CHANGING THE FACE OF THE MARIN COUNTY FAIR
A Community Partnership Model
Concerned about the health of the county, Marin community organizations have, since 2004, partnered with the
Marin County Fair to create a culture that encourages fair visitors to make healthier choices, both at and after
the Fair. Working together to address and change social norms, a healthier and more family-friendly environment
at the Fair has been created through changes in policy, practices and voluntary measures related to alcohol,
tobacco, access to healthy foods, physical activity and healthy living.
Eliminating Alcohol Sponsorship:
The Marin County Fair was the first fair in the nation to dump its beer sponsors in 2004. Assuring continuation
of this initiative, this unique community sponsorship model made history in 2006 when the Marin County Board of
Supervisors took the remarkable step of banning all alcohol sponsorships and advertising at the Marin County
Fair. Why is all this important? Everyday young people are bombarded with advertisements promoting the
consumption of alcohol on television, the radio, the internet, in magazines, and at community fairs and
festivals.
Enforcing its “Smoke-Free” Ordinance:
The landscape of the Marin County Fair continued to change when, in 2007, the Marin County Board of Supervisors
adopted a ban on smoking at any County facility. Again working through the strength of its community partners,
the Marin County Fair was the first in the nation to effectively enforce such a ban, setting up “smoking tents”
outside the borders of the fairgrounds, where smoking cessation materials were distributed.
Tasty Treats and Healthy Food Options:
Knowing that visitors yearn for the tasty treats associated with fairs, the Marin County Fair has lead the
nation in encouraging its vendors to develop menus that include healthier options, prepared according to
nutritional guidelines. The Marin County
Nutrition Wellness Program has been working with fair vendors for three years to assist them in developing
healthier menus and encouraging active promotion of those healthier options. Maps and signs leading the way to
these vendors, as well as cash awards and certificates of participation resulted in half of the Fair’s thirty
vendors offering healthy options in 2007. In 2008 Fair organizers will take the bold step of requiring that all
food and beverage vendors join the Healthy Food Choices program.
Physical Activity and Healthy Living:
PLAY FAIR FUN FEST has created a “fair within a fair”,
combining forces and resources to provide inspiring
information about personal and environmental health.
Fairgoers played games and earned prizes, all while alerting
children and families to a variety of innovative ways to
make healthy choices and get more exercise at, and outside,
the Fair. Fairgoers were given pedometers to track their
steps, as well as maps of the fairgrounds, and encouraged to
walk, dance, hula hoop and skip their way to healthier
choices.
What We’ve Achieved:
In fact, the efforts of Marin County Fair and its partners to change the culture and social norms of the Fair
have been so groundbreaking that both Marin County and the Marin County Fair have received numerous awards and
recognition for this effort, including achievement awards from the Western Fair Association. Working together as
a community that supports the health of its residents, the Marin County Fair has:
- Reduced exposure to alcohol, tobacco and fast food marketing
- Reduced alcohol sales to youth and intoxicated persons
- Eliminated exposure to second-hand smoke
- Increased healthy food items
- Increased physical activity at the fair
- Educated fairgoers about community resources and healthy lifestyles
- Created a more family-friendly environment
- Increased recognition of the Marin County Fair as a national model
Who Are We? | Youth Wellness | County Fair | Other Collaborations | Access to Healthcare | Community Resources | Community Assessment |
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