The fluorescent colors of the rides and game tents stood out against the overcast sky Wednesday as fairgoers of all ages ran throughout the Fun Zone at the San Diego County Fair.
Most riders wore wristbands that allowed them unlimited access on the rides.
Pepsi Pay-One-Price Ride Day, also known as “ride wristband day”, is every Wednesday and Thursday of the fair, which runs through July Fourth. Purchasing the $30 wristband allows visitors unlimited access to Fun Zone and Kiddieland rides.
Most rides require three to six coupons, with some of the more thrilling rides requiring up to 10. At 75 cents a coupon, rides can get expensive.
“You have to come on a Wednesday or Thursday,” said Murrieta resident Don DeBate. “If you’re going to go on a lot of the rides, it’s worth it.”
DeBate said he brought his 7- and 10-year-old daughters and his two young nephews Wednesday because of the Pay-One-Price Ride Day. He said his kids spend a couple of hours going on about 30 of the rides. It was only his second time buying a wristband but he said he plans on making it a tradition.
“We’ll definitely come back on a Wednesday or Thursday next year,” DeBate said. “We’ve come before, and it felt like we were buying tickets every 30 minutes. The wristband is a great deal.”
Dyan Herron said she specifically came to the fair on Wednesday because her kids are crazy about the rides.
“I think it’s a great deal because they just go from ride to ride,” she said. “They’re at an age now where they’re not into the animals or the exhibits, so this is worth it. They’ll probably hit every fast ride and then double up on the ones they like most. I think we’ll be here a good three hours.”
She bought four wristbands, two for her kids and two for their friends. Even at $30 a piece, Herron said it was still a good deal for her.
“You think you have a ton of tickets and they just go through them so fast, it feels like you only got on three rides,” she said. “I’ve done this too many times. Now I get the wristband. My daughter just loves the crazy rides, I know she’ll want to do this again next year.”
Herron’s 11-year-old daughter, Brooke, said she loved the fair’s new ride, Rock-It.
“It was awesome, so much fun,” she said. “I like it when it goes upside down.”
Jasmine Vasquez was one of the first riders to take a spin on Rock-It.
“It was fun,” said the 12-year-old, who was laughing and trying to catch her breath. “It was a little scary. It’s crazy when you’re upside down.”
Vasquez was among 120 sixth-graders from Howard Pence Elementary School in San Diego who came for the rides. Sixth-grade teacher Elena Medina said the school brings kids every year and specifically plans the event for the Pay-One-Price Ride Day.
In addition to the popular Rock-It ride, the Fun Zone also brought in Windstorm this year. Kiddeland welcomes Daytona Truck for the first time.
Midway coordinator Tony Guadagno said he plans on adding new rides next year. He said they still have the classics such as Zipper, Mega Drop and the fun houses. The three most popular rides are the Crazy Mouse, the Miler Roller Coaster and the Grand Wheel, he said.
“The Fun Zone is awesome this year,” Guadagno said. “There’s a lot of height, upside down, lots of extreme rides. We have the Rocket that’s 90 feet, it brings you upside down, and we have the classic Grand Wheel that takes you up 112 feet. It’s a beautiful panoramic view. We have the best rides in the country.”
Guadagno said the wristbands are the ultimate deal for ride lovers. He said he is expecting to sell 100,000 Pay-One-Price Ride Day wristbands this year.
Not only are rides a deal on Wednesday and Thursdays, so are the games. Fairgoers can try their luck for a buck. Midway games cost $1 all day long, half the usual price.
Wristbands are valid for one day only and do not include fair admission. Riders can purchase thePay-One-Price Ride Day wristbandfor one of the select “online days.”
“Online days” designate days when riders must buy a wristband voucher online before getting to the fair. On those days, wristbands are not sold at the fair. Vouchers must be printed out and redeemed at the clock tower or at the Kiddieland exchange booth, and the hours of wristband usage vary.
Purchase two qualifying Pepsi products at Albertsons/Sav-on with an Albertsons Preferred Savings Card to receive a $5 Pepsi discount coupon on the wristband.
For more information about Pepsi Pay-One-Price Ride Day on Wednesdays and Thursdays, or to find out about the “online days”, visitwww.sdfair.com/index.php?fuseaction=events.one_price_day.
