When the Solano County Fair opens Wednesday, Benicia will join other area communities with displays in Expo Hall.

This year’s exhibition in that building, at the county fairgrounds in Vallejo, includes Solano County’s own award-winning booth that was recognized at the California State Fair.

Also on display in the County and Cities Expo will be an original Batmobile and an early Jeff Gordon race car.

Benicia’s six municipal neighbors — Vallejo, Rio Vista, Fairfield, Suisin, Vacaville and Dixon -— also will be set up with photographs and props that illustrate their best features.

Benicia’s booth is the same showcase the city uses at the Sunset Celebration Weekend, the annual travel destination and lifestyle event organized by editors of Sunset Magazine. The fair booth is a collaboration between Benicia Main Street and the city of Benicia, said Bonnie Silveria, an ex-officio member of the Main Street board.

While the city has the set-up — the photographs and promotional materials that tie in to the city’s tourism campaign, “A Great Day by the Bay” — Benicia Main Street makes sure there are people tending the booth and greeting fair visitors.

Many of those fairgoers will see members of Benicia’s nonprofit organizations, who not only will be able to tell of the charm of the historic city, but also describe their own groups, Silveria said.

Among the volunteers who will be at the table will be Arts Benicia volunteers, telling visitors about the city’s talented arts community. Benicia Old Town Theatre Group volunteers will let fairgoers know about the city’s performing arts and their theater company’s shows.

Benicia Main Street also will tell visitors know about how they can spend “A Great Day By the Bay” in local shops, offices, restaurants, spas and salons. “There will be wonderful displays,” Silveria said. “We will be represented!”

Visitors will get a chance to see all the features they’ve come to expect at the county fair — food and craft demonstrations; displays of award-winning collections, arts and crafts; produce, garden displays, canning and baked goods; a gem and mineral display; livestock shows and auctions and opportunities for children and adults to visit and pet other animals, from the soft and furry to those with scales; and plenty of Midway rides and fair foods to enjoy.

Daytime performances at the Cultural Pavilion and the Bay Stage will keep visitors entertained, and those who want to join in can participate in nightly karaoke parties at the Bay Stage. Solano Race Place will broadcast horse racing from around the world, while other entertainers stroll the fairgrounds.

Today is Senior Citizen Day, and those 60 and older will be admitted at no charge. Thursday is Kids Day, and those 12 and younger will be admitted free. Friday is Military Appreciation Day, sponsored in part by Momentum Auto Group. Active-duty military members and their families will be admitted at no charge with their military identification.

The Solano County Fair runs from July 29 through August 2 at the Solano County Fairgrounds, 900 Fairgrounds Drive, in Vallejo.A full schedule is available at SCFair.com, where tickets can be purchased.

General admission for adults is $10, $6 for those 6 to 12 years old, those 60 and older and military veterans with ID. Admission is free to those 5 and younger and to active duty military with ID. Parking is $10. All-day carnival wristbands and admission to the Demolition Derby are $25.

Learn more at SCFair.org.

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