Alameda County Fair set to open in Pleasanton this weekend
PLEASANTON – Live music, fireworks, fried foods and more will be coming to Pleasanton as the Alameda County Fair returns for its 2023 season starting Friday.
The fair -- which runs Wednesdays through Sundays from Friday, June 16, through Sunday, July 9 -- will feature your standard deep-fried, county fair menu items, horse racing, drone shows and rides. Those attending the first weekend of the fair have a chance to enjoy the West Coast qualifiers for Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest on Saturday at 3 p.m. or take part in "Out at the Fair," a Pride-themed event set for Sunday.
Attendees also have a chance to win up to $150,000 in the Pleasanton Mile stakes race on July 9. It is the largest prize ever offered for the horse race, which has been a staple of the fair since 1912.
Fair food favorites like funnel cakes and deep-fried Oreos will return, along with new additions with international flair like Korean corn dogs, boba tea, and musubi rice snacks, according to a press release by fair organizers. For those seeking something not beer-battered or fried, healthy options like fresh fruits and salads will also be offered.
The fair is also hosting nightly concerts sponsored by Big O Tires including performances by well-known hip-hop and soul acts (Bay Area legend E-40 and singer Ashanti) and bands (local funk favorites Con Funk Shun, Bay Area rockers Night Ranger and '80s metal band Quiet Riot) as well as a number of cover bands and tribute acts. The shows are free with fair admission (limited general admission bleacher seats and space on the concert lawn are available first come, first serve) and there are also reserved club and floor seats that can be purchased in advance (though some shows already sold out).
Advanced tickets are available on the Alameda County Fair website until Thursday and run $15 for general admission and $13 for kids and seniors. Gate admission begins Friday with general admission set at $18. Tickets are $15 for kids and seniors, and there is free admission for children 5 and under. Parking at the fair is $15.