San Mateo Country Fair: Special days are slated San Mateo Country Fair: Special days are slated (August 10, 2005)

A Kids' Day and Seniors' Day are among the events scheduled for this year's San Mateo County Fair, which opens Friday, August 12, for a 10-day run.

The fairgrounds are in San Mateo at 2495 Delaware St., in the San Mateo Expo Center, which was recently renovated at a cost of $3 million.

Children ages 12 and under will be admitted free on Kids' Day on Monday, August 15. Kid-related activities will include a birthday party for "Mateo, the Fair Bear," balloon animals, face painting, bounce houses and a giant sandbox.

Kids' Day will conclude with a concert by Smash Mouth, the band behind the music from "Shrek" and "Shrek 2."

Adults age 62 and over will be admitted free when the gates open at noon on Tuesday, August 16. A "My Fair Lady" pageant will take place at 1 p.m. in the Garden Center East in Fiesta Hall. At 2:15 p.m., Seniors in Show Biz, a group of grandmothers and great-grandmothers, will perform on the Northshore Stage.

The fair will feature Bo Diddley, The Donnas, Carrott Top, Nightranger, Sugar Ray and Smashmouth in performances in the new Celebrity Stage indoor theater. There is a charge for performances.

Entertainment by California Girls, the Beach Toys, and hypnotist Steve Bayner will take place on the Northshore and Pipeline stages.

Along with pony rides, a petting zoo, bungee jump, "Flying Fools" high dive show, and carnival rides, there will be traditional floral, agricultural and livestock exhibits. Outdoor movies will be shown every night on the central lawn.

All fair visitors will be admitted free before 3 p.m. on Thursday, August 18. Regular admission to the fair is $9 for adults, $7 for children ages 6-12 and seniors 62 and over. Children 5 and under are admitted free. For information, call 574-3247 or go to sanmateocountyfair.com.

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