STOCKTON – “The Magic is Back!” at the San Joaquin County Fair for 2012.
The 153rd annual fair – Sept. 20-23 and Sept. 27-30 – is one of only six horseracing fairs in California, something that will be showcased all eight days of the fair.
The fair will run Thursday through Sunday each week with a full schedule of horseracing, exhibits, food, carnival, concerts, nightly 
fireworks and much more.
The buildings will house new exhibits, including historic Durham Ferry School of Education, “Canstruction” by the Emergency Food Bank, photo displays and contests, Italian chalk painting, and ag mechanics.
The fairgrounds in Stockton has had a complete makeover with grandstand, livestock barns, and all the fairgrounds buildings sporting fresh coats of paint with some adorned with handpainted historical murals from Bank of Stockton archives and the Port of Stockton. The north wall of the grandstand boasts racing horses and jockeys sponsored by Bank of Agriculture and Commerce.
The Junior Livestock Auction is the culmination of a year’s project activities for 4-H, FFA and Grange members, showcasing animals from rabbits, goats, and turkeys to sheep, swine and cattle.
A Read and Ride program is being co-sponsored by the San Joaquin County Office of Education and San Joaquin A+. Children in grades K- 8 may read two books and receive two free carnival ride tickets.
Admission is free and gates open daily at noon with the buildings open until 10 p.m. and the midway until midnight. Exhibit and livestock hours are noon until 10 p.m. Horseracing post time is 1:15 p.m. daily.
Visit the fair’s website at sanjoaquinfair.com or call the fair office at 209-466-5041 for more information. The fair office is located at 1658 South Airport Way in Stockton.
