Creative corn dogs, live music, farm animals, roller-skating, car shows and more await visitors at the LA County Fair, opening Friday, May 2.
This year’s theme is “Art Unleashed,” which the fair describes as celebrating home arts and cuisine as well as visual and performing arts.
The 93-year-old grandstand, one of the fairground’s oldest landmarks, will be closed for upcoming renovations. Home Arts exhibits, usually in the hall under the grandstand, have been moved to Expo Hall 5. The fair’s ticketed concert series will be moved to a field near the grandstand.
Here’s more of what you need to know about this year’s fair.
Charlie Boghosian of Chicken Charlie’s shows off one of its creations at an LA County Fair preview, Wednesday, May 1, 2024. The fair is set to open its doors on May 3rd, 2024. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)Eats
Over-the-top, selfie-friendly foods are one of the fair’s attractions, and vendors such as Charlie Boghosian and Dominic Palmeri are always ready to supply something new.
This year Boghosian, the man behind San Diego-based Chicken Charlie’s, is preparing meatball mozzarella corn dogs, fire roasted chilies with queso blanco and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and a Pibb pickle drink
Palmieri is part of Ray Cammack Shows, which provides carnival entertainment, and oversees several food stands at the fair.
He will be tapping into the Mike’s Hot Honey craze at Biggy’s, which he said will be serving a Big Daddy Corn Dog made with pecan smoked sausage and drizzled with honey. Other creations include a Mike’s Hot Honey turkey leg, hot honey pickles and hot honey bacon wrapped pork belly on a stick.
“Midway Gourmet” Dominic Palmieri will be bringing chocolate strawberry cups to the LA County Fair. (Photo courtesy of Dominic Palmieri)He is also importing an English fad called chocolate strawberry cups.
MacPherson’s Ice Cream, which traces its history back to the first LA County Fair in 1922, will be back again, serving chocolate-dipped ice cream bars and Dole Whip. Schuyler MacPheron’s other concession, Ten Pound Buns, will introduce clam chowder in a sourdough bread bowl.
Concessions will be offering value menu items at a fixed price of $9.75. Some can be meals, such as fish and chips and a 16-ounce drink at Piggy’s Seafood or a small hot dog with fries and a drink at Bacon A Fair. Value snacks include a fruit cup and drink at Boguie Berries and a scoop of ice cream with two toppings at After’s Ice Cream.
Shows
War, the fan-favorite funk rock group, will kick off this year’s concert series on opening night. The series will close on Sunday, May 25 with Los Huracanes del Norte.
In between are 10 nights of rock, rap, soul, country and Latin music with such artists as Cheap Trick, Shaggy, The O’Jays, Tower of Power, Chris Janson and Los Ángeles Azules.
Tickets are $57-$203 and include same-day admission to the fair.
ALSO SEE: LA County Fair 2025: Concerts include Cheap Trick, Chris Janson and more
There will also be shows throughout the fairgrounds.
Plaza de las Americas will be the place to hear mariachi, banda, cumbia, norteña music. NextFest LA, an indie music festival, will be at stages throughout the fairgrounds.
Bob Baker Marionettes will perform at the Clock Tower.
Special events include a dance party during Pride at the LA County Fair day, May 10. And junior and senior high school bands will appear at the Performing Arts Showcase, May 16-17.
oats race out of the starting gate at the LA County Fair at the Fairplex in Pomona on Thursday, May 25, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Critters
The Farm & Garden will be where agriculture students show off animals they have raised. Thummer, the fair mascot, also hangs out there. Goats will be milked and chicks will hatch in the Big Red Barn. There will also be a petting zoo and pig, duck and goat races.
Visitors enjoy warm weather as they spin around on the Sky Flyer ride during the LA County Fair at Fairplex in Pomona on Thursday, May 11, 2023. (Photo by Will Lester, Inland Valley Daily Bulletin/SCNG)Attractions
Ray Cammack Shows will offers more than 40 rides and 20 games in the Carnival near the Yellow Gate, where most people will enter.
A poetry fest by LionLike MindState will be at the the Glade and the Carousel Stage.
Rollerstakers can show off their moves at Skate-R-Cade.
The Flower & Garden Pavilion and nearby Marketplace will be where you can view floral designs, taste wine and attend cheese classes.
A lowrider car show with pin striping demonstrations will be in Downtown Fairplex on the east side of the fairgrounds.
Crowds rush through the gates of the LA County Fair for opening day on Friday, May 3, 2024, in Pomona. (Photo by Anjali Sharif-Paul, The Sun/SCNG)When and where
The fair runs through Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 at the Fairplex in Pomona. Hours are 5-11 p.m. on opening day. After that, hours are 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Thursday through Sunday.
The fair takes place at the Fairplex in Pomona. The street address is 1101 W. McKinley Ave.
The fairgrounds occupy about 12 acres on the 487-acre property, which is bounded by four streets: McKinley, Fairplex Drive, Arrow Highway and Fruit Street/White Avenue. It has several entry gates. Most fairgoers will be using Gate 17, where Fairplex Drive and McKinley come together.
Other facilities at the Fairplex include a Sheraton hotel, the NHRA Motorsports Museum and the In-N-Out Burger Pomona Dragstrip.
Tickets, discounts and parking
The Fairplex is a cashless facility, so the most convenient way to buy admission and parking is online in advance.
Single day advance tickets for opening day are $9.50 for everybody. After that, adult tickets are $18.50 on Thursdays; $21.50-$27.50 Fridays through Sundays; and $27 on closing day.
Children age 6-12 and seniors 60 years and older get in for $15.50.
At the gate, adult tickets are $32. Children and seniors get in for $17.
Discounted admission is available from partners such as Farmer Boys, O’Reilly Auto Parts and Superior Grocers. Check the fair’s website for details.
An LA County Fair Value Pass costs $25 and is valid for the first two weeks of the fair, May 2-11.
Veterans can get in for $10.50 on Memorial Day. Also free tickets may get availalbe through the Veteran Tickets Foundation, vettix.org.
Fairplex annual passes, which are good for the fair and other events such as Oktoberfest, cost $79.
Advance parking purchased online is $22.50. At the gate it’s $26. RV parking is $43.50 online, $52 at the gate.
Information: lacountyfair.com
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