Ventura County Fair: What to know about tickets, food, concerts, rodeo, parking and more
What do you get when you add trapeze artists, Greek fries and local craft beers to hurdling pigs, deep-fried Oreos and a rooster-crowing contest?
Fair time.
The 12-day Ventura County Fair launches noon Wednesday at Ventura's beachside fairgrounds. The event mixes decades-long traditions like tractor pulls at Uncle Leo's Barn and livestock stalls filled with pygmy goats to high-flying new attractions, exotic foods and changes that affect how people enter the grounds.
Here's what you need to know to navigate the new and old:
When can I go to the Ventura County Fair?
The fairgrounds open at 1 p.m. and close at 11 p.m. on most days. They open an hour earlier, at noon, on Wednesday’s opening day and on weekends. On Aug. 8, the grounds will open at 11 a.m. Exhibit buildings generally close at 10 p.m.
Where is the Ventura County Fair?
The fairgrounds site is at 10 W. Harbor Blvd., Ventura. In a change this year, all fairgoers will have to enter the grounds through the main gates that face the parking lot bordered by Figueroa Street. The Garden Street entry that crosses train tracks will be closed for safety reasons.
What do tickets for the fair cost?
$15, people age 13 to 64
$10, age 6 to 12
$10, age 65 to 99
Free for anyone 5 or younger or 100 and older
Prices are the same as last year. Pre-sale tickets are available online through Tuesday.
When can I get in for less?
The fairgrounds has shuffled one of its most popular discounts days. People looking to enter the fair on opening day for $1 will be asked to pay standard prices. Dollar Day is moved to Thursday, Aug. 10. Other discount days include:
Thursday: Feed the Need Day; People who bring five cans of food for FOODShare and pay for admission will get a second ticket for that day free.
Friday: Youth Day; all fair visitors 12 and younger are admitted free all day.
Aug. 7: VCCU Member Day: Members of Ventura County Credit Union receive a $4 discount on tickets bought before 6 p.m.
Aug. 8: Seniors and Persons with Disabilities Day; people age 65 are admitted free as are disabled people and a companion.
Aug. 9: Military Appreciation Day: All military personnel with a current military ID are admitted free.
What about carnival wristbands?
Carnival wristbands can be bought for $40 on four days — Aug. 3, Aug. 7, Aug. 8 and Aug. 9 — bringing unlimited rides until 7 p.m. on the day of purchase. Admission is not included. The bands can not be bought online.
Where can I park at the fairgrounds?
Parking at the fairgrounds cost $20, same as last year. The lot fills up quickly. People can also park and use free shuttle service from different sites in Ventura and Oxnard:
DeAnza Middle School, 2060 Cameron St., Ventura
Ventura County Government Center, 800 S. Victoria Ave., Ventura
Pacific View Mall, 3301 E. Main St., Ventura
Ventura Community Park, Telephone Road and Ramelli Avenue
Ventura High School, 2 North Catalina St.
San Buenaventura State Beach, 901 San Pedro St. ($10 parking fee charged.)
College Park, 3250 S. Rose Ave., Oxnard
Oxnard Police Activities League, 350 S. K St., Oxnard
Who's performing?
Grandstand concerts are free with the price of admission. Performers include:
Wednesday: 7:30 p.m.: Midland
Thursday: 7:30 p.m.: Patti LaBelle
Friday: 7:30 p.m.: Collective Soul
Saturday: 7:30 p.m.: Ashanti
Sunday: 3 p.m.: Calibre 50 & Banda Carnaval
Monday, Aug. 7: 7:30 p.m.: Trace Adkins
Tuesday, Aug. 8: 7:30 p.m.: 38 Special
Wednesday, Aug. 9 – 7:30 p.m.: Tesla
No more free rodeo
Free in the past, rodeo spectators will be charged $5. Tickets must be purchased online. Rodeos will be held in the grandstand on:
Friday, Aug. 11: 7 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 12: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
Sunday, Aug. 13: 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
What else is happening?
Trapeze artists will perform daily at a stage near the main food court in a new attraction. The wine and craft beer garden, outside the floriculture building, has expanded featuring more local breweries and wineries. It will also include a garden seating area with shade and live acoustic music.
A petting zoo will be expanded with fair officials characterizing it as the largest ever. Camels will also be on display.
What about old favorites?
The tractor pulls and other favorites at Uncle Leo’s Barn will be back as will the Alaskan racing pigs, the junior livestock auction and a Bounty of the County event featuring bites to eat and beer. The full daily schedule of events can be found online.
The fireworks, once a nightly staple at the fairgrounds, will remain absent and the blessing of marriage event that once anchored Seniors Day was eliminated last year and is still off the schedule. Ranch riding and team sorting have been canceled because of an equine virus outbreak that will also bring special protocols for the rodeo and livestock events.
What’s on the menu?
Not much. Just bacon-wrapped hot dogs, spinach and goat cheese crepes, deep-fried Oreos, vegan Mexican food, funnel cake made with Fruity Pebbles, Mexican street corn, tacos, carne asada fries, stuffed mushrooms, Mackinac fudge and fresh donuts.
Look, Ma, no antacids: Eating the Ventura County Fair
Oh and there’s also chicken wings, Greek salad, dipped cheesecake, curly fries, giant pickles, gelato, pork-pulled sandwiches, smoothies, tri-tip, cake pops and wasabi peanuts.
What else is different?
Fairgoers may notice other changes. The Seabreeze Stage has been moved and the courtyard that once was it home has been reshaped. A restroom on Main Street near the floriculture building has been renovated and much of the fairgrounds have been repainted.
Structural repair and renovation work on grandstands built in the 1960s has also begun though dilapidated seats won't be replaced until after the fair.
What if I have questions?
For more information, go to www.venturacountyfair.org.
Tom Kisken covers health care and other news for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tom.kisken@vcstar.com or 805-437-0255.
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This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Ventura County Fair 2023: Tickets, food, concerts, rodeo
