Know Before You Go
Fair is Contactless, Skip the Lines
For the safety of all, the Fair is contactless. Purchase your admission and parking tickets online at home or anywhere on your mobile device. There are ticket kiosks at the gates to purchase tickets, prices are the same as online. If you have cash, there are cash-to-card kiosks to trade cash for a card – pay no fees.
Parking
- 2005 Valley Avenue, Gate 8, Pleasanton, CA 94566 (or Gate 12).
- Buy in advance to enter faster. If you buy at the gate, credit/debit cards and Apple Pay are accepted.
- If you have cash, you can use the cash-to-card kiosk for free. A kiosk is at Parking Gate 8. These cards can be used just like a credit card for parking, admission tickets, food, etc…in or outside the Fair where credit cards are accepted.
- If you need accessible parking, ask the parking attendant upon entering and they will try to find a solution. Parking rates apply.
Admission
- Pre-purchase with a credit or debit card.
- Credit and debit cards are accepted at the gates by scanning a QR code or visiting an Admission Gate Kiosk.
- Processing fees are the same for advance or day of; on a mobile device and at a kiosk.
- Have cash? Trade cash-for-a-card at the admission gate with no service fee and use it just like a credit card for parking, admission tickets, food, etc…in or outside the Fair where credit cards are accepted.
- There is no Will Call.
Food, Beverages & shopping
Food and beverage purchases take credit or debit and are sold through selected vendor system. Cash-for-a-card is accepted at all food and shopping locations.
Live horse racing
Mutuel Tellers for live racing betting located in the Grandstand are cash only. ATM’s are in the Grandstand to conveniently pull cash. Betting kiosks take credit cards.
Friday, Saturday and Sunday ONLY
carnival
Cash, debit and credit cards are accepted at the Carnival kiosks (Midway and Kids’ Park):
- Carnival Ticket Kiosks take both cash and credit cards. (Carnival Kiosks are owned by Butler Carnival and are not the same as the ticket kiosks at the Gates, these machines take both cash and credit card.)
- Purchase one-day wristbands which offer unlimited rides and unlimited access to the Sky Ride, or individual tickets at the Carnival ticket booth kiosks.
- Don’t want a full day wristband, purchase individual tickets for rides and games (these tickets are on a wristband with a QR code for redemption).
- On June 12 the Carnival wristband advance sale ends and you will no longer be able to purchase online. All Fair time carnival tickets will only be sold at a Butler Carnival Kiosk in the Carnival areas and at full price between June 13-July 6.
- Unlimited ride wristbands cannot be used for carnival games
Directions & Process
- 2005 Valley Avenue, Gate 8, Pleasanton, CA 94566 – Map & Directions
- Pre-purchase your parking ticket before arriving to keep the lines moving. Show your ticket – printed or on a mobile device (to keep line moving, please have it ready at the gates).
- Getting here – for information on directions, parking locations, BART schedules, Wheels Bus schedules, plus the locations of VIP parking lots, visit the Getting Here page under Guest Services.
Health & Safety
- No pets allowed for the safety of guests and the pet; admission will be denied. There are no refunds, plan ahead.
- No smoking while on the Fairgrounds except in designated areas.
Find My Order
If you purchased tickets and cannot find your order, visit our Find My Order tool, click here. Or check your email, your tickets deliver to the email used when purchasing.
Daily Schedule
The Fair will be open 12pm-11pm Wednesday – Sunday. On July 4 the Fair closes early. Full Schedule
Special Events
- Horse Racing – Friday-Sunday – visit here
- Movies on the Concert Lawn at 6pm – for details visit here
- Big O Tires Concert Series at 8pm – visit here
- Fireworks or Drone Show (no show on July 4) – visit here
- Fields of Gratitude #thankafarmer displays – visit daily in AgVenture
- Fair Festivals – visit here
- Wine & Brew Fests – visit here
- $3 Fair Food Bite Thursdays & Food Finder – visit here
- Shopping Finder – visit here
- Foodies Choice Awards Voting – visit here
- Entertainment and Performances – visit here
For more information, visit the FAQs.
Where to stay
Looking for a hotel to stay at during the Fair, click here.
Security
The health and safety of our guests and staff is of the utmost importance and continues to be at the forefront during our events.
All guests and stollers “walk through” security using live scanning technology. Alameda County Fair uses state-of-the-art magnetometers scanning machines that guests simply walk through. The machine scans bags, strollers & persons for prohibited items, making it easier for our guests to enter the Alameda County Fair without sacrificing their safety while also streamlining lines. You will be asked to step aside for a bag search if the machine alarms.
Please reference the permitted and prohibited items you can bring to the Fair below.
Prohibited Concert Items
Beach balls, balloons or props are not allowed during concerts. For the safety of guests and respect of the performers, please do not throw props.