Review: The Alameda County Fair Provides Old-Fashioned, American Family Fun

Thomas Smith1 day ago

There’s something weirdly, delightfully American about the old-fashioned county fair.

You’ve got a midway with rides and games, yes. But there’s also cattle auctions, and earnest contests with awards given for categories like the Best Goat or Best Goose.

You might be able to catch a concert, or even a drone show. There’s tons of stuff for sale. But you can also wander through displays about what’s going on in local schools, or the specifics of the county’s grape production capabilities.

Here in the 925, the Alameda County Fair brings exactly that kind of old-school energy.

This year’s fair runs through Sunday, July 12, with gates generally open Wednesday through Sunday from noon to 11 p.m. I stopped by on a Thursday, when tickets are about half-priced for a Throwback Thursday promotion.

This year’s Fair opened on Juneteenth and runs Wednesday through Sunday through July 12. Regular hours are noon to 11 p.m., with admission gates closing at 9:30 p.m. The Fairgrounds expect more than 400,000 visitors over the course of the event, which remains one of Alameda County’s biggest annual gatherings.

Single-day admission during the Fair is $19.80 for adults ages 13 to 61, $16.50 for children ages 6 to 12, and $16.50 for seniors 62 and older. Kids 5 and under get in free, while active military members and veterans receive free general admission with valid identification. General parking costs $15 per day.

Again, the Throwback Thursday promotion is a great deal if you can visit during the day.

For visitors planning to spend a full day on the midway, carnival and Sky Ride wristbands cost $40 on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and $45 Fridays through Sundays. Concert tickets are separate from Fair admission.

Big concerts remain on the way

This year’s Big O Tires Concert Series has already brought a mix of rock, pop, R&B and nostalgia acts to Pleasanton. The remaining lineup includes The Maine on July 3, Ozomatli on July 5, Flo Rida on July 8, Elle King on July 9, Boyz II Men (yes the real ones–not a tribute) on July 10, Damage Inc — a Metallica tribute act — on July 11, and DJ act Cheat Codes on the Fair’s final day, July 12.

Concerts begin at 8 p.m. Concert tickets do not include admission to the Fair itself, so visitors need both tickets or a season pass to enter the Fairgrounds and attend a paid show.

There’s also a FIFA World Cup watching area with a big screen showing matches.

Pig Races and Sheep Shearing

The concerts may be the headline grabbers, but the Alameda County Fair is still a traditional county fair. That means it’s chock full of old-school things like carnival rides, midway games, livestock, pig races, pony rides, camel rides, a petting zoo, animal demonstrations, cooking presentations, shopping, and the kind of deep-fried food that is probably best enjoyed only once a year.

Families can also find Canine Stars performances, raptor demonstrations, sheep shearing, poultry and livestock Q&As, magic shows, comedy acts and a nightly Silent Disco in the Professional Gardens. Outdoor movies are scheduled for 6 p.m. on the concert lawn, though the Fair warns that movie plans can change around World Cup soccer watch parties.

The final weekend will include truck and tractor pulls from July 10 through July 12, with Corgi Races scheduled for 3:30 p.m. on the Fair’s last day.

It’s the inclusion of those strange American traditions that makes a good county fair stand out from any old carnival or local amusement park.

The Fair has added a new 9/11 Memorial Exhibit this year, marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. It includes original steel beam sections recovered from the World Trade Center, offering visitors a quieter and more reflective stop amid the rides, concerts and food stands.

Personally, I enjoyed a cheesesteak and some cotton candy, and rode both of the fair’s big Ferris Wheels with my kids.