Giants County Fair

Almost 20 carnival rides have been set up behind the Giants AT & T Park for the first ever Giants County Fair, which opened today.

By yesterday afternoon the skyline around McCovey Cove had changed dramatically with the arrival of a ferris wheel, tower and other rides and as darkness fell bright glittering lights illuminated the area.

The fair is open until July 19 and has a packed programme of fun competitions and events, games for children, food, a 'Giants Baseball Zone,' and live music.

Among the rides are the Zipper, Cliff Hanger, Sizzler, Dizzy Dragons, Truck Stop, bumper cars and, for children, a Fun House and a Haunted House. Tomorrow there is also a tailgate party, on Saturday, a KNBR Family Day, on Sunday, a salsa and limbo contest and an exhibition of animals from the San Francisco Zoo, and on Monday, fireworks and karaoke.

One of today's features was Crazy Crab Night, Crazy Crab being the original mascot of the Giants. This was celebrated with a food stall serving crab sandwiches and other seafood.

There are also ticket concessions for the start of the fair: free admittance tonight (Thurs) and tomorrow for anyone with a game ticket, and for the same days plus Saturday, a special-priced combined ticket of $25 that will give fans admission to the game - against San Diego Padres - and admission to the fair with unlimited rides.

The Giants top event during this time is the Kenny Chesney concert, with supporting band Sugarland, in the ballpark next Saturday, July 18, when the fair will be open all day from 10 am to 11 pm. Fans without tickets will still be able to hear the music and glimpse the event from across McCovey Cove as it is screened on the raised Giants' jumbotron inside the ballpark.

Admission to the fair is $5 for adults, and kids 12 and under are free. Unlimited ride tickets are also available at $20 for adults and $15 for kids. For tickets and a full Giants County Fair schedule visit sfgiants.com/fair or call 1-800-225-2277.

Video by Chris