Sierra County California Fair Schedule

Introduction

Sierra County, California, has an unusually small and geographically distinctive fair tradition because the county participates in the Plumas-Sierra County Fair, a regional agricultural event serving residents of both Sierra and Plumas counties. For someone searching for the Sierra County California Fair Schedule, the important distinction is that the principal county-fair event associated with Sierra County is held at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy, rather than in Loyalton, the Sierra County seat.

Loyalton remains an important part of Sierra County’s agricultural and ranching identity. The Sierra Valley surrounding Loyalton contains some of the most open agricultural country in the county, with cattle, hay production, pasture, horses, and rural properties shaping the local economy and landscape. Other Sierra County communities, including Sierraville, Downieville, Sierra City, Calpine, Beckwourth, and Sierra Brooks, contribute different mountain, ranching, recreation, and community traditions to the county.

The 2026 Plumas-Sierra County Fair ran from Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, 2026, at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds in Quincy. The fair used the theme “The Best of America – 250 Years” and featured livestock, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, 4-H and FFA projects, horse shows, arts, crafts, carnival attractions, entertainment, food, and a junior livestock auction.

For 2027, a final official date for the Plumas-Sierra County Fair has not been confirmed in the information available for this article. The event traditionally occurs in July, but a specific 2027 date should not be presented as confirmed until the fair organization announces it.

Fair Overview and Fast Facts

The fairgrounds used by Sierra County residents are the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds at 204 Fairgrounds Road in Quincy, California 95971. Quincy is the county seat of Plumas County and serves as the host community for the joint Plumas-Sierra fair.

The fair is unusual among California county fairs because its agricultural program represents two neighboring mountain counties. Sierra County residents are eligible for many of the fair’s competitions, and the fair provides a shared venue where residents from the Sierra Valley and Plumas County communities can exhibit agriculture, livestock, artwork, horticulture, home arts, and youth projects.

The 2026 fair operated from noon until midnight Thursday through Saturday and from noon until 10 p.m. Sunday. Thursday was Seniors and Kids Day, when visitors age 62 and older and children age 12 and younger received free admission.

The regular 2026 admission structure was $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $4 for children. Family passes and weekly passes were also offered. These 2026 prices should not automatically be treated as the 2027 admission rates.

The fairgrounds also accommodate camping during the fair period. In 2026, campers were scheduled to arrive at the fairgrounds during the weekend preceding the fair, reflecting the importance of the fairgrounds as a multi-day destination for exhibitors and participating families.

Sierra County Fair Schedule 2026

The confirmed 2026 fair dates were Thursday, July 23 through Sunday, July 26, 2026.

Thursday opened the four-day fair at noon and combined general fair activities with Senior and Kids Day. The day included livestock judging, horse activities, the carnival, agricultural and horticultural displays, entertainment, food vendors, and family attractions.

Friday emphasized livestock and agricultural competition. Beef judging took place in the morning, while horse, youth agriculture, exhibits, entertainment, carnival attractions, and other fair activities continued throughout the day.

Saturday brought major youth and community activities together. Large-animal and small-animal Round Robin Showmanship competitions were scheduled, while the afternoon and evening included additional fair entertainment. The Hog Calling Contest and Ladies’ & Gentlemen’s Lead were among the distinctive activities scheduled for Saturday.

Sunday served as the closing day and included the PSJLA Junior Livestock Auction, scheduled for the morning. The fair remained open through the afternoon and evening before closing at 10 p.m.

Sierra County Fair Schedule 2027

The 2027 Sierra County fair season should be planned around the Plumas-Sierra County Fair, but an official 2027 fair date has not been confirmed in the available information.

The fair’s established July timing makes July the most appropriate period for residents of Loyalton, Sierra Valley, Downieville, Sierraville, Sierra City, and other Sierra County communities to watch for the 2027 announcement.

The detailed 2027 schedule will determine the exact livestock judging days, horse-show timetable, carnival hours, entertainment, Junior Livestock Auction, exhibit deadlines, admission prices, camping arrangements, and special activities.

The 2026 structure provides useful planning context, but it should not be treated as a guaranteed 2027 schedule. In particular, exhibitors should wait for the 2027 exhibit guide before assuming that a particular class, deadline, entry fee, or judging time will remain unchanged.

History and Origins

The Plumas-Sierra County Fair has a long-standing connection with the communities of both counties. The joint nature of the event reflects the geographic and economic relationship between the mountain communities of Plumas County and Sierra County.

For Sierra County residents, the fair provides a regional agricultural exhibition rather than a fair confined to the county’s relatively small population. That arrangement is particularly significant because Sierra County is one of California’s smallest counties by population and contains extensive mountainous terrain and dispersed rural communities.

The fair’s agricultural purpose is closely connected with the livestock and farming traditions of the northern Sierra Nevada. Sierra Valley’s broad agricultural basin provides pasture and hay land that contrasts sharply with the mountainous terrain around Downieville and Sierra City.

Over time, the fair has expanded beyond livestock and crops. Modern programming includes art, floriculture, horticulture, home arts, youth projects, horse shows, carnival rides, entertainment, food, community events, and the Junior Livestock Auction.

The result is a fair that functions as both an agricultural exhibition and a regional gathering for residents whose communities are separated by mountain roads and long distances.

Visitors planning a Northern California fair itinerary can compare the Shasta County California Fair Schedule with the Sierra County California Fair Schedule to experience two distinct sides of the region’s rural culture. Shasta County’s fair reflects the ranching, livestock, agricultural, and community traditions around Anderson and the greater Redding area, while Sierra County’s fair experience is connected with the Plumas-Sierra County Fair in Quincy and the mountain communities of the Sierra Valley. Looking at both schedules can help families, exhibitors, and fair enthusiasts plan around livestock competitions, youth programs, carnival attractions, entertainment, agricultural exhibits, and other seasonal activities.

Agricultural Competitions and Livestock Shows

Agriculture at the Plumas-Sierra County Fair is particularly relevant to Sierra County because livestock and ranching remain important parts of the Sierra Valley economy. Cattle, sheep, goats, horses, poultry, rabbits, and other animal projects are represented through the fair’s livestock and youth programs.

The 2026 program included dedicated judging for sheep, goats, beef cattle, swine, poultry, rabbits, and cavies. The program also included horse activities and youth showmanship competitions.

The cattle program is especially appropriate for Sierra County’s ranching environment. The open agricultural country around Loyalton and Sierra Valley supports cattle operations and hay production that are fundamentally different from the intensive specialty-crop agriculture found in California’s Central Valley and coastal valleys.

Horticulture and floriculture provide another way for residents to participate. The 2026 fair included agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture departments, allowing residents to display plants, flowers, produce, and other agricultural work.

Judging provides participants with formal recognition for the quality and preparation of their entries. For livestock exhibitors, preparation includes animal care, fitting, handling, presentation, and showmanship. For horticultural and agricultural entries, appearance, condition, quality, and compliance with class requirements influence the judging process.

Fair Schedule Structure

The four-day Plumas-Sierra County Fair follows a compact schedule that allows agricultural competitions and public entertainment to operate simultaneously.

Thursday is the opening day and is particularly accessible to families because of Kids Day. It also includes a large portion of the livestock program, with sheep, goats, and horse activities taking place during the first day of the fair.

Friday is strongly oriented toward livestock and agricultural competition. Beef judging takes place in the morning, followed by additional youth agricultural activities and horse programming.

Saturday is centered on showmanship and community entertainment. The Round Robin competitions give successful young exhibitors an opportunity to demonstrate their ability to handle different types of livestock rather than concentrating solely on one animal species.

Sunday is the closing day and is particularly important for youth agriculture because of the Junior Livestock Auction. Visitors who want to see the culmination of livestock projects should consider attending Sunday morning rather than arriving only for afternoon carnival activities.

Entertainment, Rides, and Midway

The fair combines its agricultural programming with a carnival midway that gives the four-day event a recreational component. The carnival is particularly important for younger visitors who may not be involved in livestock or exhibit competitions.

The fairgrounds also provide space for live entertainment and community activities. The 2026 program included music and performance activities alongside livestock, agricultural displays, food, and carnival attractions.

One distinctive feature of the fair is that entertainment does not overwhelm the agricultural identity of the event. The grounds remain organized around the livestock barns, horse facilities, exhibition areas, and agricultural activities that define the fair’s relationship with the two counties.

Food vendors add another part of the fair experience. Visitors can expect traditional fair concessions alongside food provided by community organizations and vendors serving the Quincy and surrounding mountain communities.

Open Class and Amateur Competitions

Sierra County residents can participate in the fair even if they do not raise livestock. The Plumas-Sierra program includes extensive opportunities in art, home arts, agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, photography, crafts, and other competitive categories.

The Art Barn is particularly significant because it accepts entries from residents of both Plumas and Sierra counties. It provides a regional exhibition space for artists of different ages and abilities and gives Sierra County residents an opportunity to display work alongside artists from neighboring mountain communities.

Agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture entries have their own deadlines and receiving periods. In 2026, most general entries closed earlier in July, while agriculture, horticulture, and floriculture entries had a later deadline.

Participants need to consult the annual exhibit guide because each department can have different entry requirements. A successful entry is not simply brought to the fair at any convenient time; it must be entered into the correct class and delivered during the designated receiving period.

Demolition Derby, Tractor Pulls, and Motorsport Events

A demolition derby should not be described as a confirmed feature of the 2026 Plumas-Sierra County Fair. The fair’s published program emphasizes livestock, horses, agricultural exhibits, carnival attractions, entertainment, and distinctive community competitions rather than presenting a demolition derby as a central annual event.

The fair’s rural setting nevertheless gives mechanical and agricultural equipment a natural place in the event’s broader culture. Residents of Sierra Valley and surrounding communities have longstanding connections with ranch equipment, trucks, tractors, horses, and outdoor work.

Specific motorsport or mechanical attractions can change from one year to another. Visitors seeking a demolition derby, tractor pull, truck event, or other motorsport program should therefore check the individual year’s entertainment schedule rather than assuming that an event appeared because it was part of another California county fair.

4-H and FFA Youth Programs

4-H and FFA are central to the youth-agriculture component of the Plumas-Sierra County Fair. The regional 4-H program serves both Plumas and Sierra counties, giving Sierra County youth access to agricultural projects and fair participation even though the county itself does not operate a separate large permanent fairground.

The 2026 program included 4-H and FFA livestock judging for sheep, goats, beef, swine, poultry, rabbits, cavies, and horses. Youth exhibitors also participated in showmanship and Round Robin competitions.

Preparation begins long before fair week. Young exhibitors must select and care for their projects, complete required paperwork, meet entry deadlines, prepare animals, and learn the handling and presentation skills expected in their classes.

The Junior Livestock Auction provides the financial culmination of many of these projects. Community buyers can purchase animals and support young exhibitors, while the auction demonstrates the continuing relationship between local agricultural businesses and youth development.

The 2026 auction was scheduled for Sunday morning, making the final day especially important for families involved in junior livestock projects.

Fairgrounds Facilities and Layout

The Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds are located at 204 Fairgrounds Road in Quincy. The grounds contain facilities for livestock, horses, agricultural exhibits, arts, entertainment, carnival operations, food, and community events.

The livestock areas are central to the fair’s physical layout. Show rings and barns allow different animal departments to operate simultaneously, while the horse arena provides a dedicated setting for equestrian competitions.

The Art Barn provides dedicated space for visual arts and creative exhibitions. Other exhibit areas accommodate agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, home arts, and related competitive departments.

The fairgrounds also provide camping facilities during the fair period. In 2026, camper arrivals were scheduled for July 18 and July 19, several days before opening day. This arrangement is particularly useful for exhibitors who need to remain near their animals throughout fair week.

Dogs are generally not permitted on the fairgrounds except for animals being shown and qualifying service animals. Visitors should therefore leave ordinary pets at home unless they fall within an explicitly permitted category.

Getting There: Directions and Logistics

For Sierra County residents, reaching the fair requires travel into Plumas County because the Plumas-Sierra County Fair is held in Quincy rather than Loyalton.

Visitors traveling from Loyalton and Sierra Valley generally approach Quincy through the regional mountain-road network connecting the two counties. The trip can take considerably longer than the straight-line distance suggests because of mountain terrain, winding roads, elevation changes, and seasonal driving conditions.

Visitors from Downieville and Sierra City should allow additional travel time because those communities are located in the mountainous western and northern portions of Sierra County. Travel planning should account for road conditions and limited services on some mountain routes.

Once in Quincy, the fairgrounds are located on Fairgrounds Road. Fair-week traffic is generally concentrated around opening and closing periods, livestock judging, the carnival, and the weekend auction.

Volunteer and Vendor Opportunities

The fair relies heavily on community participation. The small population of Sierra County and the neighboring communities of Plumas County mean that volunteers are particularly important to the operation of the fair’s exhibits, youth programs, livestock activities, arts departments, and community events.

The Art Barn, for example, requires substantial volunteer work to receive, organize, display, and supervise artwork. Agricultural and livestock departments similarly depend on knowledgeable volunteers who understand local farming, ranching, animal care, and youth programs.

Food and commercial vendors must follow the fair’s application requirements. Prospective vendors should apply before fair week because space, health requirements, electrical needs, insurance, equipment, and other operational considerations require advance planning.

For 2027, vendors and volunteers should watch for the new application materials rather than relying on 2026 deadlines. The fair’s small scale does not eliminate the need for advance organization; it often makes early coordination more important.

Economic and Community Impact

The fair has particular importance for Sierra County because the county’s small and dispersed population makes large regional gatherings relatively unusual. The Plumas-Sierra County Fair provides a shared public event where Sierra Valley ranch families, mountain communities, Plumas County residents, youth organizations, agricultural businesses, artists, vendors, and visitors can meet.

For Sierra County’s agricultural community, the fair provides an opportunity to display livestock and agricultural products to people who may not regularly encounter working ranches.

The Junior Livestock Auction creates a direct economic connection between local agricultural producers and community buyers. Money paid for youth projects can help young exhibitors recognize the economic value of their work while reinforcing community support for agricultural education.

Fair visitors also contribute to the local economy through spending on food, fuel, lodging, shopping, recreation, and other services in Quincy and the surrounding Plumas-Sierra region.

The fair’s economic impact is therefore not measured only by ticket sales. Its broader value comes from bringing rural producers, consumers, youth, businesses, artists, and community organizations together in a single regional event.

Comparing Sierra County Fair to Nearby Fairs

Sierra County’s fair experience is different from counties that operate a stand-alone county fair. The Plumas-Sierra County Fair is jointly associated with Sierra and Plumas counties and takes place in Quincy.

The Nevada County Fair in Grass Valley provides a nearby comparison from the western Sierra foothills, but it serves a considerably larger population and operates on a larger fairground scale. The Nevada County Fair also has a more urbanized regional audience because Grass Valley and Nevada City draw visitors from a much larger surrounding area.

The Lassen County Fair in Susanville and the Siskiyou Golden Fair in Yreka provide additional Northern California comparisons. Like Sierra County, these regions have strong ranching, livestock, mountain, and rural traditions.

What distinguishes the Plumas-Sierra fair is its joint identity and compact community scale. Sierra County residents do not simply attend an event located in their county seat; they participate in a regional fair that brings together two neighboring mountain counties.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the dates and hours of the Sierra County Fair?

For 2026, the relevant Sierra County fair event was the Plumas-Sierra County Fair, held July 23–26 in Quincy. The fair opened at noon and remained open until midnight Thursday through Saturday, with Sunday hours running from noon to 10 p.m.

A specific 2027 date and complete daily schedule have not been confirmed here.

Where is the Sierra County Fair held?

The fair associated with Sierra County is held at the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds, 204 Fairgrounds Road, Quincy, California 95971.

Although Loyalton is the Sierra County seat, the joint fair is held in Quincy because it serves both Plumas and Sierra counties.

How much does it cost to attend the Sierra County Fair?

The 2026 Plumas-Sierra County Fair charged $6 for adults, $5 for seniors and students, and $4 for children. Thursday was Seniors and Kids Day, providing free admission to visitors age 62 and older and children age 12 and younger.

2027 admission prices should be confirmed when the new fair information is released.

Is there free parking at the Sierra County Fair?

Parking arrangements can depend on the year’s fairground operations. Visitors planning for 2027 should check the current fair information before traveling rather than assuming that a previous year’s parking arrangement will remain unchanged.

Can I bring my own food and drinks into the Sierra County Fair?

The fairgrounds have food vendors and community concessions, but visitors should not assume that all outside food, beverages, coolers, or containers are permitted. Rules can vary according to safety and event requirements.

Visitors with medical or dietary requirements should confirm the current visitor policy before attending.

How do I enter an item in competition at the Sierra County Fair?

Because the event is the Plumas-Sierra County Fair, eligible Sierra County residents can enter the departments designated for Plumas and Sierra County residents. Participants select the appropriate class in the annual exhibit guide, complete the required entry form, pay any applicable entry fee, and deliver the item during the designated receiving period.

Agriculture, horticulture, floriculture, art, home arts, livestock, horses, and youth programs can have different deadlines and procedures.

Is the Sierra County Fair appropriate for young children?

Yes. The fair provides children’s carnival attractions, youth livestock programs, horse activities, family entertainment, agricultural exhibits, and Kids Day programming.

In 2026, children age 12 and younger received free admission on Thursday, the opening day.

Are pets allowed at the Sierra County Fair?

Ordinary dogs are not generally permitted on the Plumas-Sierra County Fairgrounds. Exceptions include dogs being shown and qualifying service animals.

Visitors should not bring household pets to the fair unless the animal falls within a permitted category.

Does the Sierra County Fair have a demolition derby?

A demolition derby was not established as a confirmed 2026 feature of the Plumas-Sierra County Fair. The fair’s programming is more strongly centered on livestock, horse shows, agricultural exhibits, carnival attractions, arts, entertainment, and community competitions.

Any 2027 motorsport attraction should be confirmed from that year’s entertainment schedule.

Who organizes the Sierra County Fair?

The event is organized as the Plumas-Sierra County Fair, serving residents of both Plumas and Sierra counties. The fair operates through its fair organization and fairgrounds in Quincy, with participation from county residents, 4-H and FFA programs, exhibitors, volunteers, agricultural organizations, vendors, and community partners.

Is camping available at the Sierra County Fair fairgrounds?

Yes, camping is available in connection with the fair. In 2026, campers were scheduled to arrive on July 18 and July 19, several days before the fair officially opened.

Camping arrangements, availability, fees, hookups, and reservation procedures for 2027 should be confirmed when the new fair information becomes available.

What happens if the fair is cancelled due to weather?

The fair takes place in the northern Sierra Nevada, where summer weather is generally suitable for an outdoor event but can still be affected by smoke, wildfire conditions, extreme heat, storms, or other safety concerns.

If conditions create a safety issue, the fair organization can modify, postpone, or cancel affected activities. The appropriate response depends on the circumstances, so visitors should follow the fair’s current announcement rather than assuming that any particular weather condition automatically cancels the entire event.