Community Corner

Ventura County Fair Opens Today

The fair will run through Aug. 11.

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Rebecca Whitnall, Patch StaffVerified Patch Staff Badge
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Way across the great east-west county divide, the squeal of racing piggies, call of carnival barkers, smell of fried foods of all flavors and the bright lights of the midway rides are back near Surfer's Point. The Ventura County Fair begins today!

Running through Aug. 11, the fair will open at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday (with the exception of Aug. 6, when it will open at 10 a.m.) and at 10 a.m. on the weekends. Exhibits and admissions close at 10 p.m. (commercial exhibits will remain open until 11 p.m. on weekends) and the fair closes between 11 p.m. and midnight.

Today, general admission is $1 until 3 p.m. Regular general admission is $12 for those 13 and older, $9 for children 6-12 and seniors 65 and older. Super seniors (100 years and older) and children 5 and younger are admitted for free.

There are also various special admission days and fair promotions as follow:

  • Feed the Need “Fair Cares” Food Drive, Aug. 1: Purchase an adult admission ticket and donate 5 cans of food for FOOD Share before 3 p.m. and receive a free return ticket good for admission Aug. 5-8.
  • Youth Day, Aug. 2—All fair visitors ages 12 and under will be admitted free all day.
  • Seniors / Persons with Disabilities Day, Aug. 6—Seniors age 65 and older and persons with disabilities admitted free all day.
  • $3 Before 3 Day, Aug. 7—Admission to the Fair is $3 before 3 p.m.
  • Military Appreciation Day, Aug. 8—All military personnel holding a current, valid military ID will be admitted free.
This year's grandstand arena entertainment, which is free with admission to the fair, is as follows:
  • July 31: Motorsports—motorcycles and quads, 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 1: Motorsports—VRA midgets, dwarf cars, hobby stocks and a demolition derby 6 p.m.
  • Aug. 2: Bill Currington, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 3: Styx, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 4: Ramon Ayala, 3 p.m.
  • Aug. 5: Hunter Hayes, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 6: Air Supply, 1 p.m. and Daryl Hall and John Oates, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 7: 3 Doors Down, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 8: Plain White T's, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 9: Kool and the Gang, 7:30 p.m.
  • Aug. 10 and 11: PRCA Rodeo, 2 and 7 p.m.
Parking at the fair can be difficult—and expensive at $10 per vehicle—but free parking and shuttle service is available from a variety of locations. Hop on the shuttle at the County Government Center, Ventura High School, Pacific View Mall, Schooner Drive at Harbor Boulevard, Ventura Unified School District, Oxnard Performing Arts Center and the Collection at Riverpark. 

There will also be free shuttles from the Ventura State Beach parking lot and the Marriott Ventura Beach; however, parking is $10 at the beach and $8 at the Marriott. Get more parking details, including notes on cars with handicaped placards, here.

Note that Metrolink service to the fair will not be available this year.

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