At a Glance
WHAT: Stanislaus County Fair
WHEN: Friday, July 15 through July 24: 5 p.m. to 1 a.m. Fridays, noon to 1 a.m. Saturdays, noon to 12:30 a.m. Sundays, 5 p.m. to midnight Monday through Thursday
WHERE: 900 N. Broadway, in Turlock
COST: adults, $12; children ages 7 to 12 and seniors ages 65 and up, $5; children ages 6 and under, free.

Stanislaus County Fair will celebrate a centennial theme this year when it kicks off Friday, July 15, for a 10-day run.

Fair officials have been working year round to plan for the 100-year celebration, which will begin with an evening of fireworks and $1 carnival rides at the fairgrounds, 900 N. Broadway, in Turlock. This year’s event will feature Centennial Hall, an exhibit celebrating the Fair’s 100-year history.

While organizers are commemorating the fair’s legacy, they are also celebrating innovation, releasing a new “app” for Android and iPhone compatible phones. The application includes a county fair map, a calendar among other features. Those who wish to download it for free can search for it at “StanCoFair” in the App store.

The fair also will offer a mobile scavenger hunt game, with the top contestant winning an iPad and four Disneyland Park Hopper tickets along with a 100-year pass from the fair that can be passed on to future generations. The 100-year pass also will be available for purchase at the fairgrounds for $500 apiece.

This year’s discounts include “Free ‘til 3 p.m. Sundays.” Guests can come into the fair for free Sunday, July 17 and 24 from noon until 3 p.m.

Another new feature is a free shuttle program, which heads off from California State University, Stanislaus (parking lots located on Crowell Road, off Monte Vista Avenue) and Pitman High School (parking lots on Christoffersen Parkway). The service will run on weekdays from 4:30 p.m. to midnight and weekends from 11:30 a.m. to midnight with shuttles departing to and from the fairgrounds every 15 minutes. Parking at the Fairgrounds will still be available for a fee of $4 per vehicle.

In addition to opening night, fireworks also will be available Wednesday, July 20 at 9:45 p.m. Guests can also take advantage of a fair savings coupon book available in Modesto and Turlock FoodMaxx locations or by taking the fair shuttle.

This year’s event also will feature a newly renovated children’s area, which will include the popular Rainforest Adventure, which debuted in 2009. Entertainment of all sorts will be offered throughout the duration of the extravaganza, with nine nights of motorsports and one night of rodeo in the FoodMaxx Arena, four stages of live entertainment, more than 30,000 local exhibits and more than 1,750 animals.

To receive fair announcements by text message, folks can text the word “FAIR” to 99299. Fair enthusiasts can also follow the event at twitter.com/stancofair or become a fan at facebook.com/stancofair. Fair news and event listings are also available at myspace.com/stancofair.