The Alameda County Fair is closed today to give the hundreds working there, including the race horses, a much-needed day off.
It opens again at 11 a.m. Tuesday, and then every day except Mondays through July 5.
Thousands have moved through the fair gates since it opened to enjoy perfect fair weather and the fair's new theme, "Rock the Red, White and Blue."
This year, the fair is offering three new extreme sport attractions, a variety of concerts and the return of Oak Tree horse racing in addition to the classic fair rides, exhibitions and food.
Last Friday, Deep-Fried Wood Fired Pastrami Pizza took home first place in the Fair's second annual Snackdown competition.
Tony Cardinali of Cardinali's Family Concessions created the
pizza, which consisted of deep-fried pizza crust, mozzarella cheese, pastrami, red onions, sauerkraut and mustard sauce,.
Cardinali also won last year with Spaghetti Ice Cream. Cardinali's pizza can be found at his pizza stand near the C building on the fairgrounds.
Also at the fair, Monster trucks, demolition derby and extreme rodeo are among the brand new attractions featured each weekend of the fair in addition to the return of freestyle motocross.
Other fair favorites include the carnival area complete with roller coasters, a fun-house and a variety of games provided by Fairfield-based company Butler Amusements. The popular petting zoo and small animal exhibit is also back this summer.
The Beer Haven Craft Beer Festival is on tap this weekend starting Friday, featuring an array of beer samples from American craft brewers. On Sunday, Father's Day, the fair will offer special attractions and promotions just for dads.
Foodies have been gearing up for the return of Snackdown, where vendors serve brand new menu items in a competition against each other for the best creation and a championship belt.
The Fourth of July Fireworks Spectacular is set for 9:30 p.m. on Independence Day, July 4, and will occur with live music by the Oakland East Bay Symphony. Just before the firework, the Red, White, & Blues Festival from 1-9 p.m. will feature multiple musicians, including blues and zydeco accordionists Dwight "The Black Cat" Carrier and Andrew Carriere.
Performance at the fairgrounds' amphitheater include the Beach Boys, Brian McKnight, Tanya Tucker, Kansas, Tower of Power, Rodney Atkins, Con Funk Shun, Foghat, Tierra, Morris Day & The Time, The Original Wailers, Kutless, The Boys of Summer and Steelin' Dan, with pop/rock band Berlin set to close out the series on July 5.
For the second year in a row, the Alameda County Fair has teamed up with the Oak Tree Racing Association and the California Authority of Racing Fairs to bring live horse racing to the tracks at the fairgrounds through July 5.
"In holding this fair, a lot of these people come back year after year to help out including the kids and I think this is such a reflection of the community," said Sharon Kosch who organizes exhibits for the fair. "I live in Pleasanton, and I think having this fair in town is one of the best things about living here."
The fair is open Tuesdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Adult (13-61) admission is $12, seniors (62+) and kids (6-12) are $8, and children under the age of 6 are free.
Seniors, those 62 and older, are admitted free on Thursdays until 5 p.m.
Children 12 and under are admitted free Fridays until 5 p.m.
Admission is free daily for those with a valid military ID.
For more information, visit the fair website.
Comments
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 10, 2015 at 11:23 am
on Jun 10, 2015 at 11:23 am
"I live in Pleasanton, and I think having this fair in town is one of the best things about living here."
Not so much! No parking, long lines at your favorite restaurant and rude people from out of town! On the other hand, if you're a business owner, IT'S GREAT!!
Del Prado
on Jun 10, 2015 at 1:21 pm
on Jun 10, 2015 at 1:21 pm
I would say those are both fair statements
Downtown
on Jun 10, 2015 at 5:58 pm
on Jun 10, 2015 at 5:58 pm
I enjoy the fair especially the races. Gives the city some identity
Del Prado
on Jun 10, 2015 at 7:07 pm
on Jun 10, 2015 at 7:07 pm
Lock your doors citizens, keep the valuables out of your vehicles, it's going to be a long 2 weeks!!!
Pleasanton Heights
on Jun 10, 2015 at 8:31 pm
on Jun 10, 2015 at 8:31 pm
I love the fair, but I do wish we'd get our Friday fireworks back. The 4th last year was really, really unpleasant.
Downtown
on Jun 11, 2015 at 11:26 am
on Jun 11, 2015 at 11:26 am
@Nils
we are in a drought, lets skip the fire works. some of us live right next to the grounds and really aren't in the mood to see one of our houses go up in smoke. As for you "map" in Del Prado-I would rather have the fair people here then the Good guys for sure.
Birdland
on Jun 11, 2015 at 6:16 pm
on Jun 11, 2015 at 6:16 pm
Whats wrong with the Goodguys Celina? What do they do that you don't like?
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 11, 2015 at 7:14 pm
on Jun 11, 2015 at 7:14 pm
"On the other hand, if you're a business owner, IT'S GREAT!!"
Excuse me? Great for our business how? The people going to the fair don't eat downtown because they gorge themselves on fried foods at the fair. They don't shop downtown because they spend all of their money at the fair. The only connection the fair goers have with downtown is that they often take up much of the parking that our REAL customers would otherwise be able to use. And then there is the problem with the carnies who come with the fair. Can you say drinking, drugs and theft?
Yup, business owners just LOVE the fair to come to town. Not.
Downtown
on Jun 11, 2015 at 9:33 pm
on Jun 11, 2015 at 9:33 pm
guess what the fair was here before most the houses--so quit complaining............if you don't like it move elsewhere. we will not miss you.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:12 am
on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:12 am
@ Celina, Living here 40+ years, I don't recall any house fires 'caused' by fairground fireworks. I don't get your water vs fireworks comments. I think they are great. I wish we had them more often.
Registered user
Pleasanton Valley
on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:31 am
Registered user
on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:31 am
Fifty years ago we had fireworks at the Fair every night for two weeks plus a weekend. It was great. Never heard of a single fire caused by fireworks at the Fairgrounds. I love the Fair.
Avignon
on Jun 12, 2015 at 10:54 am
on Jun 12, 2015 at 10:54 am
Wow. Everyone is a fine mood today. whaa whaaa and more whaaaa..... We are not six feet under, lets try and enjoy life shall we? peace
Foothill Knolls
on Jun 12, 2015 at 12:55 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 12:55 pm
@George: "Whats wrong with the Goodguys Celina? What do they do that you don't like?"
Don't know about Celina, but doesn't anyone else think that having these massive GoodGuys car show gatherings at the Pleasanton Fairgrounds four times per year is a bit excessive?
Mission Park
on Jun 12, 2015 at 2:56 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 2:56 pm
I love the fair!
Downtown
on Jun 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 3:28 pm
@ Damon - ah NO, the goodguys started as a once a year get-together and grew to four. If nobody attended it would be ZERO!
Del Prado
on Jun 12, 2015 at 4:05 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 4:05 pm
Good call on good guys "DAMON". Might be a little excessive BUT they do bring a lot of money into town with them, the hotels fill up and the restaurants are real busy. Maybe we should do fireworks every night for the car guys also??
Downtown
on Jun 12, 2015 at 5:03 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 5:03 pm
They used to park on Main Street and filled up the restaurants until we starting charging them. Let them park for free and lets get them downtown again.
Highland Oaks
on Jun 12, 2015 at 6:26 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 6:26 pm
The Goodguys had nothing to do with the parking of cars downtown. That was an event put on by the Downtown Association. It all stopped when the city wanted enormous insurance to cover any lawsuits they might encounter. The P-Town pushrods car club manned the whole thing, a strictly volunteer event. And they did a good job. It was a great event and brought a lot of money to downtown.
The spectator numbers at the Goodguys shows are incredible. As long as people keep coming there will continue to be the shows.
The big show in August, the 3 day event, West Coast Nationals, registers in excess of 3000 hot rods!! And all of these people spend money in this town when they are here!
If you want to see cars downtown again take the matter up with the Downtown Association!
Foothill Knolls
on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm
on Jun 12, 2015 at 9:11 pm
@George: "The big show in August, the 3 day event, West Coast Nationals, registers in excess of 3000 hot rods!!"
Do you think that touting a GoodGuys car show that shows up here every 3 months really warrants two exclamation marks? They were here in May and if you miss them in August they'll be back here in Novermber. Rah.
Del Prado
on Jun 14, 2015 at 12:03 pm
on Jun 14, 2015 at 12:03 pm
I live in Del Prado, and I have to say, I don't mind the fair or Good Guys at all. Yes, there's a lot more people walking up and down Valley, but I see that as a good thing. It's good to have such liveliness from time to time. As for the Good Guys, my kids love it. They haven't gone yet, but they love seeing all the fun looking cars on the streets. It gives this place more personality.
In other words, it's all good. Stop complaining. Let's have a good time!
Registered user
another community
on Jun 15, 2015 at 9:25 am
Registered user
on Jun 15, 2015 at 9:25 am
Military Appreciation Day - EVERYDAY
FREE Fair Admission with valid military I.D. Veterans FREE with proof of service.
Downtown
on Jun 15, 2015 at 10:43 pm
on Jun 15, 2015 at 10:43 pm
all you people that love the good guys obvioulsy don't live near the fair grounds. the people that go to the car show have no respect for my neighborhood. they block drive ways and throw their trash on to our properties. The home I live in has been in my family for over 120 years. Well longer then the fairgrounds have been around. it's a hand me down so to speak. as for the fire works-I agree-we are in the 4th year of a historic drought. knock off the fire works. no fire works are safe. if it has fire, it isn't safe.
Now don't get me wrong, I love the fair.
Downtown
on Jun 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm
on Jun 15, 2015 at 10:52 pm
The fairgrounds were there before any of us moved to town. If you didn't want to be near the fair or other faurground events, perhaps you should have moved to a town where there are no fairgrounds.
Del Prado
on Jun 16, 2015 at 7:12 am
on Jun 16, 2015 at 7:12 am
@Christine, the pleasanton racetrack was built In 1858. If what you say is true (which I doubt), then your ancestors chose to build near the busiest and only horse racing track for hundreds of miles. I can only imagine the how much horse dung may have been dropped in front of your house back then.
Stoneridge
on Jun 16, 2015 at 8:32 am
on Jun 16, 2015 at 8:32 am
what happened the the musical group that was supposed to be at the Fair that was an ABBA cover band?
Amador Estates
on Jun 16, 2015 at 8:48 am
on Jun 16, 2015 at 8:48 am
What a bunch of whiners...it's people like you that take the fun out of everything. Lighten up. If you want to live in a cave then I say go ahead and move to one but let the rest of us people live and have a little fun like normal adults. You people make me sick.
Downtown
on Jun 16, 2015 at 10:30 am
on Jun 16, 2015 at 10:30 am
Any of us who live downtown know that there is the fair, the car show, concerts, first Wednesdays and any number of other events. I agree that since we know about it we cannot complain about the actual event. The problem is that some of our oh-so-thoughtful Pleasanton neighbors are rude and inconsiderate. They block our driveways, throw trash in our yards and generally make our lives awful during these events. Every Saturday after a concert I can fill an entire trash bag with cans, bottles and food wrappers that these inconsiderate pigs have thrown in my yard on the way to their often illegally parked cars. Try to get into or out of my driveway? Forget it, they not only block it, they sometimes even park in my driveway. ("We're just going to buy a few things at the Saturday market, we won't be here long") I can sit in my yard if I don't mind being asked several times each day to allow some kid to use my bathroom because "she gets grossed out by public toilets".
When the morons of Pleasanton get some manners the complaints will drop off. I like the events, I just can no longer tolerate the behavior of so many of those who attend. Horse poop in my driveway? It would be much better than the human trash that often shows up.
Del Prado
on Jun 16, 2015 at 6:45 pm
on Jun 16, 2015 at 6:45 pm
Don't let strangers into your house and if they block your driveway call the tow trucks, problem solved!!! Toughen Up or let those morons walk all over you, the fairgrounds aren't going away, neither are the airports the Bart tracks and the cut-trough traffic, we deal with it or we can move. I'm staying, didn't buy a place near any of those.
Ironwood
on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:12 am
on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:12 am
Lots of many interesting comments and I can find good points and bad points in many of them. However one that really stands out and not just at Fair Time is our lack of public parking in Pleasanton. We need a public parking garage just like they have in Livermore, Walnut Creek, Hayward and other cities. We have grown and that isn't going to stop. When they put up all the signs at Fair time where you can't park, it presents problems for everyone. We need a public parking garage for many events and perhaps or business community will benefit from it as well.
Valley Trails
on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:41 am
on Jun 17, 2015 at 9:41 am
Fairs are fun, but this event is not good for our town. I am not happy with a crowed coming in/out of our quiet Pleasanton. Bart rides - during the fair , not pleasant either. Can't wait for the fair to be over (it hasn't started yet !!).
Highland Oaks
on Jun 17, 2015 at 11:24 am
on Jun 17, 2015 at 11:24 am
I love the Fair and go multiple days every year. Remember that it is not just the carny and rides. Our 4H and FFA kids look forward to the Fair every year to show off their animals. There are fabulous art displays and cooking competitions. The Budweiser horses last year were awesome. Those of you who have moved to Pleasanton, and live downtown should either embrace the Fair or consider relocating to a town that doesn't have a fairgrounds. Totally agree that Pleasanton needs better parking and that people should respect property, but it is two weeks out the year for the Fair.
Downtown
on Jun 17, 2015 at 11:31 am
on Jun 17, 2015 at 11:31 am
That's the real world, if you want isolation join a private country club.
Downtown
on Jun 22, 2015 at 6:53 pm
on Jun 22, 2015 at 6:53 pm
what's with the big tents on the track today?
Pleasanton Meadows
on Jun 23, 2015 at 10:03 am
on Jun 23, 2015 at 10:03 am
Anyone have an idea how much money the city makes from the fair? I'd bet it's a pretty good amount but maybe not.
Another Pleasanton neighborhood
on Jun 24, 2015 at 7:03 pm
on Jun 24, 2015 at 7:03 pm
I'm not sure we 'make' anything off the fair. It's ALAMEDA COUNTY property and a committee (of state & local appointees) operated for Alameda County....as I understand it. I am happy the fairgrounds are here, instead of Oakland!!!! would you ever participate in some of the shorter & smaller events if they were in Oakland?? This fair has won National awards every year, for many years. Surpassing Ca state and many other 'State' fairs. First it has more 'trees' and 'green' beauty than most. No dusty paths. This fair is first class in operation, vendors, entertainment, other events, etc.
Contra Costa is just a couple of very dusty days, no trees, and no good vendors even bother to come set up. In Pleasanton's 100? years of operation, it has been refined close to perfection.
Pleasanton Meadows
on Jun 29, 2015 at 9:55 am
on Jun 29, 2015 at 9:55 am
I agree with Local, the fair is a great attraction to our town, my two kids go at least twice each year although it's getting pretty pricy - my only complaint.
Oakland ( I'm from there) has tried putting on smaller public events like the Festival at the Lake that ran for a few years but was never successful.
My wife is scared to go to Oakland in general although we walk around the lake every once in while. The trick is to go early enough before all the creeps are awake.