The Oldest Fairs in California

In Sacramento, the California State Fair 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. The fair traces back to 1854, making it one of California's longest-running agricultural traditions.

Stockton is home to the San Joaquin County Fair, which 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 ranks among California's oldest agricultural fairs.

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. Founded in 1875, it stands as one of California's most enduring agricultural fair traditions.

The San Diego County Fair, based 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. Launched in 1880, the fair has held its place in California agricultural life for generations.

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. It began in 1888 and has stayed a fixture of California agricultural life for more than a century.

Every year, Costa Mesa hosts the OC Fair, which 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's carried on as a California agricultural tradition for well over a hundred years.

Every year, Pleasanton hosts the Alameda County Fair, which 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's carried on as a California agricultural tradition for well over a hundred years.

The Kern County Fair, based 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's carried on as a California agricultural tradition for well over a hundred years.

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. A 1921 founding makes it one of California's longer-running agricultural traditions, still going after more than a century.

Pomona's Los Angeles County Fair 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. A 1922 founding makes it one of California's longer-running agricultural traditions, still going after more than 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's carried on as a California agricultural tradition for well over a hundred years.

In Santa Rosa, the Sonoma County Fair 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. Since 1936, it's brought California neighbors together year after year.

Every year, Paso Robles hosts the California Mid-State Fair, which 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. Since 1946, it's brought California neighbors together year after year.

Held annually in Victorville, the San Bernardino County Fair 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 served as a community gathering point for generations.