Carnival & Fair News

Running Wednesdays through Sundays from June 18 to July 12, this year's Alameda County Fair drew strong crowds with a lineup of new attractions, carnival rides, and a moving 9/11 memorial.

According to fair spokesperson Liz Rosinski, the fair featured Americana-themed décor, a major Fourth of July fireworks display, and drone shows commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States. The fair's Rising Together memorial included a steel beam recovered from the World Trade Center, prominently displayed near the grandstand. With 2026 marking the 25th anniversary of the September 11 terrorist attacks, the exhibit carried special significance.

General admission was $19.80 for adults and $16.50 for children and seniors, with several value promotions offered throughout the run. Carnival rides were $1 each until 5 p.m. every Wednesday. Guests also received free admission with a pet food donation on June 24 and with a canned food donation for local food banks on July 1. On July 8, admission was reduced to $6 until 5 p.m., while Thursdays featured $11 admission and $3 fair food bites until 5 p.m.

Unlimited ride wristbands, which included both the midway and the Sky Ride, were priced at $40 on Wednesdays and Thursdays and $45 Fridays through Sundays. Butler Amusements provided the midway.

The fairgrounds featured a broad mix of food, entertainment, rides, and live performances. Concert admission was included with fair admission, while reserved seating ranged from $17.50 to $71.50, depending on the artist.

This year's concert lineup included Boyz II Men, En Vogue, Gene Simmons, The Beach Boys, Flo Rida, Elle King, Collective Soul, Hoobastank, Lonestar, and tribute acts including Twist on Taylor and A Tribute to Demon Hunters. Performances by The Beach Boys and Boyz II Men sold out.



Additional grandstand entertainment included monster trucks, Off Axis Acrobatics, a demolition derby, truck and tractor pulls, and Arenacross racing.

Food remained a major draw, with offerings ranging from the customizable Dip Waffle Stick to Spam Wonton Tacos, Strawberry Dubai Chocolate Cups, corn dogs, funnel cakes, and a variety of deep-fried specialties.

Now in its third year, the fair's Foodie Contest invited guests to vote for their favorite new food items. The winning entry was The Main Squeeze, a strawberry lemonade cookie from The Dough Show. Second place went to the Flamin' Hot Cheetos Tornado Potato from Potato!, followed by the Deep Fried Hawaiian Rolls from Pineapple Grill.

According to Kristin LaPorte, the fair's director of marketing and business development, the 2026 fair offered “something new and memorable for every generation,” highlighted by the return of fireworks and post-concert drone shows.

Other additions included World Cup watch parties, a Rubik's Cube competition, America's 250th Anniversary Fireworks Spectacular, and the 9/11 memorial.





The fair also buried a time capsule that will remain sealed until 2076, when it will be opened during the nation's 300th anniversary celebration. Contents included a Butler Amusements ride pass, a commemorative 250 hat, a 4-H prize belt buckle, a World Cup bracelet, an iPhone, letters from FFA, 4-H members, volunteers, and fair staff, along with photographs and other memorabilia. Fair CEO Angel Moore said the capsule would allow future generations to better understand the people and traditions that shaped the fair.

Other popular attractions included the Crafted Cocktails & Beer Bar, Movies on the Lawn, the Fair Factory, the Artisan Market, the petting zoo, pig races, and America's Strongest Teen competition. Closing day featured the popular Corgi Races, which also promoted the fairgrounds' upcoming Corgi Con event in September.

Moore also highlighted the agricultural and educational exhibits, including the debut of the new Safeway Barn, a hands-on learning facility featuring piglets, sows, chicks, beef and dairy cattle, sheep, and goats. Calves featured in previous years also returned as mature animals.

The Junior Livestock Auction concluded the fair on July 12, surpassing its $1 million sales goal. The Supreme Champion Lamb sold for $250 per pound, bringing a total of $21,000.

On the midway, Butler Amusements provided a full midway including many of its iconic rides and attractions such as the King XXL, Wave Swinger, a Flume, and Giant Wheel, among many others.



Founded in 1912, the Alameda County Fair remains one of Northern California's premier annual fairs. In 2025, the fair reported attendance of 410,159, ranking No. 41 on the CarnivalWarehouse.com Top 50 Attended Fairs list. Official attendance figures for the 2026 fair had not been released at press time. Fair officials did note strong attendance throughout the run, along with increased community participation and higher concert attendance compared with the previous year.