No need to worry about that rumbling near downtown Pleasanton on Friday morning.
Those are the sounds and sights of cowboys and cowgirls herding steer to and from the fairgrounds via Main Street in the second annual cattle drive to usher in opening day of the 2018 Alameda County Fair.
The cattle drive, which drew thousands of onlookers downtown last summer, offers people a chance to hearken back to Pleasanton’s Old West roots while also connecting to its present by visiting downtown shops and restaurants and watching the parade of fair entertainment accompanying this year’s procession.
That bond — between Pleasanton’s past and present — is a main reason the annual county fair resonates so much with the community, according to Mayor Jerry Thorne.
“First and foremost, the fair is about our community heritage, and when we hear the fair is coming to town, I think it takes us all back to our own childhoods and the excitement we felt when the fair came to town,” Thorne said in an interview ahead of the 2018 fair. “It also signals that summer is really here and provides those opportunities that make for fabulous memories.”
“But apart from the emotional value we get from the fair, we also realize some local economic value when visitors come to our city and enjoy all we have to offer,” the mayor added. “And since the Alameda County Fair has received top honors from industry leaders, it appears that the secret’s out that our fair is one of the best.”
Recognized as the seventh largest fair in California and ranked among the top 50 fairs in North America, the Alameda County Fair takes over the fairgrounds at Valley and Bernal avenues every summer — operated by the nonprofit Alameda County Fair Association, without any tax funding from the government.
Pleasanton’s summer showcase, which runs on 18 days this year between today and July 8, offers a little something for everybody.
If the cattle drive is your cup of tea (or dark coffee, fireside in a metallic mug, as it were), all of opening weekend will have a Wild West theme, including rodeo events today and Saturday during which fair-goers can watch local cowgirls and cowboys show off their ranching skills with sorting, doctoring and roping.
The fair also pays respect to the Tri-Valley’s rural and agricultural heritage with regular animal displays, the junior livestock auction, pig races and more.
The fairgrounds is home to the nation’s oldest one-mile race track, which will host 15 days of live horse racing starting opening weekend and continuing June 21-24 and 28-30, July 1, 4 and 6-8. Post time is 1:45 p.m. each day, except Fridays when it’s 2:15 p.m.
Live entertainment is a hallmark of the fair.
Monster trucks, demolition derby, extreme rodeo, Keith Sayers FMX Show, RV demolition derby and K9 Kings Flying Dog Show are among the highlights set for this year in the Action Sports Arena.
And on the main stage, 2018 Big O Tires Free Concert Series will draw hundreds to the fairgrounds each night.
Kicking the series off tonight will be American classic rock band Blue
