The most noteworthy fair of the Bay Area is coming soon: The 65th edition of the Marin County Fair will celebrate the theme Going Global: Connecting Cultures complete with rides, exhibits, contests, fireworks, and concerts starting on Thursday, July 1, through Monday, July 5 in San Rafael. This year’s edition celebrates Marin County and the Bay Area’s global cultures, bringing our varied backgrounds of life and vitality to Marin.

The concert lineup starts on July 1 at 7:30 with Wilson Phillips, daughters of Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys and John and Michelle Phillips of the Mamas and the Papas. You may remember a few of their hits “Hold On,” “Impulsive,” and “Release Me,” that were really terrific hits in the 80s. On Friday July 2, you have an opportunity to see two concerts for the price of one when The Wailers from Jamaica’s reggae tradition play at 5:00 and Ramblin’ Jack Elliot plays at 7:30. The Wailers played alongside Bob Marley back in the 70s and Jack Elliot is a spiritual heir to Woodie Guthrie’s and Bob Dylan’s fledgling folk style. 

Saturday, July 3, you have another double treat with Tea Leaf Green at 3:00 and Little Feat at 7:30. Tea Leaf Green conjures up the spirit of bands like Tom Petty and the Grateful Dead, taking classic sounds and giving them a present day feeling. Little Feat has been billed as one of the best live rock n’ roll bands ever, and has collaborated with such bands as Brian Wilson, Bonnie Raitt, Robert Plant and John Lee Hooker. Hopefully soon Little Feat will get their proper recognition and be in the Rock n’ Roll Hall of fame. Sunday’s ticket will include a double-double feature as The Del McCoury Band and Preservation Hall Jazz Band play at both 2:00 and 4:00, and the Masters of Hawaiian Music: George Kahumoku Jr., Dennis Kamakahi, Uncle Richard Ho’opi’i and Bobby Black bring their special style of Hawaiian music back at 6:00 and 8:00. Having another home on the island of Kauai, this brings a special flavor of slack key and down home Hawaiian music to Marin that I love and adore.

Finally, on Monday, July 5, you can enjoy a triple feature of concerts with Tiempo Libre at 1:00 and 3:00, The Four Tops at 6:00, and the fabulous Temptations at 8:00. Tiempo Libre’s seven-piece band brings a special tempo of Cuban and salsa, with a lot of jazz. The Four Tops have been dazzling their audiences with fabulous favorites such as “Baby I Need Your Loving,” “Reach Out,” and “Standing in the Shadow of Love” for decades. Then get ready to spend an evening with The Temptations as they bring on their classic Motown hits like “My Girl,” “Papa was a Rolling Stone” and “Just My Imagination” to the stage.

This concert lineup is only part of the action as The Marin County Fair will also have the Kenya Safari Acrobats, which will perform each day at 3:00 and 5:00. You will also have one of the leading stereoscopic photographers, Robert Bloomberg, bring a selection of his most stunning and acclaimed 3-D shows to the Fair. Featured programs are The Day of the Dead, Portrait of Tuscany, The Lost Temples of Angkor, and Wish You Were Here: 3-D Postcards From Somewhere Else.

What would the Fair be without all the great menu items from throughout the world? Fare includes the new Niman Ranch Grill offering Guatemalan Mixta, Vietnamese Rice Noodle Salad, Hong Kong Grilled Chicken Skewers, Texas Frito Pies, and Italian Spicy Sausage Baguettes. All the meats from the grill are gourmet, natural meats from Niman Ranch.

Finally, each night is capped off with a nightly Fireworks show. I am told that this will be the biggest, most elaborate fireworks spectacular ever staged over the lagoon. Using the clear Marin skies as its canvas, this truly impressive experience will be one not to miss as it fills the skies every night of the Fair at 9:30.

Whew! With all this happening, I think I’ll need to take a vacation from all the excitement of this truly spectacular Marin County Fair.

Posted by:  Rick Smith