Discover Fairfield

Apublic art event in 1995 asked “Where is Fairfield?” and a plane flew over the city with that question on a banner. At NorthBay Medical Center, babies were given T-shirts that posed the same question.

Halfway between San Francisco and Sacramento is the easy answer –although residents might note that description overlooks the rich history of Fairfield.

The city is the Solano County seat and home to Travis Air Force Base – along with attractions that include Jelly Belly, Solano Town Center mall and the Rancho Solano and Paradise Valley golf courses.

Fairfield began in 1856 when nearby Suisun City had waterfront shipping access crucial for pioneer-era communities. A treeless plain is how one writer described Fairfield.

But an offer to the county of land to build a government center was too good a deal for voters to pass up and in 1858 they approved moving the county seat from Benicia to Fairfield. The city’s population doubled between the late 1850s and 1880. A century later, more than 44,000 people lived in the city – a number that more than doubled by 2000.

Buildings constructed for government are among Fairfield’s most impressive structures. Renovation of the 1911 county courthouse was recently completed while the modern six-story county Government Center dominates downtown.

By World War II, after decades of playing second fiddle to Suisun City, Fairfield was on its way to becoming the second largest city in Solano County. The U.S. Air Force decision in 1942 to build a major base installation on land east of Fairfield boosted the area economy. Travis Air Force Base was annexed to Fairfield in 1966.

The city now is targeting development on two fronts. The FairfieldVacaville train station for Amtrak and bus riders, located about a mile from Travis Air Force Base, is seen as a boon for residents and the economy and is the site of current development. A project to help the city’s central business district to grow and match the downtown turnarounds that other Bay Area cities is in its formative stages. Recent projects to support the effort include ongoing work to update Allan Witt Park on West Texas Street and a project completed in Spring 2022 to modernize and update the streetscape at the downtown’s entrance on the west end of West Texas Street at Interstate 80.

Fairfield at nearly 40 square miles is almost the physical size of San Francisco, if not a match in population or cable cars that climb halfway to the stars. Its location along Interstate 80, Interstate 680 and Highway 12 between the Bay Area and Central Valley makes it a regional crossroads.

The rich past of Fairfield may be rivaled only by its future. In 2003, as Fairfield celebrated its 100th anniversary as a city, officials buried a time capsule at City Hall, with an opening date of 2103.

DOWNTOWN THEATRE

Playing host to hundreds of community events each year including concerts, festivals and seminars and performances, the Downtown Theatre is the cultural hub of the Fairfield area. Also home to an art gallery, new works are shown each month at the center. Admission to the gallery is free during hours of operation. The award-winning, 360-seat theater received an exterior facelift in August 2018 with the addition of a state-of-the-art lighted marquee. The theater and other facilities can be rented out to host your special event as well. LOCATION: 1035 Texas St., Fairfield MORE INFORMATION: 707-940-0700, www.downtowntheatre.com

JELLY BELLY VISITOR CENTER

From being a local secret to world-famous, the pint-sized jelly bean offers a variety of flavors and colors at the Jelly Belly Candy Co. Starting in the lobby filled with jelly bean art and eclectic decorations, guests can tour the factory daily. Tours leave every 10 to 15 minutes and last about 40 minutes. Free samples of Jelly Belly products are available. During the 40-minute walking tour, Jelly Belly guides will show guests a working factory where more than 150 different sweet treats are made. The factory, however, is not in operation during the weekends and on major holidays. Learn the secrets to how they create the legendary Jelly Belly jelly bean and discover why it takes more than a week to make a single bean. Upcoming events include the 13th Annual Mascot Day on Aug. 3 and the 9th Annual Candy Palooza on Sept. 24-25. LOCATION: One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield MORE INFORMATION: https://www.jellybelly.com.

JELLY BELLY VISITOR CENTER

SOLANO TOWN CENTER

Solano Town Center mall is one of Solano County’s major shopping and restaurant areas. The two-story mall has about 130 storefronts, ranging from department stores to recruiting offices to movie theaters. It is also a destination for various walking clubs that want to escape the weather. Children can climb and explore the bright, colorful play area filled with animal characters, large puzzles and plenty of space to stretch their legs. Developed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the mall has gone through various renovations through the years. The latest brought an $8.5 million, 33,000-square-foot dining court to the mall in April 2011. The mall was renovated end-to-end in 2006 at a cost of $20 million. SOLANO TOWN CENTER

LOCATION: 1350 Travis Blvd., Fairfield MORE INFORMATION: 707-425-1164, www.solanotowncenter.com.

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FAIRFIELD AQUATICS COMPLEX

Whether it’s exercise, a birthday party or swim lessons, the Fairfield Aquatics Complex offers a lane or slide for all occasions. The center features a natatorium with retractable roof, a zero-depth entry play area, a lazy river current for fun and a six-lane activity pool with a slide and diving board. The outside shallow play area for kids includes slides, climbing structures, water-dumping toys and water-spray toys adjacent to a grass area for families to lounge and enjoy the sunshine. There is also a picnic area for large groups to use for the day or rent the entire facility after hours for company parties, school field trips or special occasions. There is an indoor meeting room and party rooms for smaller groups to enjoy the facilities and catered to in a private setting. A concession stand provides hot and cold drinks and food.

LOCATION: Allan Witt Park, 1741 W. Texas St., Fairfield MORE INFORMATION: 707-428-7428, www.fairfield.ca.gov

TRAVIS HERITAGE CENTER

The Travis Heritage Center holds an extensive collection of aircraft and artifacts detailing the history of Travis Air Force Base, airlift, space exploration and military air power. Founded in 1983, the center is surrounded by an impressive collection of restored historic military aircraft that includes the B-29 Superfortress, a Vietnam-era B-52 Stratofortress, an F-4C Phantom Fighter, a C-124 Globemaster II, a C-47 Skytrain and an F-86 Sabre fighter. Inside, there are exhibits containing artifacts, documents, aircraft models, uniforms, aircraft nose art and photos from the dawn of military air power in World War I to present-day military and humanitarian operations around the world. Due to post-9/11 security concerns, aviation lovers will need a base visitor’s pass to see the Travis Heritage Center. LOCATION: Travis Heritage Center, 400 Brennan Circle, Travis Air Force Base MORE INFORMATION: 707-424-5605, www.travisheritagecenter.org

FAIRFIELD AQUATICS COMPLEX

SONOMA HARVEST OLIVE OIL & WINERY

Sonoma Harvest Olive Oil & Winery’s stylish tasting room offers complimentary tastings of almost all of the available Sonoma Harvest food products, including its gourmet olive oils, vinegars, mustards, honey, tapanades, jams, sauces and more. A wine tasting includes the full flight and features four varietals. The tasting room features a well-equipped kids’ club so the little ones can be entertained by puzzles, games, and movies while the adults sip some wine, sample yummy bites and shop among wine country merchandise. Sonoma Harvest’s tasting room is open from noon to 4 p.m. daily except Tuesday and Wednesday. LOCATION: 770 Chadbourne Road in Fairfield MORE INFORMATION: 707-389-4815, www.tastesonomaharvest.com

$12

HOMEMADE CANNOLI $6.00

Paradise Valley Golf Course 3950 Paradise Valley Dr. Fairfield, CA 94533 707-426-1600 www.fairfieldgolf.com f i fi ld d lf

Rancho Solano Golf Course 3250 Rancho Solano Pkwy. Fairfield, CA 94534 707-429-4653

FOURTH OF JULY CELEBRATION

TOMATO & VINE FESTIVAL

Fairfield Certified Farmers Market: 3 to 7 p.m. Thursdays, through Oct. 6. Webster and Texas streets. Info.: https://www.pcfma.org/.

Fourth of July Celebration: The Fairfield celebration starts at 10 a.m. July 4 with an Independence Day parade, which winds through downtown Fairfield along Texas Street. Info: https://www.fairfield.ca.gov/.

Tomato & Vine Festival: 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sept. 10, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 11, Downtown Fairfield. The community’s celebration of all things tomato, the event typically includes a VIP wine and food pairing on Day 1, a classic car show on Day 2, and a carnival throughout. Details to be announced. Info: https:// www.fairfield.ca.gov/. 9th Annual Candy Palooza: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sept. 24-25, Jelly Belly Candy Company, One Jelly Belly Lane, Fairfield. Event features candy sampling, arts and crafts vendors, carnival rides, Jelly Belly’s Wine and Chocolate Experience, pony rides and more. Free parking. Info: https://www.jellybelly.com.

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