••• Location
We wish to acknowledge the original inhabitants of the unceded land of the Anderson Valley. They are known today as the Pomo. They are still here and will forever be.
The Mendocino County Fairgrounds, home to the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show, is a beautiful setting nestled in Boonville, the heart of the Anderson Valley in Mendocino County. It is surrounded by rolling hills dotted with ancient growth oak trees. The quaint town of Boonville offers restaurants, gas, groceries and other amenities. While in Anderson Valley region, visit the many award winning wineries, take a drive along Highway 128 and experience the natural beauty as you make your way to the Mendocino Coast and the Pacific ocean!
The Fairgrounds has paved pavements which makes it alter-able friendly. Please note that not all areas of the Fairgrounds are paved.
Directions
Mendocino County Fairgrounds • 14400 Highway 128 • Boonville, California 95415
From San Francisco (Driving Time 2:10) and Points South:
Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and travel North along highway 101 for 83 miles. Take the 128-W exit located just past Cloverdale. Turn left at the stop sign and travel along N. Cloverdale Blvd. for 0.7 miles. Turn right onto 128-W and proceed for 30 miles to Boonville.
From Ukiah (Driving Time 35 Minutes) and Points North:
Take Highway 101 South to the 253-W exit located just south of Ukiah. Follow the signs to Highway 253 West and drive 17 miles. Turn right on Highway 128 and drive 0.5 miles to Boonville.
From Sacramento (Driving Time 2:45) and Points East:
Take Highway 80 West to the CA-37 exit located just before Vallejo. Continue along Marin World Parkway 2.5 miles, where it becomes Sears Point Road (HWY 37). Continue West another 17 miles. Take the US-101 North exit towards Santa Rose/Eureka and proceed 60 miles. Take the 128-W exit located just past Cloverdale. Turn left at the stop sign and travel along N. Cloverdale Blvd. for 0.7 miles. Turn right onto 128-W and proceed for 30 miles to Boonville.
Driving Tips: The road to Boonville is scenic but curvy. Please drive while alert, and drive slowly and carefully. Gas is limited in Boonville, and so it is best to fill your tank in Cloverdale or Ukiah before coming to the Festival.
Fun Fact about Boonville!
Boonville has its own language from the settler times, which is officially recognized - BOONTLING
Around the turn of the 20th Century, Anderson Valley was a very isolated farming and logging community. Women and children workers in the fields began to use their own terminology which became the spoken word for most of the valley residents. While in Boonville, have some fun speaking Boontling!
- Aplenty Bahl Steinber Horn: Really great beer.
- Apple Head: A girl friend.
- Bahlest: excellent or great
- Bahl Hornin’: good drinking
- Barney Flats: Hendy Woods National Forest. A spectacular forest of virgin redwoods, located in Anderson Valley.
- Belk Region: Bell Valley. A scenic valley located just beyond the baldies, northeast of Boonville. It was here in the hop fields, during the turn of the century, that the language of Boontling originated.
- Boont: Boonville. The largest community and focal center of Anderson Valley. The town where the language of Boontling originated. Now famous for its local brewery.
- Bucky: A nickel (A politically incorrect reference to the Indian head).
- Bucky Walter: A telephone
- Charlie Ball: To embarrass (A local indian of this name was easily embarrassed).
- Deep Enders: Residents of the town of Navarro, located due west of Anderson Valley and bordering the Pacific Coast.
- Heelch: A large quantity.
- High Rollers: Residents of the town of Yorkville, the smallest town in Anderson Valley. Located 10 miles east of Boonville.
- Horn: A drink; to drink. (Dialectal.)
- Jeffer: A large fire.
- Shoveltooth: A doctor; an M.D. (A local doctor was so nicknamed because he had protruding teeth.)
- It's not just shy sluggin’ gorms neemer: It’s not just for breakfast anymore.
- It's a slow lope'n a beeson tree: Literally a comfortable pace on a horse, while sitting on a very comfortable saddle. Commonly referred to mean “a mellow ride."
- Pike: A hike or stroll
- Poleeko: Philo. The second largest town in Anderson Valley, located 6 miles west of Boonville.
- Rudy nebs: pristine, mineral rich, well water.
- Tidrik: A party; a social gathering. (Probably from “tea drink," a dialectal expression meaning the same thing.)
- Zeese: Coffee. (A local hunter-camp cook nicknamed Zeese, from his initials Z.C., made bitterly strong coffee.)
