Guide to the Ventura County Fair 2024: What You Need to Know (2024)

Posted: Thursday, Jul 25th, 2024

By Visit Ventura

The light glow of neon lights, the scent of cotton candy in the air, music and laughter all around — these are the sights, sounds, and smells of a summer well spent in Ventura at the Ventura County Fair 2024!

This annual event, running from July 31 to August 11, is a must-visit for locals and tourists alike. And it’s coming up soon. Start planning your trip with our guide to the Ventura County Fair! If you’re new to the fair or just looking for the scoop on what’s happening this year, you’ve come to the right place.

Here’s what you need to know this year to celebrate 150 years of the Ventura County Fair!

Learn more

What’s New at the Ventura County Fair 2024?

From new musical performance experiences to even more ways to have some family fun, there are a lot of new fun things happening at this year’s Ventura County Fair! Here are some of the top new things at the Ventura County Fair to keep an eye out for:

The Patio

Now between the quonset huts is the Patio! A brand new experience for fairgoers, the Patio has a two-story coffee shop with homemade beignets and family-friendly activities like cornhole.

Concert VIP Experience

This year’s Concert Series now offers a VIP experience where you’ll be the closest to the stage, and get access to amenities like turf flooring, elevated food options, a separate VIP bar, separate restrooms, and lounge seating. Learn more about the new concert VIP experience and purchase tickets here.

Nightly Drone Show

Watch as the sky lights up every night at 9 pm with more than 300 drones putting on a show! Head to the Carnival Midway for the best viewing spot.

Youth Artwalk & Shop

In the reimagined Youth Building, see our county’s young talent showcased through the Youth Artwalk! Shop new vendors inside the Youth Building and meet Pretzel the Sloth.

How to Get to the Ventura County Fair 2024

Guide to the Ventura County Fair 2024: What You Need to Know (1)

First things first: getting there. Ventura is just 90 minutes north of Los Angeles and 30 minutes south of our neighbors in Santa Barbara. Ventura is centrally located, making getting to the Ventura County Fair a (sea) breeze.

By Car

If you’re driving, take the US-101 and exit at Seaward Avenue or California Street. Take a left towards the ocean and take Harbor Boulevard down to the fairgrounds. Parking at the Ventura County Fairgrounds is extremely limited — they recommend parking offsite and taking one of the shuttles to the fairgrounds.

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By Shuttle

This year, the Ventura County Fair is expanding the shuttle locations. Park for free at these stops and hop on a free shuttle right to the Ventura County Fair.

Pacific View Mall — 3301 E Main Street, adjacent to Target and 24 Hour Fitness.
Ventura High School — 2 N Catalina St, Ventura, CA 93001
De Anza Middle School — 2060 Cameron St, Ventura, CA 93001
Government Center — 800 S Victoria Ave, Ventura, CA 93009
Ventura Community Park — 901 S Kimball Rd, Ventura, CA 93004
Oxnard PAL Teen Center — 350 S K Street, Oxnard, CA 93030
Regal Edwards Cinema — 680 Ventura Boulevard, Camarillo, CA 93010
**San Buenaventura State Beach — 901 San Pedro Street

**Parking is $10 at San Buenaventura State Beach, then hop on the free shuttle to the Ventura County Fair. Fair tickets are also available for purchase at this location**

By Bike

The Ventura County Fair is once again offering a free, first-come first-served bike valet. Cruise to the fair on your bike and rest assured that it will be secure when you end your day of fun!

What are the Hours of the Ventura County Fair 2024?

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From July 31 to August 11, plan to spend the day at the Ventura County Fair 2024. Open daily from 12 pm – 12 am, planning your visit around the fair’s hours is crucial to maximize your fun.

The Exhibit buildings, where you can find local art and interactive games, are open 12 pm to 10 pm daily.

Barn hours, where you can see your favorite barnyard animals, are from 12 pm to 8 pm.

Who is Performing at the Ventura County Fair 2024?

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Guide to the Ventura County Fair 2024: What You Need to Know (4)

805 Stage Tribute Series

Don’t miss out on the fair’s nightly tribute bands onstage from 9pm-10:30pm. There’s even more entertainment this year! Ride a mechanical bull, visit The Hat Bar for a custom-fitted hat, and grab an 805 Beer