Tulare County California Fair Schedule

The Tulare County California Fair Schedule centers on the Tulare County Fair, a long-established agricultural fair held at the Tulare County Fairgrounds in the City of Tulare. The fair provides a public showcase for the agricultural character of Tulare County, one of the most important farming and dairy-producing areas in California’s Central Valley.

The 2026 Tulare County Fair was scheduled for September 16 through September 20, 2026, at the Tulare County Fairgrounds, 620 South K Street, Tulare, California. The five-day schedule combined livestock competitions, youth agriculture, carnival attractions, live entertainment, competitive exhibits, food vendors, a parade, and motorsports.

The 2027 Tulare County Fair is scheduled for September 15 through September 19, 2027. The published 2027 schedule establishes five days of fair activity, with livestock gates opening to the public at 8 a.m. each day and general fair hours beginning later according to the daily schedule.

Fair Overview and Fast Facts

The Tulare County Fair is held at 620 South K Street in Tulare, placing the event in the heart of one of the Central Valley communities most closely associated with dairy farming, agriculture, food production, and agricultural services.

The fairgrounds are more than a temporary fair venue. The property contains eight livestock barns, an arena, exhibit facilities, and the Thunderbowl Raceway, which hosts automobile racing throughout the year. This combination gives the fairgrounds a strong agricultural and motorsports identity even outside the annual fair.

The annual fair itself is built around Tulare County’s agricultural economy. Livestock shows include 4-H and FFA participation, while competitive exhibits and youth departments give local residents additional opportunities to display agricultural and creative projects.

The 2026 program also included the Tulare County Fair Parade, carnival rides operated by Helm & Sons Amusements, a demolition derby, livestock auctions, live music, specialty performers, vendors, and family activities.

Tulare County Fair Schedule 2026

The 2026 Tulare County Fair ran from Wednesday, September 16, through Sunday, September 20, 2026. The California Department of Food and Agriculture listed those dates for the Tulare County Fair in Tulare.

The daily public schedule began at noon on Wednesday, 4 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Wednesday closed at 10 p.m., Thursday at 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday at midnight, and Sunday at 10 p.m. Livestock admission gates opened to the public at 8 a.m. throughout the fair.

Wednesday included the downtown Tulare County Fair Parade, the opening ceremony, livestock competitions, and the beginning of the carnival and entertainment program. The livestock schedule included market goats, market poultry, dairy cattle, market lambs, and other agricultural competitions.

Friday featured additional livestock competitions, small-animal activities, the Supreme Champion Drive, live music, and entertainment on the fair’s stages. Performers listed for the 2026 program included Dillon Carmichael and Thompson Square.

Saturday included the Dairy Replacement Heifer and Beef Sale and a major evening entertainment program. The 2026 schedule also identified a Demo Derby at 6 p.m. Saturday, with an additional ticket required.

Sunday included the Junior Livestock Auction and the final day of carnival, entertainment, livestock, and exhibit activities.

Tulare County Fair Schedule 2027

The 2027 Tulare County Fair is scheduled for September 15–19, 2027. The published schedule establishes Wednesday through Sunday as the five fair days.

Wednesday is scheduled for noon to 10 p.m., with no entry after 9 p.m. Thursday is scheduled for 4–10 p.m., Friday for 4 p.m. to midnight, Saturday for 2 p.m. to midnight, and Sunday for 2–10 p.m. No entry is scheduled after 9 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, or after 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

The 2027 schedule also identifies Wednesday and Thursday service-member admission benefits and Thursday as Kids Day, when children 12 and under are admitted free. Livestock admission gates are scheduled to open to the public at 8 a.m. each day.

The detailed 2027 entertainment lineup, livestock competition schedule, admission prices, and individual attraction times should be confirmed as the fair releases its complete program. It would be inaccurate to assume that every 2026 performer or event will return unchanged in 2027.

History and Origins

The Tulare County Fair has roots reaching back to 1915, giving the event more than a century of connection with the county’s agricultural community. The fairgrounds describe the annual event as a showcase for Tulare County agriculture and the bounty produced throughout the region.

That agricultural foundation is especially significant in Tulare County. The county’s Central Valley location, fertile agricultural lands, extensive irrigation infrastructure, dairy industry, orchards, vineyards, field crops, and agricultural processing businesses have shaped both its economy and its cultural identity.

The fair provides a place where that agricultural economy becomes visible to the general public. Livestock shows, youth projects, agricultural exhibits, competitive departments, and agricultural sales allow visitors to see the work performed by local families and young exhibitors.

Over its long history, the fair has also developed into a broader entertainment event. Carnival rides, concerts, motorsports, specialty acts, food, contests, and community activities now operate alongside the agricultural departments.

Comparing the Trinity County California Fair Schedule with the Tulare County California Fair Schedule highlights two very different agricultural traditions within California. Trinity County’s fair in Hayfork reflects the mountain region’s ranching, livestock, timber heritage, youth programs, timber sports, community contests, and rural entertainment, while Tulare County’s fair in Tulare showcases the Central Valley’s major agricultural and dairy economy through extensive livestock programs, 4-H and FFA activities, competitive exhibits, carnival attractions, live music, and motorsport events. Reviewing both schedules helps families, exhibitors, and fair enthusiasts plan visits around livestock competitions, youth agriculture, entertainment, arena events, and community celebrations while experiencing the distinctive character of Northern and Central California.

Agricultural Competitions and Livestock Shows

Livestock is one of the most important elements of the Tulare County Fair. The 2026 program included market goats, market poultry, dairy cattle, market lambs, market steers, dairy goats, beef heifers, rabbits, poultry, pygmy goats, and other animal departments.

The fair’s livestock program gives 4-H and FFA members an opportunity to present projects developed over months of animal care, feeding, training, recordkeeping, and preparation.

The 2026 livestock schedule separated competitions across several showrings and buildings. Market animals, breeding animals, dairy cattle, goats, poultry, rabbits, and other small animals each received dedicated portions of the program.

The Junior Livestock Auction is another important part of Fair Week. The 2026 auction was scheduled for Sunday morning, providing a final stage for youth exhibitors after the competitive livestock program.

The fair also scheduled a Dairy Replacement Heifer and Beef Sale on Saturday, reflecting the importance of dairy and beef production to the agricultural economy surrounding Tulare.

Fair Schedule Structure

The Tulare County Fair uses a five-day Wednesday-through-Sunday format, making it longer than many smaller county fairs.

Wednesday begins the public fair program at noon and includes substantial livestock activity beginning in the morning. The opening day also includes the downtown parade and opening ceremony, making it an important community day.

Thursday moves to an afternoon and evening schedule and is designated as Kids Day for the 2027 fair. This schedule allows families to attend after school and work while still providing access to livestock, exhibits, carnival rides, and entertainment.

Friday and Saturday extend into midnight, creating the fair’s strongest evening periods. These nights accommodate concerts, specialty entertainment, carnival activity, food, and arena programming.

Sunday begins in the afternoon for the general public while livestock activities begin earlier. The Junior Livestock Auction is scheduled for Sunday morning in the 2026 program, giving the final day an important agricultural component.

Entertainment, Rides, and Midway

Carnival rides are a major component of the Tulare County Fair. Helm & Sons Amusements operates the midway, providing rides and carnival attractions throughout the five-day event.

The 2026 fair also included specialty entertainment throughout the grounds. Circus Extreme was scheduled for multiple performances, while other acts included Balloonacy, BC Characters, Fire Within, Zany Zoe Magic, and Pacific Animal Productions.

Live music was another major part of the schedule. Friday’s 2026 program included performances by Dillon Carmichael and Thompson Square on the Bud Light Main Stage, along with other community and stage performers.

The fair’s entertainment program therefore combines large-stage music with family-oriented specialty acts and carnival attractions, giving visitors several different ways to experience Fair Week.

Open Class and Amateur Competitions

Competitive exhibits give Tulare County residents opportunities to participate beyond the livestock departments. Junior exhibits and other competitive departments provide a public setting for residents to display projects developed through agriculture, crafts, creative activities, and other areas.

The Junior Exhibit Building is part of the fair’s public program, opening during the afternoon on several fair days.

Youth participation is especially important because the fair provides a connection between agricultural education and public recognition. Young exhibitors can demonstrate skills through projects even when they are not participating in a market-animal program.

The fair’s online entry system requires exhibitors to review the current handbook before entering. Livestock exhibitors are also required to provide a current-year YQCA certificate number for the applicable fair year.

Exhibitors planning for 2027 should wait for the current year’s handbook and deadlines instead of relying on 2026 entry requirements.

Demolition Derby, Auto Racing, and Grandstand Events

Motorsports are an established part of the Tulare County Fairgrounds identity. The property contains the Thunderbowl Raceway, which hosts auto racing events throughout the year.

The annual fair also incorporates motorsports into its entertainment program. The 2026 fair scheduled a Demo Derby for Saturday at 6 p.m., with a separate ticket required for the event.

This combination of fair programming and year-round racing makes the Tulare County Fairgrounds different from a facility used only for agricultural exhibitions.

The agricultural and motorsports sides of the property operate alongside one another. Livestock barns and agricultural showrings serve youth and competitive exhibitors, while the arena and raceway provide space for automotive and grandstand entertainment.

The exact 2027 demolition derby and motorsport schedule should be confirmed when the fair publishes its complete entertainment program.

4-H and FFA Youth Programs

4-H and FFA participation is deeply integrated into the Tulare County Fair’s livestock program. The 2026 schedule repeatedly alternated or combined FFA and 4-H classes in livestock departments, including goats, poultry, dairy cattle, lambs, and beef.

This structure allows young agricultural exhibitors to compete within organized youth programs while presenting projects to judges, families, buyers, and the broader community.

The YQCA requirement for livestock exhibitors adds an educational component focused on animal care, food safety, and responsible livestock production. The current online entry instructions specifically require livestock exhibitors to enter a valid current-year YQCA certificate number.

The Junior Livestock Auction provides the culminating public component for many of these projects. Youth exhibitors can present animals after the show portion of the fair and interact with buyers and community supporters.

Fairgrounds Facilities and Layout

The Tulare County Fairgrounds are located at 620 South K Street, Tulare, California 93274. The property includes eight livestock barns, an arena, exhibit buildings, and the Thunderbowl Raceway.

The livestock barns provide dedicated space for the numerous animal departments represented during Fair Week. Separate showrings accommodate different species and competition schedules.

Exhibit buildings provide indoor space for junior and other competitive displays, while the fairgrounds’ broader grounds accommodate carnival rides, food vendors, commercial vendors, stages, and public gathering areas.

The arena and raceway give the property a strong motorsports component. The fairgrounds also host other livestock and entertainment events during the year, including the Great Western Livestock Show scheduled for January 2027.

Getting There: Directions and Logistics

The Tulare County Fairgrounds are located at 620 South K Street in Tulare.

Tulare sits in the southern San Joaquin Valley and is centrally positioned within a county where agriculture and dairy production have major economic importance. Visitors traveling from Visalia, Hanford, Porterville, Fresno, Bakersfield, and other Central Valley communities can reach the fair through the regional highway network.

Visitors attending livestock competitions should pay particular attention to the morning schedule. Although general fair admission begins later, the livestock admission gate opens to the public at 8 a.m. during the fair.

Visitors attending the demolition derby, concerts, or other major evening attractions should also allow additional time for parking and entry because the fairgrounds can become busier during the most popular nighttime programs.

Volunteer and Vendor Opportunities

The Tulare County Fair provides opportunities for vendors, exhibitors, volunteers, agricultural organizations, youth programs, sponsors, and community participants.

Vendor participation is actively managed by fair administration. The fair states that booth assignments depend on requested space, product type, availability, and the overall mix of vendors, with management retaining the ability to limit similar products.

For 2027, the fair has indicated that the food concession contract and space information is available for the upcoming fair, while indoor and outdoor commercial vendor contracts are scheduled to be posted in June 2027.

Agricultural exhibitors have separate entry procedures, while livestock participants must follow the applicable animal and youth-program requirements.

Economic and Community Impact

The Tulare County Fair has an especially strong connection to the local agricultural economy. Tulare County is nationally recognized for the scale and importance of its agricultural and dairy production, making an agricultural fair particularly relevant to the county’s economic identity.

The fair gives agricultural families and youth exhibitors a public venue to demonstrate livestock, farming knowledge, competitive skills, and project work.

The event also supports a broader network of vendors, concession operators, entertainers, carnival workers, sponsors, exhibitors, and local businesses. Thousands of visitors attending Fair Week create concentrated seasonal activity in Tulare.

The fairgrounds’ year-round use adds another economic dimension. Livestock shows, racing events, community programs, and other activities use the facilities outside the annual fair, allowing the property to remain active throughout the year.

The fair therefore serves both as an annual celebration of Tulare County agriculture and as part of the region’s continuing event economy.

Comparing Tulare County Fair to Nearby Fairs

The Tulare County Fair has a particularly strong agricultural and dairy identity compared with many California county fairs. Its livestock program is extensive, and the fairgrounds’ multiple barns reinforce the importance of animal agriculture.

The Fresno County Fair provides a useful Central Valley comparison, with both fairs serving agricultural communities while combining livestock and youth programs with carnival entertainment, exhibits, food, and live performances.

The Kings County Fair in Hanford offers another nearby comparison. Both fairs serve highly productive agricultural areas, but Tulare County’s dairy presence and large livestock infrastructure give its fairgrounds a particularly strong livestock orientation.

The Kern County Fair farther south also shares the Central Valley’s agricultural foundation while operating on a larger metropolitan scale.

Tulare County’s fair stands out through the combination of large-scale agricultural participation, dairy and livestock programs, youth education, carnival entertainment, concerts, demolition derby programming, and the year-round Thunderbowl Raceway.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The 2026 Tulare County Fair ran September 16–20, 2026. The 2027 Tulare County Fair is scheduled for September 15–19, 2027.

For 2027, the published general hours are noon–10 p.m. Wednesday, 4–10 p.m. Thursday, 4 p.m.–midnight Friday, 2 p.m.–midnight Saturday, and 2–10 p.m. Sunday.

Where is it held?

The fair is held at the Tulare County Fairgrounds, 620 South K Street, Tulare, California 93274.

How much does it cost?

Admission varies according to the fair year, ticket type, and special promotions. For 2026, published admission information ranged from $7 to $17, while special admission opportunities were offered on designated days.

The 2027 admission prices should be confirmed when the fair releases its current ticket information.

Is there free parking?

Parking arrangements and any applicable charges can change by year. Visitors should confirm the current fair’s parking information before attending.

Can I bring my own food and drinks?

Visitors should follow the current fairground rules concerning outside food, beverages, coolers, and containers. The fair itself provides numerous food vendors and concessions.

How do I enter an item?

Exhibitors should begin with the current Tulare County Fair handbook and online entry instructions. The online system specifically instructs exhibitors to review the handbook before submitting entries. Livestock exhibitors must provide a valid current-year YQCA certificate number.

Is it appropriate for young children?

Yes. The fair includes children’s activities, carnival rides, specialty performers, livestock, exhibits, food, and family entertainment.

The 2027 schedule specifically designates Thursday as Kids Day, with children 12 and under admitted free.

Are pets allowed?

Visitors should check the current fairground animal policy before bringing a household pet. Livestock and exhibition animals operate under separate fair rules, while service animals are handled under applicable accessibility requirements.

Does it have a demolition derby?

Yes. The 2026 Tulare County Fair included a Demo Derby scheduled for Saturday at 6 p.m., with a separate ticket required.

The 2027 motorsports program should be confirmed when the complete fair entertainment schedule is released.

Who organizes it?

The event is the Tulare County Fair, operated at the Tulare County Fairgrounds in the City of Tulare. The fairgrounds also manage year-round livestock, entertainment, racing, and facility events.

Is camping available?

Visitors should confirm current camping availability and rules directly with the fairgrounds because camping arrangements can depend on the annual fair schedule and other events occupying the property.

What happens if the fair is cancelled due to weather?

Outdoor fair activities can be affected by extreme heat, wind, smoke, poor air quality, or other unsafe conditions. Individual events may be delayed, modified, or cancelled if conditions require changes.

Visitors should check current fair announcements when severe weather or another emergency threatens the schedule rather than assuming that all five days will operate exactly as originally published.