Fairfield: Where Sweet Adventures Await AFPAA Members in April
Perry Nouis | Published on 10/29/2025
“Sweet!” It's the reaction a lot of people have when they learn they will be visiting Fairfield, California. Tucked between the bustling cities of San Francisco and Sacramento, and near California’s famous wine regions, Fairfield is the site for the Air Force Public Affairs Association’s 29th Annual Membership Meeting. The meeting is scheduled for April 30-May 2, 2026.
The host facility for the gathering is Fairfield’s Hilton Garden Inn, the same hotel used when the Association last met there in 2011.
Bud Ross, the local meeting coordinator, has developed a full itinerary that includes a visit to Travis Air Force Base, the “Gateway to the Pacific,” on Friday, May 1st. Strategically located in California’s Solano County, Travis is well known for its pivotal role in the U.S. Air Force as the largest air mobility hub on the West Coast. It is home to the 60th Air Mobility Wing. The Wing handles more cargo and passenger traffic than any other military air terminal in the country. The base hosts a versatile fleet of cargo and air refueling aircraft from the C-5M Super Galaxy, and C-17 Globemaster III, to the KC-46 Pegasus.
Visitors to Fairfield can wander through the uncrowded wine country ambiance and rolling vineyards of nearby Suisun Valley. “The hospitality offerings have greatly expanded in the fourteen years since the last annual meeting here,” Ross noted. “You will find more high-end wineries, distilleries, craft breweries, olive tasting venues and dining options at more reasonable prices than in the nearby wine country.”
Filling out the itinerary will be the customary Annual Meeting activities – the Membership Meeting, guest speakers, receptions, luncheons, and the concluding Awards Banquet and Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony on Saturday evening.
Among the optional events that will be offered to members will be Fairfield’s most iconic destination, the Jelly Belly Factory. Visitors to the factory can take a self-guided tour to see how the famous jelly beans are made. The experience includes interactive exhibits and plenty of sweet, wild-flavor samples.
The other optional events will include a golf outing at Rancho Solano Golf Course Thursday morning and complimentary wine tasting at the hotel Friday evening. Details about those events will be provided separately to those who register.
You will also find the American Armory Museum, which showcases military vehicles and memorabilia from World War II, the Korean War, and beyond. Highlights include General Patton’s command jeep and a rare World War II Achilles tank.
Fairfield has much to offer. We encourage members to take advantage of it. Use this link to register online. If you prefer to register by mail, look for the paper registration form in News and Notes.