Here's something you don't often associate with L.A.: pig racing. And yet, once a year, you can watch these little porcine cuties running their curly tails off at the L.A. County Fair, just one of the typically rural American pleasures to be found not far from the city of L.A. in Pomona. LA County Fair The L.A. County Fair is a celebration of country life more typical of Kansas or Oklahoma than Los Angeles. And yet, not all of L.A. County is urban, so, the fair recognizes the achievements and tastes of our more rural friends who raise our food and help make California the "world's breadbasket". Each year, local farmers bring their rabbits, goats and pigs to show off their biggest and best. Quilters and jam makers whip up their best patterns and recipes. You can learn about organic farming and gardening, and how to cook those vegetables you've never seen before.

Another major attraction is the food, with vendors seemingly trying to outdo each other creating the most decadent concoctions imaginable. Besides reliable standards like turkey legs, deep-fried Oreos and chocolate-covered bacon, recent creations have included "bacon-fried s'mores" and "chick and waffle on a stick".

[gallery ids="4465,4466,4467"]

Of course, there are also popular fair attractions like the exhibit halls, carnival rides, watching sea lions and pirates perform and rocking out to nightly concerts. But the most unique pleasures are often found watching life-long city dwellers interact with unfamiliar objects, like garden implements and farm animals.

The LA County Fair is a little bit of country life made accessible to city-folk at least once a year, so we can remember and appreciate where our food comes from and who makes it all possible.

Here are the details:

When: Sept 2-25, 2016 Hours:
  • Mon & Tue - CLOSED, except Labor Day Monday
  • Labor Day Weekend, Friday, Sept 2, noon to midnight, Sat-Sun 10 am - midnight, Mon 10 am - 10 pm
  • Wednesdays - noon - 10 pm
  • Thursdays - noon - 11 pm, buildings close at 10
  • Fridays - noon - midnight, buildings close at 11
  • Saturdays - 10 am - midnight, buildings close at 11
  • Sundays - 10 am - 10 pm
Admission: Adults $14 weekdays/$20 weekends/holidays; Seniors 60+ $10/$15; Child 6-12 $8/$12; 5 and under Free. $29.99 Season Pass. $12/adult $6/child any-day tickets are available at participating Ralph's and Cardenas supermarkets.

Check the website for rates and promotions. Carnival ride tickets or wristbands are extra. Check Goldstar.com for discount tickets.

Our Body, Jurassic Planet, and The Igloo Ice Skating and Sledding require separate tickets that are $5 each for ages 6 and up.

Location: The Fairplex in Pomona, 1101 W. McKinley Ave, Pomona, CA 91768, off the 10 Freeway, exit Fairplex Drive or White Ave.

Parking: $15, $30 valet. $60 season pass

Public Transportation: Metrolink trains run from Union Station in Los Angeles to the Fairplex Station. There's a shuttle from the station to the Yellow Gate pedestrian entrance. The Foothill Transit 197 bus also goes from the station to the Fairplex.

A Yellow Cab stop is outside the Green Gate.