Summer fun is here: Alameda County Fair begins four-weekend run in Pleasanton

The warm summer weather is back in Pleasanton, which means it’s time for the Alameda County Fair.

Debuting this Friday, the 2026 fair runs from Wednesdays through Sundays until July 12 for 18 days of fun in the sun (or under the stars) at the fairgrounds in the heart of Pleasanton – carnival, cuisine, concerts, agriculture, art, Americana, experiential and educational exhibitions and much, much more.

“The best part of the 2026 Alameda County Fair is bringing together so many unique experiences for the community,” said Kristin LaPorte, the fair’s director of marketing and business development.

“From an outstanding Big O Tires Concert lineup and the powerful 9/11 Exhibit to the addition of Demolition Derby and Arena Cross Racing, there’s something new and memorable for every generation,” LaPorte told the Pleasanton Weekly. “We’re also especially excited to bring back Fourth fireworks this year, creating another great opportunity for families and friends to celebrate together.”

Opening weekend features a mix of the familiar, the new and the reimagined. 

Rides and games will fill the carnival midway, indoor and outdoor exhibitions will engage with arts and crafts, commercial vendor booths and fair competition displays, meals, sweet treats and drinks will be spread across the grounds, and a variety of live performers will entertain throughout. 

With gates to open at noon on Juneteenth, there will be soccer watch parties for five World Cup games (including USA v. Australia at noon), The Gene Simmons Band will kick off the Big O Tires Concert Series in the Cuervo Amphitheater at 8 p.m. and a Fireworks and Drone Show will follow at 9:30 p.m. on the first day.

World Cup watch parties will happen all weekend long – and all fair long – at the Michelob Ultra Concert Lawn, Crafted Cocktails & Beer Bar and The Farmhouse. Saturday (June 20) will also see the first installment of Movies on the Lawn (“The Powerpuff Girls”).

Rounding out the opening concerts will be the Twist on Taylor tribute to Taylor Swift on Saturday and country band Lonestar on Sunday, Father’s Day. A drone show will follow each nightly concert.

“Opening Weekend also brings the excitement of the Demolition Derby on both Saturday and Sunday, giving guests a high-energy event they won’t want to miss,” LaPorte said. 

“One attraction that deserves more attention is our Foodie Contest, where guests can discover and vote for some of the most creative and unique Fair foods to help crown the top dish of 2026,” she added. “We also encourage guests to explore our new shopping destinations, including the Fair Factory and Artisan Market, where they can support a variety of small businesses with the convenience of a single checkout.”

With the fair closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, the rest of opening week wraps around to next Wednesday and Thursday (June 24-25). Throwback alternative rock will be the vibe on the main concert stage, with Hoobastank on Wednesday night and Collective Soul on Thursday. “Mufasa” will be the Movie on the Lawn on Thursday.

The fair offers $1 rides until 5 p.m. each Wednesday, and throwback admission price ($6) and the $3 Fair Food Bites special on Thursdays, both until 5 p.m.

Wednesdays also feature special admission programs: free entry with pet food donation on June 24 and human food donation on July 1, followed by a $6 entry fee on July 8 (all until 5 p.m.)

Monster trucks (June 26-28), Wine Fest and Rubix Cube Competition (June 27) and Fiesta at the Fair (June 28) highlight the second weekend. There will also be a special time capsule ceremony next Friday (June 26) at 1 p.m., in which items will be placed inside to be reopened in 2076.

Blues at the Fair, America’s 250th Anniversary and Fireworks Spectacular Show all arrive for Independence Day on the third Saturday of the fair – along with free admission for first responders until 5 p.m. Military personnel get free entry all day, every day, with valid ID.

Reserved seating remains available, though many limited, for all concerts except The Beach Boys on July 1 (down to a few bleacher seats left) and Boyz II Men on July 10 (down to standing-room-only spots). The fair just announced this week that actor and drummer John Stamos will accompany The Beach Boys as a special guest.

The other concerts are En Vogue (June 26), A Tribute to Demon Hunters (June 27), Banda Maguey (June 28), Tower of Power (July 2), The Maine (July 3), Ozomatli (July 5), Flo Rida (July 8), Elle King (July 9), Damage Inc. – A Tribute to Metallica (July 11) and Cheat Codes (July 12). 

Various singers, bands and other performers will also be playing smaller stages across the venue each afternoon and evening. 

The summer fair and the fairgrounds overall represent a connection to the agricultural roots of Pleasanton, the Tri-Valley and Alameda County as well.

“Beyond the entertainment, the Fair plays an important role in celebrating agriculture, providing educational opportunities and bringing communities together,” Angel Moore, chief operating officer of the fair, told the Weekly. 

“Over the past year, we’ve made significant investments in The Farm, including the opening of the new Safeway Barn, which has quickly become a centerpiece for hands‑on learning,” Moore pointed out. “This space showcases animals such as piglets and sows, chicks, a beef cow and calf, a dairy cow and bottle calves, as well as sheep and goats. Guests will enjoy seeing the bottle calves they visited as babies in 2025 return this year as adults.”

With animal displays, petting zoos, pig races and educational exhibitions highlighting those connections to nature and the ag industry throughout the fair, closing weekend in particular taps into the theme – including truck and tractor pulls from July 10-12 and the Junior Livestock Auction on the final day, July 12. 

The fairgrounds will be open from noon to 11 p.m. each day of the fair, with the carnival midway starting up at 1 p.m. For tickets, daily schedules and more information, go to annual.alamedacountyfair.com.

“The Alameda County Fair has been a cornerstone of our community for generations,” LaPorte said. “It’s where families and friends come together to celebrate summer, enjoy great entertainment, experience agriculture and create lifelong memories. From concerts and exhibits to festivals and amazing food, the Fair offers something for everyone.”

“That legacy inspires our team every year. We know we’re not just producing an event, we’re helping create traditions and memorable experiences that people will talk about long after the Fair ends,” she added.

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