The 2010 Sonoma County Fair (July 27 – August 8, 2010) has a clever new theme — “Grape Escape.” Be equally clever and get discounts on Fair tickets and coupons for carnival rides. Take advantage of advance purchase deals, special discount days offered by the fair organizers, ticket discounts for sale at COSTCO, Friedmans and Mary’s Pizza, and more ways to save. Check it out.

Check the Sonoma County Fair website for details and updates, but here’s the gist:

DEAL 1: Advance Discounts. Save on the Carnival & Admission when you buy tickets before July 26 (while supplies last).

• General Fair Admission – $7 for ages 13 and up (save $2).
• Fair Season Pass – $30 ($117 value) for admission every day. Non-transferable and must be purchased in person at the fairgrounds before July 27.
• Carnival Presale Coupons -  $15 in advance (a $12 discount). Includes 10 rides and some extras. Can be exchanged for a Pay-One-Price unlimited rides wristband (see DEAL 2).
  

DEAL 2: Carnival Discount Days

• Pay-One-Price Days – Pay $25 for a wristband for unlimited rides on Tuesdays, Wednesdays & Thursdays (or use a Carnival Pre-sale Coupon).
• Choose-Your-Discount Friday – On Fridays only, get a wristband to ride unlimited rides from 11 am – 5 pm – or from 5 – 11 pm for just $20. You may also use a Carnival Pre-Sale Coupon for one of either of these 6-hour sessions. You may also purchase a daytime wristband and get a second wristband for the evening session for just $15 when you turn in your daytime wristband and show your hand stamped with that day’s date.
• Dollar Monday – Ride any ride for $1 on Monday, Aug. 2 (or use a Carnival Pre-sale Coupon for 20 rides).
• Hero Days Monday through Friday – Carnival Appreciation Day for police, firefighters and active-duty military personnel. Get up to five wristbands for just $15 each on any weekday (one Hero plus up to four family members).
• Food For Haiti Monday through Friday – Two cans of food = one free ride; one grocery bag full of cans ($25 value) = one wristband.

DEAL 3: Age related Discount Days.

• Kids 6 & younger – free every day
• Kids 7-12 – free on Thursdays
• Seniors - free on Tuesdays

DEAL 4: COSTCO discount — You can get a package deal for $22.99 (a $34 value) at COSTCO stores in Novato, Rohnert Park and Santa Rosa. Package includes:

• 2 Fair general admission tickets (regular price $18)
• 1 Brookwood lot parking permit (regular price $6)
• 2 $5 Fair food voucheers (reg. $10)

DEAL 5: Friedmans & Mary’s Pizza discount — Get your Fair discounted general admission tickets for $7 each ($9 after July 26) and Carnival Pre-Sale Coupons (save $10 while limited supply lasts) at Friedmans Home Improvment stores and at all Sonoma County Mary’s Pizza Shack locations. Only the general admission and the carnival coupons are available at these locations through July 26 or until our limited supply runs out.

DEAL 6: Groups of 10 or More Save 20% at the Races. More info.

WHEN: The 2010 Sonoma County Fair takes place July 27 – August 8, 2010, daily 11am-10pm.

WHERE: Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA 95402.

[More San Francisco Bay Area Fairs & Festivals 2010]