County fairs are more than a tradition in the 209, they are a celebration of the agricultural heritage of the area. Fairs are also a place where family, friends and community members gather to make lasting memories. There are several fairs that will be held in the 209 this June and July including San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced, Tuolumne, and Amador counties, serving up the fried food, exhibits, livestock competitions, games, carnival rides, concerts, and a whole lot of fun.
The San Joaquin County Fair will kick off the summer fair amusement from June 2-4 at the San Joaquin County fairgrounds, 1658 S. Airport Way in Stockton.
The Grandstand events will feature Friday Night Tuff Trucks and Quad Racing free with fair admission and for an additional fee the Saturday Delta Dirt Drags, and on Sunday the Hispanic Rodeo.
There will be live music each night with a variety of genres including country, rock, top 40, and on Sunday Hispanic Heritage sponsored by VMG.
New this year to the San Joaquin County Fair is a Car Show on Friday sponsored by Impalas Magazine and a Truck Show on Sunday sponsored by Panella Trucking LLC. They will also have exhibits and contests displaying local art and horticulture.
For tickets and more information visit www.sanjoaquinfair.com.
The Merced County Fair invites everyone to come celebrate the fun June 7-11.
“Get your calendars out and be sure to mark down all the days you want to be at the 2023 Merced County Fair,” said Teresa Burrola, CEO Merced County Fair. “We’ve got five nights of concerts and shows, plus your favorite fair foods, carnival rides, exhibits, livestock, community performances, the beloved tractor parade and so much more. We look forward to seeing our community out at their Merced County Fair, June 7-11.”
“We Care Wednesday” kicks off the Merced Fair on June 7 with Seniors 62 and better gaining free entry. They can enjoy a special Seniors’ Lifestyle Expo from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. near the Martin Luther King Jr. Way gate.
The free Outdoor Theatre Concert Series presented by Coors Light has a variety of entertainers like George Michael Reborn on Wednesday, June 7; Smash Mouth on Thursday, June 8; Lonestar on Friday, June 9; Purple Madness: A Tribute to Prince on Saturday, June 10; and Banda Machos wrapping up the festivities on Sunday, June 11 that is free with the paid fair admission.
The Grandstand will host a variety of festivities that begins at 7 p.m. each night like the guest favorite Valley Tractor Pullers’ Tractor Pull on Friday, Destruction Derby on Saturday and new this year to the Fair is the Merced Speedway Go-Kart Racing on Thursday, June 8. The Alaskan Pig Races returns this year along with a variety of activities like the Petting Zoo, Pony Rides, Power Jump, and Water Balls.
There will be an assortment of edible delights like Sharky’s, Pepe’s Mariscos, Kettle Corn, Funnel Cake, and new to the lineup Backyard BBQ bringing chicken, ribs, and a giant turkey leg.
The spectacular rides like the Mega Flip, Giant Wheel, Zipper, State Fair Slide, Tilt a Whirl will be available along with some new rides like the Wacky Shack Funhouse, Super Shot Drop Tower, and the Puppy Roll.
For tickets, times, and more information visit mercedcountyfair.com.
The 2023 Mother Lode Fair, 220 Southgate Drive in Sonora, runs from June 29 to July 2 from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. each day.
They have lots of great entertainment lined up including Buck Ford on Thursday; 60s Summer of Love Tribute Band on Friday; Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers, ZZ Top Tribute Band on Saturday; and country music artist Jennifer Grant on Sunday. The daily strolling acts are Violin on Fire, Leapin’ Louie Lichtenstein, Safari Sam and Oscar Ostrich, and The Roaming Hillbilly.
Livestock shows happen daily and the Junior Livestock Auction starts Saturday, July 1 at 4 p.m. The carnival is Paul Maurer Shows.
The Mother Lode Fair will have Truck & Tractor Pulls on Friday and Saturday nights at 7 p.m., and two Monster Truck Shows on Sunday, with the first one at 4 p.m. and the second show at 7 p.m. There is an additional arena ticket purchase required of $10 for Truck & Tractor Pulls and $12 for the Monster Trucks.
For more information, visit www.motherlodefair.org. Ticket prices are available on the website along with presale tickets.
Life happens at the Stanislaus County Fair, 900 N. Broadway in Turlock, from July 7-16.
There will be a nightly concert series starting at 8:30 p.m. with a variety of artists like country stars Parmalee on Friday, July 7 and Ashley McBryde on Saturday, July 15; R&B artist Genuwine on Thursday, July 8; Latin artist El Dasa on Sunday, July 9; Plain White Tees on Monday, July 10; and Blue Oyster Cult on Friday, July 14 to name a few.
With Tractor Pulls, TPA Portuguese Bloodless Bullfights, Destruction Derby, and Monster Trucks there is something for everyone at the Stanislaus County Fair.
They will have livestock competitions, strolling performers, carnival rides, fair food and more.
The 2023 Fair Theme is “Zinfandel and zinnias” for the Amador County Fair, 18621 Sherwood St., Plymouth, which will run from July 27 to July 30.
There will be carnival rides, Destruction Derby, live music, fair food, and special days like Kids Day, Seniors Day, Cattlemen’s Day, and Junior Livestock Auction Day.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit amadorcountyfair.com.
