Judges' choice: His educational project “Earth, Water & Fire, The Connection,” earned Matt Friedman best of show in Kids' Best. The 12-year-old Encinitas resident tested water and soil samples around Lake Hodges, comparing areas that had been burned by wildfire with areas that had not been burned. He used 13 variables, including phosphates, alkaline and nitrates and discovered that wildfire had no major effects on the variables he studied.

Background: Matt, a student at The Rhoades School in Encinitas, said he has been taking science since first grade and has always enjoyed it.

How he got started: “Miss (Roxanne) Hunker, my science teacher, really inspired me to enter science fair projects.”

Comment: “There was no major difference in the burned and not burned zone in Lake Hodges and it was really surprising. That was good.”

Tip for learning more: Start by contacting the water district in your area.

TODAY'S PICKS

Summer Concert Series: KC and the Sunshine Band, Navy Band Southwest and fireworks, 7:30 p.m., free with fair admission.

Highlights: Junior Livestock Auction, 10 a.m., Ring 2; Monster Trucks, Transformers and Freestyle MotoCross, 1 and 5 p.m., Chevrolet Del Mar Arena; Led Zepagain (Led Zeppelin tribute band), 9 p.m., Coors Light Rock On Stage.

FAIR FACTS

Through Sunday at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd. Gates are open from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Admission: adults, $12; seniors 62 and older, $6; children 6 to 12, $6; children 5 and younger, free.

Information: (858) 793-5555; (858) 755-1161; www.sdfair.com/fair.

On-site parking: cars and motorcycles, $9; recreational vehicles, $15; preferred parking, $15, no motor homes.

Off-site parking: free, with shuttles from 9 a.m. to midnight. Del Mar Horsepark, 14550 El Camino Real, daily; MiraCosta College San Elijo campus and Torrey Pines High School, weekends and today.

Public transportation: hourly buses to and from Escondido Transit Center. A shuttle between the Solana Beach Train Station and the fair leaves every 25 minutes. Passengers with a Breeze bus or Coaster train ticket receive a $1.75 fair admission discount at the west gate. (Please note: Coaster does not operate today) Information: (760) 966-6500 or www.gonctd.com

NEWSROOM AT THE FAIR

The San Diego Union-Tribune's  Newsroom at the Fair exhibit is in the Paddock Lounge next to Plaza de Mexico near the Grandstand entrance.

Meet outdoors writer Ed Zieralski from 1 to 4 p.m.

Explore the technology that brings you the daily newspaper, Today's Local News,  Enlace,  multimedia site SignOnSanDiego.com and AmplifySD.com, the all-San Diego music online radio station.

Tune to “U-T in the Community” and “Community Spotlight” on SignOn Radio LIVE, hosted by Drew Schlosberg on Tuesdays and Fridays (except today).

Online: For fair news, videos and information, go to fair.uniontrib.com