top of page

2024 Placer County Fair Media

June Press Release

86TH ANNUAL PLACER COUNTY FAIR OPENS JUNE 20 AND CONTINUES THROUGH JUNE 23, WITH CARNIVAL RIDES, 14 FREE CONCERTS, A WIDE SELECTION OF FOOD, THE LIVESTOCK EXHIBIT AND SUPERMOTO RACES 

Fairgoers can also enjoy live entertainment from Circus Imagination to a flying dog show, help choose the top rib master, celebrate the crowning of Miss Placer County, and shop custom arts and crafts vendors and taste local wines in the Roebbelen Center 

ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Heart-racing carnival rides, a diverse and ever-improving entertainment lineup, deep-fried and mouth-watering food, Blue Ribbon-winning exhibits, the always popular livestock area and auction, “action-packed” motorcycle races at the speedway, and even wine tasting. 

They are all part of the 86th annual – and expanded – Placer County Fair that opens @the Grounds in Roseville on Thursday, June 20, and continues through Sunday, June 23. The Fair is open 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 700 Event Center Drive. 

You can learn more, including how to buy tickets and the daily entertainment schedule, at https://www.placercountyfair.org/.  

After requests from many fairgoers and record-setting attendance two of the past three years, the Fair will open at noon Saturday – five hours earlier than previous years. 

“More Fair equals more fun,” said Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism and @the Grounds, which manages the Fair. “The quality of the Fair has improved every year, and the additional hours will allow more people to enjoy and experience the Fair.”  

The Fair – the longest-running annual event in Placer County, which started during the Great Depression and before World War II – combines decades of traditions, such as corn dogs and the Ferris wheel to still exhibit competitions, with the addition of new events and features every year.  

“The whole reason for a county fair is a gathering point to feature and learn things about your community,” Summers said. “The Fair truly showcases what our county has to offer.” 

The Fair’s theme this year – “A Community Mosaic” – focuses on the creativity and the diversity of the county. The Fair, which attracted a record 23,000 people in 2023, always starts the first weekend of summer, prompting the slogan: “Summer Fun Starts Here.”   

“Placer County is proud to be the presenting sponsor of the Fair, and I am excited to join our community members and attendees in Roseville this year,” said Placer County Board of Supervisors Chair Suzanne Jones. “The Fair is a wonderful time to be surrounded by family and friends, learn something new about our region and enjoy good food, rides and music. The Fair provides a great opportunity for folks to learn about agriculture, sustainability, our region’s livestock, as well as local arts and crafts.” 

14 FREE CONCERTS, A FAST TRACK AND FAIR FAVORITE THE FERRIS WHEEL  

The Fair has something for everyone, from the opening night Placer County Scholarship Pageants to the fourth annual Placer County Fair Rib Cook-Off on Sunday afternoon and the popular Ariel Jean Band, the final concert Sunday night at the Attaway Pavilion. 

The Fair will feature 14 free concerts over the four nights, including fan favorites The Outlaw Mariachi on Thursday and The Spazmatics on Friday. 

With three back-to-back concerts Thursday and Friday at the Attaway Pavilion, and four concerts on Saturday and Sunday, the Fair has created a “more festival-style, with more bang for the buck,” said Germane Smith, a Talent Buyer for Mason Entertainment in Folsom.  

“We always want a variety of music that reaches all community members,” said Smith, who has been booking entertainment at the Fair the past few years. “When you hear good music, it’s a win all the way around.” 

Fairgoers will also enjoy the free daily entertainment, including Circus Imagination; Jeremy the Juggler; Tyzen: The Comedy Hypnotist; JD Platt and K9 Kings Flying Dog Show; and the return of Wild About Monkeys featuring Mickey the Baboon, who has been in numerous movies and TV shows. 

For those seeking fast-paced action, Supermoto USA will have at least 50 professional motorcycle racers from around the country compete in “action-packed” qualifying heats and main events Saturday afternoon and evening at the All American Speedway. The All American Supermoto races – one of six qualifying races nationwide for the SuperMoto championship – are free with Fair admission. 

“We will have some of the best racers in the country,” said Brok McAllister, Series Director of Supermoto USA. 

The All American Speedway, better known for auto racing for decades, will be converted into a half-mile dirt and gravel track, complete with berms and jumps, for Supermoto, described by McAllister as “all genres of motorcycle racing wrapped into one.” 

“The track is going to level the playing field,” said McAllister, who hopes the All American Supermoto races will become part of the annual Fair. “It’s a great facility and a good opportunity.” 

Supermoto USA will also hold a clinic on Sunday afternoon for children under 14 years old who have an interest in motorcycle racing. 

 

For those who prefer the need for speed and thrills in other ways, the carnival will feature about 25 rides, like the scream-worthy Black Widow and the Rip Cord, and more kid-friendly rides such as the Magic Dragon mini-rollercoaster, the circle-in-the-air swings and the super slide.  

Just like last year, the carnival will be divided into two areas, allowing fairgoers more space and separating the adult-oriented rides from the children-focused rides. An all-day pass for the carnival rides is $30 when purchased online through June 19. 

“The Fair just keeps getting better every year,” said Jason Wold, CEO of Wold Amusements. The company operates the carnival’s food booths, games and rides. “It’s a family-friendly Fair, with a lot of very good people.” 

LIVESTOCK AREA, WINNING ARTWORK AND WINE TASTING 

The carnival’s more adult rides are in the northwest area of the Fair, just a short walk from the livestock barns and show rings, where baby chicks and pint-sized pygmy goats share space with 1,000-pound steer.  

Hundreds of students, members of FFA and 4-H, showcase their animals and hard work in the hope of Blue Ribbons, bragging rights and maybe a head-turning price at the auction Saturday morning. Last year, the livestock auction reached almost $400,000, about double the figure in 2019. 

“The livestock barns are always among the most popular and busiest areas of the Fair,” Summers said. “It really goes back to what a county fair is all about and has been for generations.” 

The county Fair is also about still exhibits, where residents can compete in everything from various arts and crafts categories like photography and quilting to baking and brew making. Fairgoers can check the still exhibits in Jones Hall, a couple of hundred feet from the Fair entrance. 

The Fair will feature about 20 food booths – from beat-the-heat ice cream and fresh-squeezed lemonade to empanadas – and 125 commercial vendors. Many of the commercial vendors, offering custom arts and crafts like jewelry and hard-to-find toys, will be inside the air-conditioned Roebbelen Center. 

The 160,000-square-foot building will include the Family Fun Zone – with 16 organizations offering a range of demonstrations and games – some of the live entertainment, and beer and wine tasting from local wineries. 

“We wanted to create a fair within a fair” inside the Roebbelen Center, where fairgoers can cool down, enjoy some entertainment and shop, Summers said. 

The Fair also includes a Community Stage, where community groups will entertain fairgoers inside Johnson Hall. 

Admission to the Fair is $10 for adults; $6 for children 6 to 13 years old, and children 5 and up are free. Admission for military and seniors 65 years and older is $8 (save $2 per ticket by purchasing in advance online through June 19). Admission prices have remained the same for several years. Admission and carnival ticket information are available at https://tickets.atthegrounds.com/p/tickets. Parking is $10 per day. 

“We always try to be as cost-conscious as possible,” Summers said. “The Fair is an annual tradition for so many families, and we want everyone to celebrate and share what our community has to offer.” 

About @the Grounds 

@the Grounds is a multipurpose event facility on 61 acres in the heart of Roseville, California. @the Grounds includes the Roebbelen Center, a 160,000-square-foot event center that can accommodate major amateur sports competitions, large meetings, trade shows, concerts and other events. For more than 80 years, @the Grounds has been the home of the Placer County Fair – an annual celebration of the diversity of the community – along with countless other community, family and corporate gatherings. @the Grounds is the business entity of Placer Valley Sports Complex, a 501(c)3. For more information, please visit https://www.atthegrounds.com/

About Placer Valley Tourism 

Placer Valley Tourism is a Business Improvement District that serves South Placer County and the cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln. The BID operates to help generate incremental room night stays in hotels within Placer Valley Tourism’s geographic footprint through various conferences and youth and amateur sports events. PVT aims to coordinate community and sports events with the best hospitality options in the region. Placer Valley Tourism is a nonprofit and classified as a 501(c)6. For more information, please visit https://www.placertourism.com/

May Press Release

PLACER COUNTY FAIR IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR FOOD AND COMMERCIAL VENDORS, STILL EXHIBIT COMPETITORS, VOLUNTEERS AND CORPORATE SPONSORS

The 86th annual Fair returns June 20-23 with extended hours Saturday, a fast-moving Supermoto motorcycle race and fairgoer favorites such as carnival rides, free nightly concerts, the Family Fun Zone and the livestock exhibit.

ROSEVILLE, Calif. – Attention artists, bakers and hardworking money-makers, the Placer County Fair is looking for you.

The 86th annual Fair is accepting applications from residents to compete in more than 100 divisions of still exhibit categories, from baking pies to quilt making, and small-business owners looking to sell their custom arts and crafts, hard-to-find products or tasty food.

The Fair – one of the longest-running annual events in the region, bringing in more than 23,000 fairgoers – is also looking for additional corporate sponsors and more friendly and helpful volunteers. You can learn more, including deadlines and how to apply or compete, on the Placer County Fair website, placercountyfair.org.

The Fair opens Thursday, June 20, and continues through Sunday, June 23, located @the Grounds, 700 Event Center Drive in Roseville. The Fair is open 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. For the first time, the Fair will open at noon Saturday, giving fairgoers five more hours of fun – and vendors more money-making opportunities.

The Fair’s theme is “A Community Mosaic,” with the four-day event highlighting what makes Placer County such a special place, from its creativity to the diversity.

“Our goal is to improve the quality of the fair every year,” said Kim Summers. CEO of Placer Valley Tourism and @the Grounds, which manages the annual Fair. “The Fair is about showcasing what our county has to offer, from residents sharing their skills and talents in the still competitions to small-business owners generating revenue as vendors.”

Custom arts and crafts creations to mouth-watering food sensations

The Fair will feature about 20 food booths – offering everything from fresh-squeezed lemonade and fan favorite ice cream to barbecue and empanadas – and 150 commercial vendors. Commercial and food vendors are encouraged to apply as soon as possible, since there is a limit on the number of booths available.

“It just keeps getting better and better,” said Denise Warner, owner of Happy Cheeks Face Painting. The face painting and henna business had been a longtime Fair vendor but left more

than 15 years ago before returning in 2021. “There’s just so much going on. There are a lot of unique foods and the grounds are so nice now. They’re really finding a groove and there is a real good flow.”

That “groove” and the “good flow” of customers has been drawing Victor Rady to The Fair for several years. His booth near the entrance of the fair features bubble guns, dancing cactus, light-up toys and one-of-a-kind sports caps.

“I always do good there, I will never let it go,” said Rady, owner of iToyz. “Sometimes it’s non-stop customers for me. Whatever they’re doing, it’s awesome.”

Many vendors will have booths in the air-conditioned Roebbelen Center, a favorite place for fairgoers looking to escape the heat. The 160,000-square-foot building will feature commercial booths, live entertainment and the Family Fun Zone with free activities and games, and even a wine-tasting area.

“It’s almost like a mini fair,” Summers said of the long list of activities inside the Roebbelen Center.

May 31 deadline for still competitions

The Roebbelen Center is near Jones Hall, which will feature the artwork and talents of residents in the more than 100 divisions of still competitions, from beer making to painting and photography.

 

The deadline for still exhibits is Friday, May 31. There is no application fee for youth up to 18 years old to enter their still exhibits and only $5 for adults. All still exhibitors receive one free fair admission ticket to see their work on display – and enjoy the Fair.

Fairgoers will enjoy daily entertainment, from a flying dog show to a hypnotist, and about 15 free concerts over the four nights – including The Outlaw Mariachi on Thursday, The Spazmatics on Friday, One of These Nights on Saturday and the Ariel Jean Band on Sunday.

The carnival will feature about 25 kid-friendly and scream-worthy rides, from a Ferris Wheel to the Zipper. The Fair separates the adult-oriented and kid-friendly rides in two locations @the Grounds. The livestock exhibit, featuring animals such as goats, lambs and steer raised by FFA and 4-H students, is another favorite for many fairgoers.

Talent, speed and sauce

The annual Miss Placer County Scholarship Pageant officially opens the Fair on Thursday evening.

 

On Saturday evening, Supermoto USA will have at least 50 professional motorcycle racers from around the country compete in “action-packed” qualifying heats and main events at the All American Speedway. The All American Supermoto races are free with fair admission.

The fourth annual Placer County Rib Cook-off, which requires an additional ticket and is limited to 250 rib-tasters, is Sunday afternoon.

Admission to the Fair is $10 for adults; $6 for children 6 to 13 years old, children 5 and under are free; and military and seniors 65 years and older are $8. Fairgoers can save $2 per ticket if purchased online before June 19. More information and tickets are available at placercountyfair.org/

Parking is $10 per day.

“We’re committed to creating an affordable, family-friendly fair that becomes an annual tradition and keeps getting better every year,” Summers said. “The Fair has something for everyone, from families to those enjoying date night.”

About @the Grounds

@the Grounds is a multipurpose event facility on 61 acres in the heart of Roseville, California. @the Grounds includes the Roebbelen Center, a 160,000-square-foot event center that can accommodate major amateur sports competitions, large meetings, trade shows, concerts and other events. For more than 80 years, @the Grounds has been the home of the Placer County Fair – an annual celebration of the diversity of the community – along with countless other community, family and corporate gatherings. @the Grounds is the business entity of Placer Valley Sports Complex, a 501(c)3. For more information, please visit https://www.atthegrounds.com/.

 

About Placer Valley Tourism

Placer Valley Tourism is a Business Improvement District that serves South Placer County and the cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln. The BID operates to help generate incremental room night stays in hotels within Placer Valley Tourism’s geographic footprint through various conferences and youth and amateur sports events. PVT aims to coordinate community and sports events with the best hospitality options in the region. Placer Valley Tourism is a nonprofit and classified as a 501(c)6. For more information, please visit https://www.placertourism.com/.

bottom of page