The San Diego County Fair has unwrapped its theme for 2027, and it is pure chocolate. Organizers announced Tuesday that next year's fair will be called “Chocolate Unwrapped,” promising exhibits that follow the treat from rainforest roots to the candy aisle, complete with a full-size cacao tree and a chocolate factory inspired by Willy Wonka.
The announcement, reported by Patch, describes exhibits designed to take fairgoers on a journey from cacao bean to candy bar, exploring how chocolate is made, where it comes from, and how it has shaped pop culture over the years. Fair organizers are inviting visitors to discover what the event has in store under the new theme, which doubles as both an educational showcase and a crowd-pleasing excuse to indulge, according to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Sam Nejabat, board chair of the 22nd District Agricultural Association, which organizes the annual fair, framed chocolate as more than just a sweet treat. “There's so much more to chocolate than the candy bar. It starts with agriculture,” Nejabat said, per Patch's report.
Where and When to Expect the Sweetness
The fair is set to run at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, located at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. in Del Mar. Patch reported the run spans June 10 through July 5, 2027, with the 22-day fair closed on June 14, 15, 21 and 28. An earlier report from The San Diego Union-Tribune, however, listed the 2027 fair as running June 9 through July 5, totaling 21 days with the usual Monday and Tuesday closures — a discrepancy in the published schedules that has not yet been reconciled.
Ticket information and additional details were expected to be announced in the coming weeks, Patch's report noted, though it remains unclear whether that information has since been released.
Why Chocolate Made the Cut
Del Mar Fairgrounds COO Katie Mueller discussed the chocolate theme.
The same report noted that fairgrounds staff in recent years has selected themes well in advance to leave enough time for preparations and marketing — a practice reflected in the fact that a 2028 theme has already been locked in too. The Union-Tribune reported that the 2028 fair is scheduled for June 7 through July 4, a 22-day run themed around magic and illusions.
For now, the spotlight stays on cacao. Exhibits are expected to showcase chocolate's history-making moments alongside the recreated factory and cacao trees, giving fairgoers a hands-on look at how a rainforest crop becomes the treats stocked in their kitchens.
