Can you feel it? The days are getting longer, the sun's here for its summer shift and the San Diego County Fair is just about ready to open the gates. This year's theme, "Once Upon a Fair", brings a storybook theme to one of San Diego's favorite summer traditions with fair food, rides, games, exhibits, concerts and more at the Del Mar Fairgrounds from June 10, 2026 through July 5, 20206 (closed on Mondays and Tuesdays). Before you start dreaming about all the deep-fried treats you'll eat this summer, make your trip to the county fair a little easier with Fair Tripper.
Summer means more traffic and parking at the fair is costly (not to mention how much gas costs). Let MTS handle the ride this year! You can save up to 40% off with Fair Tripper, which includes round-trip fare on the COASTER plus a transfer to the Trolley or Bus. It also gives you exclusive access to the use of the tram for transit riders between the Solana Beach COASTER station and the front gate of the fair.
Skip all the hassles – traffic, parking, long distance walks – and get on board! Your Fair Tripper ticket includes a round-trip transit pass and Fair admission. Fair Tripper prices start at $23 (Wed-Thurs) and $28 (Fri-Sun) for adults.
Special Savings Alert! There's a special pricing rate for June 19 in honor of Juneteenth. Adult Fair Tripper passes are only $19 and SDM/Youth passes are $17.
Get your Fair Tripper pass with the PRONTO app or get a paper pass at one of our Trolley stations. Please note: each rider will need their own paper pass or mobile ticket.
- Paper Passes: Visit a ticket machine, select "Promotional Passes," and grab your "Regional Fair Tripper" paper ticket. Keep your paper ticket with you for admission into the fair, and your transit trip home.
- App Users: To use the PRONTO App to add your pass, select "NCTD" as the agency and choose "Adult Regional Fair Tripper" (or "Youth" or "SDM"). Download the pass only on the day you plan to go to the Fair (cannot be purchased in advance), and show the app at the Fair admission gate.
Remember: Fair Tripper tickets are only valid on the day of purchase! Don't forget to scan before you board the Trolley, and on and scan off at the COASTER station, too. For full instructions and FAQs, please visit our Fair Tripper page.
Once Upon a Snack: Fun New Fair Foods
There's always new food to try thanks to the creative minds behind your favorite fair food. Here's a sneak peek at a few of our staff's favorite items from the media preview.
Lucky 13 Lavender Lemonade | Everybody Eats!
It's your lucky day if you can score one of these Lucky 13 Lavender Lemonades. Complete with a friendship bracelet, this lavender lemonade feels like summer in a cup with a little fairy tale magic on the side. Refreshing with a twist of lavender, it'll be perfect for a warm day of exploring the fair.
Churro Dog | West Coast Weenies
Part ballpark snack, part dessert experiment mashup, the Churro Dog is a fun twist that gives Fair-goers the choice of cheese or an all-beef hot dog, fried and then rolled in cinnamon and finished with a sweet glaze.
Bacon Wrapped Churros with Dulce de Leche | Bacon Nation
In another sweet and savory twist, we have a classic churro that's wrapped with smoky bacon and served with dulce de leche for dipping.
Fried Mangonada | Chicken Charlie's
Chicken Charlie's is back with another fun fair-food twist: battered and fried mango pieces topped with chamoy and Tajín for a bite that's sweet, tangy, spicy and crunchy - all in one bite!
Street Corn Baked Potato | Corn Star & Hot Potato Club
Need something a little savory? Corn Star & Hot Potato Club has you covered with this Street Corn Baked Potato which is loaded with butter, all the sweet corn your heart desires, chipotle mayo, bacon, jalapenos and it's all topped off with Tajin and cotija-crusted fried corn ribs. The ultimate mashup of street corn and a baked potato!
K-Pop Dream Cloud Ice Cream | Dragon Street Eats
This dreamy treat is like if a s'more and an ice cream had a baby – there's ice cream, chocolate wafers, a marshmallow "cloud" that's then toasted for a little s'mores-like goodness.
For more Fair-Tastic Food, check out the San Diego County Fair's website.
Whether you're going for the food, the rides, the exhibits, the concerts or just the annual tradition of wandering around with something delicious in hand, Fair Tripper makes it easier to get there. Skip the parking scramble, save some money and let MTS and NCTD take you closer to the fun. Grab your Fair Tripper pass, tap or scan before you ride, and get ready for a fairytale day at the San Diego County Fair.
