San Mateo County Event Center - San Mateo, California

Lu S.

We have regularly attended our daughter’s competitive sports (volleyball and gymnastics) at this location for a number of years. It’s a shame that amidst such a nice community this is facility is a blemish for a few reasons.

They thoroughly search bags to prevent outside food being brought in and force sales of concessions, but Events start at 8a. They only open concessions at 11a. For teams who show up at 7:15a to get ready and not be able to have their own food, means going at least 4 hours without any options (some of us travel from far away) or more if your event doesn’t have a break at 11a. This feels a bit like jail - you can’t leave and have to eat their food and only at certain times.

The Roseville and McClellan event centers allow for in & out parking so that you can go get alternate, healthier food options for athletes. There is room to bring in at least two to five food trucks, but the only option we saw this last time was a Cotton Candy truck from a carnival.

Also, I witnessed an employee who was in a closed stall for a time with their cleaning rags on the floor visible under the stall while they did their personal business. They then flushed, came out and walked straight out of the bathroom without washing their hands. After I washed mine and went back to the courts I saw them working around the site with their ‘cleaning towel’ that was on the floor in the bathroom. It speaks to the whole operation of the facility. I’ll never buy food there.

You may want to park down the street in the local community or near the Whole Foods and walk to avoid the $20 parking fee EVERY time you enter the lot.

Cali L.

I went to the event center for the gem show. I was surprised that the parking ticket of $15 ( when using credit card and $20 if paying by cash) did not include the cost of entry to the event. The entry ticket when buying at the event is $8 and they take only cash.
There was plenty of parking closer to the event center.
The gem show was very good with vendors display well organized and easy for attendees to walk through and view.

Terri M.

I went to San Mateo Fair yesterday for senior day with free admission. That was fine, but parking is $20 if paying cash, and $15.00 for credit card. So I used a debit card. The turnout of people was more than usual. Lots of disabled people from nursing homes and also lots of children! Think they got in free?
What really surprised me is how things have moved around, and the horticulture exhibits were so minimal, I was very unimpressed. Normally it takes up half of a hall, but it was in one tiny segment of a bldg. Not at all resembling bygone years.
Totally disappointing! The hall for children had a Toy exhibit that took up most of one building. Looked fine and offered lots for kids. I checked out the photography exhibits, and culinary ones also. That was quite interesting. But when it comes to food and drinks, BEWARE! First thing outside the entrance they will not allow ANY water in Any type of bottle, you must dump it. I had to buy a bottle of Aqua Fina, for $4.00. Then later in afternoon I was near the community stage and wanted more water so went into the bldg adjacent where they always had beer, wine, water, and food. The door was open, but nothing was inside anymore!
I had to go back to the food court and pay another $4.00 to a vendor. My friend and I were shocked at the high prices of food.
We ended up choosing the Greek Gyro sandwich, and she added a salad, (very tiny) mine was $17.00, hers $20.00. All the food vendors were very similar in price. Even the barbecue offering a cheeseburger, 1/3lb., was $16.00. I decided after seeing it, that it looked worth about $3.00. Late afternoon we opted to go to the ice crem vendor which offers everything in ice cream, and had a waffle cone sundae that only cost $11.00. Terrific, as usual! I think that was Mrs. J's, Ice Cream in the food court.
I had looked for the vendor selling deep fried zucchini and onion rings, and stuffed baked potatoes, but again, the vendor wasn't there, like last year. Disappointing.
For senior day I had expected some big band swing, but there was only Hawaiian dancers, (all seniors).
In one building there is a butterfly room, and due to my phobia I could not make myself go into it, but my friend did. Before you enter, you are given a cotton swab, to hold at arms length and the butterflies will land on it, as they did for my friend. Mostly monarch. You are told not to touch any of them even if they land on you, which they will. She enjoyed it.
I enjoyed seeing the butterfly stilt walker, I encountered and took photo with.
We went in all areas of the fair, but somehow it just seemed different than previous years, and didn't inspire me that much.
When you can't afford to eat, it's maybe a sign not to go anymore? We did enjoy looking at the hundreds of beautiful handmade quilts, some exquisite. My friend also enjoyed so much of the crochet work, not your ordinary crocheting either.
We went through the farm building and petted many friendly goats. Seeing lots of other smaller animals in small cages, isn't exactly a good feeling, but we did see a rabbit that looked like a Yorkshire terrier, as the breed is called a Lion Head. Tiny ears, and long mane over it's head. Very unusual. All the rabbits are good to see.
If you're taking kids to the fair, be ready to spend a days salary on feeding them. The 4H girls weren't there, selling their cakes like they always did. Only costing $3-$4.00 slice. Food cannot be brought into the fair, they want you to buy it instead.
We didn't spend time or money buying from market vendors, whose prices also went up. Three bags of 6.oz candy for $20.00.
If you have to take food and put it in an ice chest in your car, you can go out if you get your hand stamped and can re-enter.
This year's theme is aimed for children more than usual. Lots of unusual things, and old toys exhibited, from back in the 1950's,60's,70's, and we saw PAC Man machines, a real trip down memory lane, also for those of us that can remember Mr.Potatoe Head?

Adam P.

I attended a weekend event here recently. Parking policy is awful. Long wait times, with cars backed up onto the main road, no traffic controller at the intersection, and drivers getting road rage. $20 with no reentry. Also, no wifi was available. I used to come here for the San Mateo Fair about 10 years ago and it was great, but it seems like the management of this place has gotten bad.

Chelsey P.

The building is fine but there are 3 lanes to let people in but only one lane to let people out. We tried to leave for 23 minutes. Imagine if there were an emergency - this is not a safe parking lot.

Annie M.

Center is well spaced for volleyball courts. Parking lot is almost always a nightmare to get into. Today they were only accepting cash! The signs they made couldn't be seen until you were at the window. The cashier was a nice as could be, especially under the circumstances. The machines went down last minute. What are ya gonna do?

Jem L.

Came here for the Foodie Land Night Market event. This event required advance admission ticket purchasing ($5-$7) and they also charge $15 to park in the event center's parking lot. The line to enter the lot was Looong during the day and if you don't mind a 5 minute walk, you can opt to park on the street near the park or the residential area. Even though I purchased the first session of the day but the crowd was huge and the wait for the popular food trucks were long and there were no shade. So while my food was grilling I was baking into a little brownie as well. Wish there were pinic tables/umbrellas in the lawn area for seating.

Paweł G.

Quite a sizeable venue that can host a few thousand people. I came here for Makerfaire 2019 and certainly had some fun while there. For the faire, there was a lot of space to be inside and outside. Overall I enjoyed it there as the venue served its function as required.