Placer County Fair opens next week with expanded hours

Back by popular demand, the 86th annual Placer County Fair is coming to @the Grounds in Roseville from June 20-23 and is expected to bring in more than 23,000 fairgoers. The beloved family-friendly event will feature carnival rides, 14 free concerts, various food offerings, including deep-fried goodies, exhibitions, livestock and auction, motorcycle races at the speedway and more. Seeking more opportunities for fun, the fair has expanded its hours of operation to 5-11 p.m. on June 20 and 21, and from noon-11 p.m. on June 22 and 23. "More fair equals more fun," said Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism and @the Grounds, which manages the fair. "The quality of the fair has improved every year, and the additional hours will allow more people to enjoy and experience the fair." The fair – the longest-running annual event in Placer County, which started during the Great Depression and before World War II – combines decades of traditions, such as corn dogs and the Ferris wheel, to still exhibit competitions, with the addition of new events and features every year. "The whole reason for a county fair is a gathering point to feature and learn things about your community," Summers said. "The fair truly showcases what our county has to offer." The fair's theme is "A Community Mosaic," with the four-day event highlighting what makes Placer County such a special place, from its creativity to diversity. Historically, the fair has always been scheduled the first weekend of summer to kick off a season of fun. "Placer County is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the fair, and I am excited to join our community members and attendees in Roseville this year," said Placer County Board of Supervisors Chair Suzanne Jones. "The fair is a wonderful time to be surrounded by family and friends, learn something new about our region and enjoy good food, rides and music. The fair provides a great opportunity for folks to learn about agriculture, sustainability, our region's livestock, as well as local arts and crafts." Fair festivities From the Placer County Scholarship Pageant on opening night to the Rib Cook-Off on Sunday afternoon, the fair has something for everyone. The carnival will feature about 25 kid-friendly and scream-worthy rides, from a Ferris wheel to the Zipper. The fair separates the adult-oriented and kid-friendly rides in two locations @the Grounds. The livestock exhibit, featuring animals such as goats, lambs and steer raised by FFA and 4-H students, is another beloved attraction. On Saturday morning, animals will be auctioned off. Last year, the livestock auction reached almost $400,000, about double the figure in 2019. "The livestock barns are always among the most popular and busiest areas of the fair," Summers said. "It really goes back to what a county fair is all about and has been for generations." Fairgoers will enjoy daily entertainment, from a flying dog show to a hypnotist, and about 15 free concerts over four nights – including The Outlaw Mariachi on Thursday, The Spazmatics on Friday, One of These Nights on Saturday and the Ariel Jean Band on Sunday. On Saturday evening, Supermoto USA will have at least 50 professional motorcycle racers from around the country compete in "action-packed" qualifying heats and main events at All American Speedway. The All American Supermoto races are free with fair admission. The fourth annual Placer County Rib Cook-off, which requires an additional ticket and is limited to 250 rib-tasters, is Sunday afternoon. Shopping and eating The fair will feature about 20 food booths – from beat-the-heat ice cream and fresh-squeezed lemonade to empanadas – and 125 commercial vendors. Many of the commercial vendors, offering custom arts and crafts like jewelry and hard-to-find toys, will be inside the air-conditioned Roebbelen Center. The 160,000-square-foot building will include the Family Fun Zone – with 16 organizations offering a range of demonstrations and games – live entertainment, and beer and wine tasting from local wineries. "We wanted to create a fair within a fair" inside the Roebbelen Center, where fairgoers can cool down, enjoy entertainment and shop, Summers said. Admission to the fair is $10 for adults, $6 for children 6 to 13 years old, and free for children 5 and under. Admission for military and seniors 65 years and older is $8 (save $2 per ticket by purchasing in advance online through June 19). Admission prices have remained the same for several years. Admission and carnival ticket information are available at tickets.atthegrounds.com/p/tickets. Parking is $10 per day. "We always try to be as cost-conscious as possible," Summers said. "The fair is an annual tradition for so many families, and we want everyone to celebrate and share what our community has to offer."