San Diego County Fair – California’s Golden Fairs (103)

Huell visits a fair steeped in history. In 1880, a group of San Diegans organized an agricultural fair to bring county farmers together to share ideas, see who had the best citrus fruit, who baked the best pie, and who had the fastest horse. In 1936 it moved to it’s current location at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. With the support of Bing Crosby and his Hollywood pals, the racetrack became and continues to be a focal point of this beautiful fairground. In 1946 actor Tom Hernandez was hired to portray the character of “Don Diego” who would become the symbol for the fair over the next 37 years as he welcomed fairgoers with his hat in hand and signature “Bienvenidos, Amigos.”