Coming off a record-setting year in attendance for the San Diego County Fair, fairgrounds officials on Tuesday, Sept. 11, approved “Game On” as the theme for the 2013 edition of the fair.

Attendance at the 2012 fair, which ended on July 4, was 1,517,508.  The governing board of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which oversees the state-owned fairgrounds, expanded the fair’s run from 22 to 24 days for this year’s fair.  The 2013 fair will also run for 24 days, the board decided on Tuesday.  This year’s theme was “Out of this World.”

Next year’s fair will open on Saturday, June 8, and end on Thursday, July 4, and the fair will be closed on the first three Mondays during its run.

In a report to the fair board, a staff member said the theme of “Game On” will be used for marketing, decorations, special exhibits, entertainment and other fair activities.

The theme will encompass everything from classic board games to the latest in video and computer games, and appeal across both ethnic and generational lines, from the youngest children to seniors, according to the staff report. Partnerships and sponsorships with companies in the gaming industry will also be explored, according to the report.
Fair board members unanimously approved both the theme and the dates for next year’s fair.