San Mateo County Fair on the cheap

We went to the first day of the San Mateo County Fair yesterday, and let me tell you, the carnies are still well rehearsed in the ancient art of parting you from your money.

We walked around, the children making us easy targets, as the games people called out to us non-stop, "Guaranteed to win! Get the ping pong ball in the bowl, win a goldfish! Come on, the kids will enjoy this!"

What with parking ($10), entrance fee ($10 adult, $8 child), carnival ride tickets ($3-$5 per ride), lemonade ($6), it all adds up. But it doesn't have to. I was scoping out ways to enjoy the fair without feeling like I was spending a fortune to be there.

The first tips come before you walk in the gates. Tip #1, arrive early (it opens at noon) and find street parking. It's not that hard, but you're out of luck if you get there late. Getting there early also avoids the big crowds.

Tip # 2, buy your tickets online. You can save $17 on a family of four by getting the Family Fun Pack for $19, admitting two adults and two juniors. Children five and under are always free. Individual tickets are also discounted if you purchase them online first.

If you're going to go on lots of the carnival rides, go ahead and get the carnival pass for $21. That's like 5-7 rides, if you're paying individually. There's plenty of free entertainment, with live music, livestock displays of fatted 4-H cows, pigs, turkeys, etc.

There are also lots of fun, free activities for children. Near the Livestock Arena is an area called Rancho California. Several little booths allow the kids to experience California's agricultural legacy, from tossing a lasso around a stuffed horse to riding little tractors. Kids can pan for gold, saddle a pretend horse, milk a pretend cow, or play dress up, and all for free.

Inside the Shopping Hall, there is a room with tons of legos, perfect for allowing creative children to go to town constructing something. Near the kids' carnival section, there is a free art zone and a free kids' karaoke stage.

One of the most fun free activities, though, has to be the pig races. Those little piglets squeal and run while the crowd cheers them on, and the man from Arkansas makes an entertaining host. It's good for all ages. For more details, visit the San Mateo County Fair website.