What to do in Sac (or close to Sac) this weekend: May 10-13.
I have three words for you: DIXON MAY FAIR. Don't let your brain start telling you you're not interested in a small-town fair of absolutely no particular draw other than being a small-town fair. Don't get hung up thinking goats, sheep, cows and the smells associated with them don't interest you, and that there is no way the two strips of fair and grassy area of rides could get you out to Dixon. I haven't missed the Dixon May Fair once in the past 7 years, and it has never let me down. It is just fun. It's the perfect size. Locals are everywhere. Actually, now that I think about it, everybody knows everybody else and you feel like you're visiting a really cool old town out in Virginia or something. There is a great beer garden, complete with a rockin' stage of era-specific cover bands, an arena that people on horses ride around in doing cool things with flags, and the best rolled tacos ON THE PLANET, hands down. I can't remember the name, but it's a round wooden little structure that sells only rolled tacos; you won't miss it because there will be a line of at least 20 people. Stand in line and get the tacos. Get at least five. You will eat them all.
Surprisingly, the Dixon May Fair draws some pretty big names in terms of singers and bands. A couple years ago my husband and I saw Willie Nelson. It was amazing. The acoustics are not amazing, however, but luckily the small-town feeling and small venue make up for it.
There are just enough rides to get kids excited but save parents the agony of kids going on 75 thousand rides. It's cheap. There's good food and wine and crafts. There are little shows for the kids. There's a "kid's day" where all kids under 12 have free entrance. There's plenty of parking. We have actually managed to convince our daughter that the Dixon fair is THE FAIR, and have thus avoided the asphalt-infested, stinky and overcrowded hell known by some as the fair in Sacramento, where parking is $15., entrance is $20., the rides are $5 each and as soon as you walk in the doors you're wondering why the hell you came. Sorry. I hate large fairs.
This year's theme is "Barn to be Wild." Don't you freaking love it? Eric Burdon & the Animals, the All-American Rejects and Ozomatli are all playing at the Fair this year, and there are tons of other little events you don't want to miss, such as Dr. Goodjohn's Old-Time Magic and Medicine Show, the Precision Chaos Dog Agility Demo, and of course, the Annual Diaper Derby. Please go. You'll dig it, I promise.
http://www.dixonmayfair.com/index.html
