DEL MAR, Calif. (Jan. 23, 2024) — The 22nd District Agricultural Association recently received 48 awards for excellence from two top fair industry associations for the 2023 San Diego County Fair.
Of the 48 awards, 11 are from the International Association of Fairs and Expositions (IAFE) and 37 are from the Western Fairs Association (WFA). The awards were announced and presented during the recent IAFE and WFA Convention & Trade Shows.
IAFE and WFA have developed these award programs to recognize fairs for extraordinary achievements in their marketing, publicity, competitive exhibits, photography, and agricultural education efforts, among others. Entries are judged by panels of experts in their respective fields who base their decisions on creativity, use of theme, production excellence, best use of resources, highest level of innovation and other criteria. The San Diego County Fair competes in divisions with other large fairs across the nation.
About 1 million people attended the 22-day 2023 San Diego County Fair. The theme was "Get Out There," a celebration of the great outdoors and all the recreational activities and opportunities that San Diego County has to offer.
"We produced a fun, educational, and safe 2023 San Diego County Fair for our diverse communities, and we are truly honored to be recognized within our industry for our team’s dedication and hard work," said Carlene Moore, CEO at the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which produces the Fair and operates the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
The 2024 San Diego County Fair will open June 12 and run through July 7. This year’s theme is “Let’s Go Retro” – a nod to nostalgia with a focus on fun. Community outreach efforts began this month.
“We look forward to continuing to pursue excellence this year as we invite our community to ‘Go Retro’ with us this year for the summer’s biggest bash,” said Moore.
Here is the full list of award-winning entries for 2023: