Body of News Release
San Rafael, CA — From July 2-6, 2025, the Marin County Fair — BUG-TASTIC! will celebrate all things creepy, crawly, sticky, prickly, wiggly, flittery, fluttery, buzzy, and everything in between.
This ultimate bugfest will be filled with activities that highlight insects, spiders, scorpions, centipedes, millipedes, and more, from competitive exhibits, hands-on art projects, entertainment, education, and fairground décor, all while providing a great opportunity for families to have a good time and develop a love of nature.
The 2025 fair will also include favorites such as the juried fine arts and photography exhibit, headline concerts, carnival rides, sheepdog trials, a petting zoo, pig races, and more. The Competitive Exhibits contests will be expanded with special categories including bug themed arts and crafts, decorated cakes and cookies, beer and wine making, jams, jellies, honey, hobby arts, and much more.
In the spirit of the fair theme, the poster art is designed by Marin artist Lucy Arnold, who uses nature as her primary source of inspiration including insects, birds, flowers, stones, and fallen feathers. Her artworks perfectly illustrate her love of nature, color, drawing, and design – with a touch of whimsy.
Lucy earned a bachelors’ degree with honors in biology from the University of California at Santa Cruz. She has served as President, Vice-president, and Treasurer of her local branch of the creative nonprofit National League of American Pen Women, Golden Gate-Marin Artists. She is an Artist Member of Marin Museum of Contemporary Art and a signature member of Marin Society of Artists. She has also won numerous ribbons at the Marin County Fair for her Fine Art entries.
Now in its 82nd year, the award-winning Marin County Fair is the county’s premier community event with attendance that reaches 100,000 annually. The fair has been awarded the Western Fair Association’s prestigious Merrill Award – the highest award in the fair industry – an unprecedented six times. The Merrill Award is presented to a fair that clearly demonstrates innovation, vision, and excellence. Celebrated as the Healthiest and Greenest County Fair on Earth since 2008, the Marin County Fair strives to reach a 92% waste diversion rate. The fair inspires through traditional values — art, agriculture, community.
Meet Our New Fair Manager, Jennifer Olvera
The Marin County Department of Cultural Services has announced the promotion of Jennifer Olvera to Manager of the Marin County Fair. Since 2023, Olvera has served as the Event Rental Manager for the Department of Cultural Services, which produces the annual fair. For the past two years, Olvera oversaw fair operations, logistics, safety, food vendors, and zero waste efforts.
Olvera will lead in the planning and preparation for the annual event, including organizing and executing the competitive exhibits program, and overseeing the staging of the agricultural barnyard, the Global Marketplace, food services, and more.
“I am extremely excited to take on the role of fair manager of this beloved County event and to continue the great spirit of the fair for generations to come,” Olvera said. “From competitive exhibits to barnyard activities, and from community performances to headline concerts, our fair has something for everyone. I look forward to growing the programming and engaging even more community members.”
From 2008 to 2016, Olvera served as Event Coordinator at the Orange County Fair and Event Center. In 2016, she was promoted to Event Sales and Services Supervisor and led a team of event coordinators who managed over 150 events year-round. She held that position until 2023. Olvera attended Vanguard University in Costa Mesa, CA, and received her bachelor’s degree in communications, with an emphasis in public relations, and a master’s degree in business administration.
“Jenn is the ideal person to step into the fair manager role,” said Gabriella Calicchio, Director of Cultural Services. “She brings over a decade of experience in event logistics as well as a love and passion for the fair industry. Our team looks forward to working with Jenn to grow and advance our fair in new and innovative ways.”
Frances Marin has joined the Cultural Services Department and will take over as Marin Center’s event rental manager. She brings more than 15 years of experience in event management and operations at Stanford University's Athletics Department.