The Oldest Fairs in California

The California State Fair in Sacramento is one of the largest state fairs in the United States, a 17-day summer spectacular drawing over 500,000 visitors to the state capital for a full celebration of California's agriculture, culture, and innovation. Dating to 1854, it is one of California's oldest and most enduring agricultural fair traditions.

The San Joaquin County Fair in Stockton is a remarkable 18-day December fair, one of the only major winter fairs in California, drawing families to the Central Valley's Port City during the holiday season. Dating to 1860, it is one of California's oldest and most enduring agricultural fair traditions.

The Ventura County Fair is a 12-day summer spectacular on the Pacific Ocean in one of Southern California's finest beach cities, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors for livestock competition, entertainment, and ocean breezes. Dating to 1875, it is one of California's oldest and most enduring agricultural fair traditions.

The San Diego County Fair in Del Mar is one of the largest fairs in North America, a 26-day June-July extravaganza at the famous Del Mar Fairgrounds drawing over a million visitors from California's second-largest metropolitan area. First held in 1880, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The Big Fresno Fair is one of the oldest and largest fairs in California, a 12-day October celebration in the agricultural heart of the Central Valley drawing hundreds of thousands of San Joaquin Valley visitors. First held in 1888, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The OC Fair in Costa Mesa is one of the largest fairs in the United States, a 31-day summer spectacle drawing over a million visitors to Orange County for California fair culture at its most exuberant. First held in 1890, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton is one of California's largest and most beloved county fairs, running for 24 days and drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors from the East Bay each summer. First held in 1912, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The Kern County Fair in Bakersfield is one of California's premier agricultural fairs, a 12-day September celebration in the oil and agricultural capital of the southern San Joaquin Valley. First held in 1917, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival in Indio is an 18-day February spectacular combining an agricultural fair with the world's premier celebration of date palm culture, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Coachella Valley. First held in 1921, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona is one of the largest county fairs in the United States, a 25-day May extravaganza drawing over a million visitors from the greater Los Angeles area to Fairplex each year. First held in 1922, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The San Mateo County Fair is a ten-day June celebration in the heart of the Bay Area Peninsula, drawing families from Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Peninsula for agricultural tradition and fair entertainment. First held in 1926, it has been a California agricultural tradition for over a century.

The Sonoma County Fair in Santa Rosa is a ten-day August celebration in the heart of California's premier wine and food county, drawing hundreds of thousands of visitors for livestock competition, entertainment, and the best local food of any California fair. Established in 1936, the fair has brought California communities together for generations.

The California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles is a 12-day Central Coast celebration in the heart of California's wine country, drawing visitors from San Luis Obispo County and beyond for top-tier entertainment and agricultural competition. Established in 1946, the fair has brought California communities together for generations.

The San Bernardino County Fair in Victorville is a nine-day May fair in the high Mojave Desert, drawing families from the Inland Empire's High Desert communities for livestock competition and fair entertainment. Established in 1948, the fair has brought California communities together for generations.