force experience complete with tunes loved by all generations. Riders will experience thrilling high speeds and free-falling sensations simultaneously.

Medusa, another new ride, is a long propeller arm ride that seats four people on each end in a gondola. Riders buckle in with their feet dangling. As Medusa starts rotating from bottom to top, she gains speed, giving her snake charmers a 3.5 g-force experience. This journey tops out at 13 stories above the ground, and when the gondola below is being loaded and unloaded, there is just enough of a stop at the top to experience the San Diego County Fair’s hypnotizing views. It is a fast ride — but not stomach-drop fast.

Sea Ray is a spectacular clipper that swings riders back and forth, up to 50-feet in the air. Combined with a light show and energetic Top 40 music, the Sea Ray is holds 32 riders per voyage and is considered a high-intensity ride, especially for those seated at the far ends of the ship. For a ride tamer than the fierce swashbuckling end riders, pirates can sit mid-ship.

Rockin Rodeo, located in Kids Zone is a mirror maze, two-story “walkthrough” glass house full of illusion and fun. Fairgoers will navigate through a labyrinth of reflections. Rockin Rodeo is made of reflective corridors, including a hidden staircase to the top deck and slide.

Dating back to the 1900s, fun houses continue to be a popular attraction, offering a journey through obstacles complete with moving floors, revolving barrels, slides and plenty of other tricks and shticks. In the Juke Box Funhouse, fairgoers who are 36 inches or taller travel through the inner workings of the music machine while they sing along to the classics.

Ride and save 

Ride lovers can get their fix and save some money by taking advantage of the Pepsi Pay-One-Price Ride Days, good for unlimited Fun Zone or Kids Zone rides for one price on any Wednesday and Thursday in June, from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Pick-up a discount code at any San Diego County 7–Eleven or Speedway store and save an additional $5 when you purchase any two 20-ounce Pepsi bottles. Coupons are NOT accepted at any Fairgrounds on-site ticket booths.

To save on the price of admission, parking, Pay-One-Price Ride wristbands, BlastPass for game and ride tickets and more, click this link.

The San Diego County Fair also offers Passport to Savings, a little green coupon book that includes over 100 offers with big savings for fairgoers on food, rides, shopping and attractions.

Kids Free On Fridays is free Fair admission for kids 12 and younger, a savings of $17 per child. Kids ages 5 and younger are admitted free every day. Service members also have an option to purchase reduced-price military tickets through GovX.

Cash will not be accepted for parking, admission tickets, or carnival rides and games. Fairgoers can find Cash-to-Credit ATM machines throughout the fairgrounds to exchange cash for a prepaid debit card.

More information on the San Diego County Fair is available at SDFair.com.

San Diego County Fair news releases are being shared as a service for North Coast Current and OsideNews readers.