Los Angeles County Fair 2010 – 10 Easy Ways to Save

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Los Angeles County Fair 2010 – 10 Ways to Save
By: Sara Sicotte (Budgetsavvydiva)
                Some of my fondest memories with my family were going to the local county fair: the rides, the games, and sugar-overload from cotton candy will always be with me. Los Angeles County is lucky to have the largest fair in the world. Since the LA County Fair opening in 1922 it has been enjoyed by more then one million people each year!
The fair is a wonderful and frugal way to bond with family and friends. The LA County Fair is located in Pomona, California, which are just a hop-skip and a jump away from Los Angeles. It will open to the public September 4th – October 3rd. Once you arrive you will be greeted by more than 70 thrill rides and about 40 games! Talk about a great time! While you are getting your thrill on you are able to munch on a plethora of goodies such as:  popcorn, corn dogs, hot dogs, onion rings. One ride that Budget Savvy Diva cannot wait to try is the La Grande Wheel, which is higher than the Statue of Liberty! 
If thrills are not your cup of tea then perhaps you would enjoy other attractions like the Jurassic era,  the circus, the heritage park, animal exhibitions, medieval tournaments, parades, pirate adventures; more. If that is not enough the Fair is known for California’s competitions in areas such as olive oil, dairy, commercial beer, wine & spirits, culinary styles and tapestry.
With so many different things to do and enjoy, everyone will have something to do to have a great time so make sure that you take advantage of this chance. So put on your sunscreen and get ready to spend the day having a great time with great people. Now I know what you are thinking, “this sounds great, but how much is this going to cost me?” Well do not fret because Budget Savvy Diva is here to give you the inside scoop on attending the LA County Fair 2010 the frugal way! Budget Savvy Diva has come up with 10 frugal-savvy and easy ways for you to have a great time and save some green.
10 Ways to Save:
  1. Tickets:
Fair admission prices
Adult weekend admission $17
Adult weekday admission $12
Child (6-12) weekend admission $12
Child (6-12) weekday admission $7
Senior (60+) weekend admission $14
Senior (60+) weekday admission $9
There are so many different promotions to lower the ticket prices for the LA County Fair, please go to LA County Fair 2010 Ticket Promotions. Some of my favorites were:
·   Opening Weekend $1 SpecialsLabor Day weekend, Saturday, Sept. 4 – Monday, Sept. 6
·   Costco Fair Savings Pack: Costco stores for $54.99, includes four any-day Fair admissions, one parking pass and 40 RCS ride/game tickets.
·   McDonald’s Wednesdays: $20 admission and unlimited ride carnival wristband with coupon.
·   $5 after 5 p.m. Wednesday – Friday: its $5 after 5 p.m. Wednesdays through Fridays with a coupon. $5 after 5 is presented by Morongo Casino, Resort & Spa.  
·   A Weekend for Heroes – Friday – Sunday, Sept. 10 – 12: Friday, Sept. 10-Sunday, Sept. 12, $1 admission for active and retired military, reserves, police, fire and paramedics and $1 admission for one guest, ID required.
·   Food Drive FridaysFair guests who bring five cans of food on Fridays to the Fair receive an admission ticket
·   American Red Cross Blood Drive: Friday, Aug. 20 and Tuesday, Sept. 14. Give the gift of life by donating blood and receive one admission ticket to the fair, good for any weekday of the Fair.
·   College Thursdays: Specific college campuses will be featured each Thursday, with students, faculty and staff receiving a coupon good for one free admission on their respective college day.
·          Community Day:< /span> $5 admission before 5 p.m. for residents on their respective community day. Coupon or voucher required to receive discount.
·   Dodger Day: On Thursday, Sept. 9, all fans attending the Friday, Sept. 3 Dodger game will receive a free admission to the Fair on Dodger Day, Thursday, Sept. 9.  Didn’t make it to the game, wear Dodger Blue on Thursday, Sept. 9 and receive half-price admission to the Fair with coupon available online or in the L.A. Times
·   Coca-Cola Hispanic Heritage Sundays: Receive a coupon for $5 off regular adult Fair admission Sundays (excluding Sept. 5) when you purchase $5 worth of POWERADE or vitaminwater products from participating Hispanic grocery stores including Cardenas Markets, Northgate and Vallarta.
·   Chivas USA Day: On Saturday, Sept. 18, all fans attending the Friday, Sept. 10 Chivas USA game will receive a free admission to the Fair on Chivas USA Day, Saturday, Sept. 18.  Guests wearing Chivas USA logo merchandise will receive $5 off admission on Saturday, Sept. 18 with coupon available at lacountyfair.com and the Chivas USA website.
·   Univision Television Book Drive: Univision Television will present a book drive on Sunday, Sept. 19.  Children 12 and younger will receive free Fair admission from 10 AM – 2 PM when they bring a new or slightly used book.
·   SpeedZone: Get a 3 Hour Unlimited SpeedZone Play Card valid towards racing (Slick, Turbo and Grand Prix), (1) Top Eliminator Race, mini golf, most video games and (1) Any day 2010 LA County Fair Ticket for $30.00 per person. Value $66.99.
·   Senior Wednesdays
$6 admission for ages 60 and older every Wednesday.
·   Los Angeles County Day – Sunday, Sept. 12
$5 admission before 5 p.m. for all employees of Los Angeles County with discount voucher available from the county.
  1. Parking: When traveling in a group, try to take as few vehicles as possible. This will reduce not only fuel costs but parking fees as well.
Parking Prices:
General
$10
Preferred
$15
Hotel valet $25
Budget Savvy Diva recommends parking in the cheapest lot possible, since it’s often not much farther away than “premium” parking lots. And if you’re considering an annual pass, there is an added benefit for parking.
  1. Water and Food: Eat a good meal ahead of time, and remember to bring in your own water or empty containers for water. Bring along some sandwiches for lunch, and then on the way home stop for a late dinner.  You will save at least 50% of your bill by avoiding the food at the fair. Another suggestion is to take along the single serving packets of drink mix like Crystal Light to add to the water bottles. It’s another cheap option in addition to water.
  1. Season-Pass: There is so much to do at the LA County fair that the investment in a season pass is not such a bad idea. It would be ideal for those living in the area that could see them attending the fair multiple times. It is 24.95 for the season- pass for everyday of the fair; an added perk is free weekday parking.
  1. Good Shoes: This is one of Budget Savvy Diva’s favorite tips, “make sure you have comfortable shoes.” So take out those oh-so fashionable crocs because not only will your feet thank you after a day of stomping around 500 acres, but you will save money not having to buy supplies such as band-aids and you will also be able to enjoy the fair more thus getting more value out of your money. 
  1. Be Prepared: Before you leave the house make sure that everyone has everything you will need, such as sunscreen, hats, jackets, sunglasses. By being prepared you will be ready for a fun filled day at the fair PLUS you will not have to buy the items at the fair, where the prices are pretty steep.
  1. Plan ahead: Make sure to check out LA County Fair to figure out what you will see and do, this way you will utilize your time better once you get there, thus a better use of the money that you spent!
  1. Shop at the end: Avoid impulse shopping. Give yourself some time to think about whether you’ll really get value from what you think you need to buy right then and there. At the end of the day, almost everything you wanted will still be available (souvenirs, sweets, and even photos taken on various rides). Once you’re ready to head out, choose the items you truly want (and are willing to carry back to the car) and make sure they’re not items you can buy anywhere else easily–and at a lower price.
  2.  Go after Nap Time: To avoid potential tantrums try and go to the fair after nap time. An added benefit for this is that you can snag a lower price on admission with certain promotions such as 5.00 after 5 pm.
10.   Take what you WANT to spend: Take only enough cash so you do not feel tempted to spend too much. Though you want to make sure to have a few extra dollars if there is an emergency.  

So I hope you have gotten some frugal tips and tricks and attend LA County Fair, enjoy the rides, entertainment, competitions, and food. Do not forget to snag some promotional tickets prices! For more frugal living tips and tricks please visit, Budget Savvy Diva