Alameda County Fair Promotes Education with Free Tickets for Elementary School Students

PLEASANTON, Calif., June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- If you have a child who attends elementary school in any district in Alameda County, chances are he or she will bring home a free ticket to the 2014 Alameda County Fair.

In an unprecedented effort to promote summer learning and to introduce kids to the spectrum of educational programs and activities the Fair offers, Alameda County Fair worked directly with school superintendents to distribute the tickets to students, primarily grades K-5. Packages went out this week and will be given to students soon. Kaiser Permanente helped sponsor the program.

"The true educational aspects of the Fair -- science, agriculture and the arts -- are really its core purpose, and always have been. It's important to us to keep that part of it alive and relevant, now and for future generations. And that's why we are making this effort, " said Jerome Hoban, Alameda County Fair CEO. "We want all of our kids to have the opportunity to experience this great American tradition, and to take something away from it."

Fifteen districts and 188 public schools total participated in the program, including Alameda, Albany, Castro Valley, Dublin, Emeryville, Fremont, Hayward, Livermore, Newark, New Haven, Oakland, Pleasanton, San Leandro, San Lorenzo, and Sunol. Berkeley and Piedmont districts chose to opt out of the program but the Fair will honor free admission at any time to elementary grade students who attend those schools, with any form of enrollment documentation (i.e. a report card or other official school document with the child's name).

Private schools within the county were also offered tickets for students and many of them are participating as well.

The following are a few examples of the programs, activities, events and competitions available for kids at the Alameda County Fair:

STEM Nuggets
Hands-on Science, Technology, Engineering & Math games and activities are offered on Kids FREE Fridays.

Special Kids' STEM Weekend Events:

Sports, Fitness & Health - June 20 – 22
Robots, Rockets & Science - June 27-29
Energy, Engineering & Environment - July 4-6

Discovery Quest
Kids look for clues and solve mysteries in this self-guided, educational scavenger hunt.

RAY
Kids have fun racing model cars on a unique, solar-powered racetrack.

Competitive Exhibits and School Projects:
The Fair offers a wide variety of competitive categories for kids including crafts, gardening, woodworking, photography, science & technology, creative writing, food, school projects and more.

Live competitions and attractions:

• Lego Building Competition
• Mind Storm Challenge Robot
• Cows, pigs, sheep, rabbits, chickens & more in the Livestock Exhibits
• Petting Zoo
• Reptile Exhibit
• Storybook character costume contest
• Talent competition

For more information on the Fair's educational programs, please visit these pages on our website:

• County's Largest Classroom:
  http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2014fair/classroom/class.php
• Youth Exhibits:
  http://acfairexhibits.com/index.php/enter-here/youth-exhibits
• School Projects:
  http://acfairexhibits.com/index.php/enter-here/school-projects
• Agventure Park:
  http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2014fair/attractions/agventurePark.php
• Kids Park:
  http://www.alamedacountyfair.com/2014fair/attractions/kidsPark.php

Alameda County Fair and Kaiser Permanente are both non-profit organizations.

2014 Alameda County Fair Information
Dates: June 18 – July 6 (Open Tuesday – Sunday)
Hours: 11am-11pm daily
Horse Racing: Thursday through Sunday, June 19-22, June 26-29, and July 3-6
July 4^th: Blues Festival, 1-9pm, Fireworks Spectacular, 9:45pm
Big O Tires Concert Series: 8pm nightly, followed by fireworks & tribute video at 9:45pm in the Safeway Amphitheater
Gate Admission*:
Adults (13-61) $10
Seniors (62+) $8
Kids (6-12) $8
Children under 6 – FREE
*Purchase in advance (before June 17) and save up to 33%
Special Pricing:
Season Pass (admission for all 17 days) - $30
Fun Pack (4 general admission tickets and 1 parking pass) - $30
Special Days (special pricing ends at 5pm):
Opening Day: June 18, $1 Admission & $1 Rides
$2 Tuesdays: June 24 & July 1, $2 admission
Seniors FREE Thursdays (62+) – June 19, June 27, & July 3
Kids FREE Fridays (12 and under) – June 20, June 27, & July 4
Feed the Need Food Drive & $1 Rides, benefitting Alameda County Food Bank. (Bring 4 non-perishable food items and receive FREE admission), Kids Against Hunger will pack 100,000 emergence meals – June 25
Military Appreciation, FREE Fair admission with valid Military ID - Daily

2014 Big O Tires Concert Series, 8pm nightly:
6/18 – Brett Eldredge (country)
6/19 – Eddie Money (classic rock)
6/20 – Shaggy (reggae fusion)
6/21 – Creedence Clearwater Revisited (classic rock)
6/22 – La Unica Sonora Santanera y Selena Tribute featuring Irene Davi (Latin/Tropical) (Tejano)
6/24 – Evolution (Journey tribute /classic rock)
6/25 – Con Funk Shun (R&B /funk)
6/26 – Coco Jones (Disney)
6/27 – Paul Rodriguez (comedy)
6/28 – JT Hodges (country)
6/29 – Tesla (rock)
7/1 – True 2 Crue (Motley Crue tribute / classic rock)
7/2 – Ashanti (contemporary R&B)
7/3 – America (folk rock)
7/4 – Blues Festival (multiple performers / blues) (1pm – 9pm)
7/5 – Building 429 (contemporary Christian)
7/6 - Night Ranger (classic rock)

The Alameda County Fair is operated by the Fair Association, a non-profit organization, without any tax funding from the government. It is ranked one of the Top 50 North American Fairs and the 7^th largest Fair in California. The Fairgrounds is home to the Oldest One-Mile Race Track in America.

SOURCE Alameda County Fair