Beer Garden
The Beer Garden is staffed by local charities established for the benefit of Manhattan Beach youth. A lottery takes place in June of each year, where four charities are selected to operate the Beer Garden.
Each group selected receives a portion of the net proceeds. The Beer Garden is located on Dorsey Field at the north end of the fairgrounds.
- Saturday & Sunday, 10:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Tickets are sold until 5:00 pm
- Last Call is at 5:30 pm
The following four organizations have been selected for our 2023 Beer Garden operations! Congrats to the randomly selected winners:
- Mira Costa Model UN
- Mira Costa Boys Basketball
- Mira Costa Orchestra Boosters
- Mira Costa Dram Tech Boosters
Wine Garden
The Wine Garden will be in full swing at the fair as a go-to spot for sipping delicious wines, socializing and simply having some good, grownup fun. Come by and check out our new and expanded layout with two serving tents with tables and umbrellas perfect for relaxing and enjoying a variety of wines and other drinks. This year we will be pouring wine from Uncorked Wineshops and also offering Weekday Vibes non-alcoholic wine spritzes. The Wine Garden opens at 11 am.
Entertainment will be provided by Dave Leahy on Saturday and Brian and Stacey Pothier on Sunday.
This year, a portion of the proceeds from the Wine Garden will go to three deserving organizations whose members volunteer to make the Wine Garden successful.
Wine Garden Hours
- Saturday & Sunday, 11:00 am - 6:00 pm
- Live Music Saturday & Sunday, 1:00 - 5:00 pm
- Tickets are sold until 5:00 pm
- Last Call is at 5:30 pm
Paid Games
All South Bay service clubs are heartily invited to join in with their own brand of unique and fun games. Let's try to find some new and different ideas that will make this fair a great one! Get your application in early.
- Booths will be 10' by 10' (100 sq ft). Any booth occupying more than 100 sq ft will require two booth spaces.
- Booths operating activities where things are thrown or where any activity might bother a neighboring booth or the public at large must supply a back and/or sides and a roof for their booth, or they will not be allowed to operate.
- Clean up - each organization is responsible for the clean up in and around the assigned booth space during and after the Fair.
- The Fair hours will be 10:00am-6:00pm on Saturday and 10:00am-5:30pm on Sunday. Please plan to be open during these hours.
- Failure to comply with all the Booth Rules (click on the link below) can result in closure.
- You must review and agree to the Indemnification Clause (click on link below) in order to register for a booth
Proof of Liability Insurance Coverage
Depending on the type of game/activity you are hosting, a Certificate of Insurance may be required from each organization. It should name the Manhattan Beach Hometown Fair Association and the City of Manhattan Beach as additional insureds. We will inform you if you need one and can provide you information for where to buy the coverage for a nominal cost. If your organization is affiliated with the Manhattan Beach Unified School District, it is likely that an existing umbrella policy would provide coverage and we will contact them to get the policy for you. Other parent organizations may also have an umbrella policy, so please check before purchasing your own.
Games Offered This Year Include::
- Glitter Tattoos
- Colored Hair Spray
- Robot Jousting
- Lacrosse Games
- Bell & Hammer
- Golf Games
- Ball Toss
- Archery
- Raingutter Regatta
- Yo-Yo Water Balloons
- DNA PolymeRACE
- Spin the Wheel
And More!
For more information on paid games, please contact Nellie Ambrose at paidgames@mbfair.org.
Free Games
Kids of all ages enjoy the free games offered at the Hometown Fair. There is no charge to participate. Many thanks go to our local merchants who have donated generously to provide prizes that are awarded in each heat.
Free Games Schedule 2023
Saturday and Sunday October 7-8, 2023
11:00amDiaper Dash / Toddler TrotDorsey Field
12:00pmWaterBalloonTossDorsey Field
1:00pmSack RaceDorsey Field
1:30pmMystery GameDorsey Field
2:00pmPing Pong ContestGanz Memorial
3:00pmObstacle CourseDorsey Field
Kids Under 4
Magicians, Balloon Artist, and Animals
For children under 4, we have a magician and a balloon artist that will perform both days in Kid Country. There will also be wildlife shows, petting zoo and pony rides suitable for our younger visitors. You can find these activities in Kid Country.
Diaper Derby and Toddler Trot will return in 2023!
The annual Diaper Derby and Toddler Trot races are a hit for both the parents and the children racers alike! Entrants for the Diaper Derby must still be crawling, and for the Toddler Trot, are walkers under 24 months. Parents… bring your cameras. It is a hoot!
To participate in the Toddler Trot and Diaper Derby, please sign up at the free games booth on Dorsey Field during fair weekend.
See Free Games for Diaper Derby and Toddler Trot times.
See Kid country for a list and schedule of all the events!
Kid Country
Kid Country is Family Country! We will have tons of fun filled entertainment including pony rides, petting zoo, balloon artist magician, and a wild animal show. Fun for all ages.
Kid Country is located on the Greenbelt off Ardmore Avenue at 15th Street (across from the Post Office).
There is no charge for the tons of fun located inside Kid Country!
Kid Country Hours Are: (2023)
- Pony rides: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Petting Zoo: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Wildlife Learning Center: 10:00am-5:00pm
- Inflatable Jumpers : 10:00am-5:00pm
- Wild Animal Show: 10:30am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm & 3:30pm
- Magic Show: 11:00am; 1:30pm
- Balloon Artist: 10:00pm-2:00pm
- Pony rides: 10:00am-3:30pm
- Petting Zoo: 10:00am-3:30pm
- Wildlife Learning Center: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Inflatable Jumpers: 10:00am-4:00pm
- Wild Animal Show: 10:30am, 12:15pm, 2:15pm & 3:00pm
- Magic Show: 11:00am; 1:30pm
- Balloon Artist: 10:00am-2:00pm
Private Event Friendship Circle Sunday 9:00-10:00am. Families with special needs children are welcome.
Community Showcase
The South Bay has got some amateur talent, and the Hometown Fair Community Showcase is the place to see it! There is something for everyone to delight in, from a wide variety of art and photography, STEM art, tap dancing, belly dancing, musical ensembles, fashion shows, crooner’s, and jazz combos. Come on into the Joslyn Center and check it all out, or better yet come and be a part of it! Amateurs only, please.
Amateur Art Exhibit
South Bay residents with a talent for drawing, painting, photography, sculpting, quilting, or other crafts and those with STEM art entries are welcomed to submit an application to exhibit their work at the fair. Please no craft vendor submissions.
New for 2023: come meet the artists, Saturday 4:00 - 5:00pm!
“Imagine the future: Robots in the South Bay” Art Exhibition
South Bay area students grades K-12 are invited to imagine the future in our annual STEM art competition. This year's them is "Robots in the South Bay". Click here for details.
Hometown Fair Historical Exhibit
The history of our fair is on display, including photos collected for our 50th event in 2023, as well as a collection of our mugs throughout the years.
MB Senior Club - hot coffee and pastry
Come take a break and support our MB Senior Club!
Joslyn Amateur Performance Stage
South Bay area amateurs with a talent are invited to perform during the Hometown Fair. Performances are featured on the Joslyn Center Stage. Dance performances, gymnastics and karate exhibitions, choral groups, music and drama students are encouraged to submit applications. Click here for details.