Stanislaus County Fair facts for kids

Stanislaus County Fairgrounds

The Stanislaus County Fair, located in Turlock, California, is a super fun event that happens every year in mid-July. It's the biggest gathering in Stanislaus County! For 10 days, over 220,000 people visit the fairgrounds, which are about 72 acres big. You can enjoy concerts by famous people every night, watch shows on five different stages, and try yummy food from over 30 food stands. The fair also shows off more than 30,000 local talent exhibits, over 1,750 animals, and more than 35 exciting carnival rides.

History of the Fair

How the Fair Started

The Stanislaus County Fair began way back in 1911 as the Turlock Melon Carnival. It was created by the Turlock Chamber of Commerce to help promote the local melon farms and shipping businesses. Imagine a whole carnival just for melons! They even had a special Melon City Band.

The Melon Carnival took a break during World War I in 1917 and 1918. It came back for a few years, and then in 1924, the American Legion (a group for military veterans) organized a Fourth of July celebration for a similar reason. In 1925, the American Legion brought back the Turlock Melon Carnival name. By 1927, they bought seven acres of land to give the carnival a permanent home. The fairgrounds grew to 37 acres by the early 1940s.

Fair Growth and Changes

In 1933, exciting 4H and Future Farmers of America livestock shows were added. These shows let young people display their farm animals. In 1935, the State of California officially recognized the fair, creating the 38th District Agriculture Association (DAA). This group still helps run the fair today. The American Legion and the DAA worked together until 1944, when the DAA took over completely.

Fairgrounds During World War II

The fair did not happen during World War II (from 1942 to 1945). During this time, the fairgrounds were used in a very important way. They became the Turlock Assembly Center. This was one of several temporary places where Japanese Americans from the West Coast were held. This happened because of a government order during the war. From April to August 1942, over 3,600 Japanese Americans stayed at the fairgrounds before moving to more permanent camps. Many lived in "apartments" that used to be animal stalls.

After the assembly center closed, the fairgrounds became a Rehabilitation Center for the Ninth United States Army. From 1942 to 1945, this center helped soldiers who had trouble following military rules. It was the first and largest of its kind, helping thousands of young men get back on track.

The Fair Returns and Grows

The fair started again in 1946. In 1956, it was officially called the "Stanislaus County Fair" for the first time. In 1960, the fairgrounds even became the first home for California State University, Stanislaus before the university moved to its own campus.

On March 15, 1999, the historic Arch Gate at the fair was recognized as a California State Point of Historical Interest. A special marker was put up during the 1999 fair, and you can still see it today just inside the Arch Gate.

The Stanislaus County Fair celebrated its 100th birthday in 2011! The fair has had to pause a few times: in 1917–18 for World War I, 1942–45 for World War II, and in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, they even had an online event!

What the Fair is All About

The main goal of the Stanislaus County Fair is to offer a fun experience for families and the community. It aims to promote farming, provide great entertainment, and showcase new technology.

Exciting Arena Events

The fair's arena is home to many thrilling events:

Tuff Trucks – Over 50 drivers race their trucks on a bumpy obstacle course. They compete to see who can finish the fastest!
Truck and Tractor Pulls – About 150 competitors show off the power of their engines. Tractors and trucks pull heavy weights to see who is strongest.
Destruction Derby I Traditional Turmoil – Cars crash into each other in three rounds. Drivers are judged on how many hits they make. The best drivers move on to the main event!
Destruction Derby II Metal Mayhem – This derby has four special "one-shot" classes, including small cars, female drivers, newer lightweight cars, and older heavy cars.
Quad Drags and Motorcycle Jumpers – Two quad racers zoom down a 200-foot track. The first one to cross the finish line wins! The show also starts with amazing freestyle stunt jumpers.
CCPRA Rodeo – Cowboys and cowgirls compete in classic rodeo events like bull riding, team roping, and barrel racing.
QuadCross and Pee Wee Bikes – Over 150 riders compete in different classes based on their skill and quad size. After the QuadCross, young riders (10 and under) race their small "Pee Wee" motorcycles.
Motocross – Nearly 300 riders race on a track full of jumps, turns, and bumps. They try to complete five laps as fast as they can.
Mud Bog – Competitors drive their vehicles as fast as they can through a huge mud pit that's 30 feet wide and at least 2 feet deep!

Fair Timeline Highlights

1850s: Stanislaus County was formed in 1854. It's named after the Stanislaus River, which was named after a Native American chief called Estanislao.
1870s: Turlock was founded in 1871. It was named after a place in Ireland.
1890s: The first county fair was held in Modesto in 1891, but it stopped in 1902.
1910s: Turlock's first Melon Carnival happened in 1911. This is where the modern fair's history begins! Farmers gave away free watermelons, and there were parades, music, and games. The carnival paused during World War I.
1920s: In 1925, the American Legion started sponsoring the Melon Carnival. In 1927, they bought land for a permanent fair location. The famous Arch Gate, made of river boulders, was built in 1929.
1930s: In 1935, the Stanislaus District Fair officially took over from the melon carnivals. The first Kiddie Kapers Parade, where kids dressed up and rode bikes, became a very popular event.
1940s: The fairgrounds grew to 37 acres. In 1942, the fair was canceled due to World War II. The fairgrounds were used as the Turlock Assembly Center for Japanese Americans, and then as an Army Rehabilitation Center. The fair returned in 1946 with many attendees.

Families of Japanese ancestry arrived at the Turlock Assembly Center.

1950s: The fair was officially named the "Stanislaus County Fair" in 1956. A roller rink opened in 1957!

A 4-H member milks his cow, 1954.

Exhibitor with cow

1960s: California State University, Stanislaus, started its first classes at the fairgrounds in 1960. The first livestock auction was held in 1965.
1970s: The fair expanded to seven days in 1975.
1980s: The fair grew to nine days in 1981. In 1989, a record 261,089 people visited the fair – that record still stands!
1990s: The fair expanded to its current 10-day length by 1994. The historic Arch Gate was recognized as a California State Point of Historical Interest in 1999.
2010s: Before the 2010 fair, a special memorial was put up near the Floriculture building to honor the Japanese Americans who were at the Turlock Assembly Center in 1942. The fair celebrated its 100th year in 2011. The fairgrounds have grown from 7 acres to 72 acres!
2020s: The fair was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but it returned in 2021.

Recent Fairs (2007-2021)

2021 Fair

The fair made a big comeback in 2021 after being paused in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. They had special rules to keep everyone safe.

2012 Fair

The 101st Stanislaus County Fair ran from July 13 to July 22, 2012. It introduced a new theme: "Imagine the Fun!"

Kids Club Educational Program

The fair started its amazing Kids Club Educational Program in 2012. This program helps kids and parents learn all about the fair's rich history in farming and its special traditions in the Central Valley.

2011 Centennial Fair

The 100th Stanislaus County Fair was held from July 15 to July 24, 2011. The theme was "100 Years of Fair Fun." There was a special exhibit showing 100 years of fair history. They even sold a "100-Year Pass" that was good for 100 years of fair admission!

2009 Fair

The 98th Stanislaus County Fair ran from July 31 to August 9, 2009. The theme was "Renewable Fun," focusing on being eco-friendly and helping the Earth. There was a "Clean & Green Expo" where local groups shared tips on living a "green" lifestyle.

Rainforest Adventure Exhibit

A new and exciting exhibit in 2009 was the Rainforest Adventure. This 8,000-square-foot exhibit was filled with animals that live in a real rainforest, like toucans, anacondas, sloths, and porcupines. It also showed off rainforest plants.

Park ‘N Ride Shuttle

In 2009, a new Park ‘N Ride shuttle service started. Fair guests could park at California State University Stanislaus or Pitman High School and ride a free shuttle right to the fair's entrance.

2008 Fair

The 97th Stanislaus County Fair ran from July 25 to August 3, 2008. The famous Budweiser Clydesdales (giant horses) were part of a parade and performed a show.

Jurassic Journey

The Kids Zone featured "Jurassic Journey," an exhibit with 40 life-size models of dinosaurs, ice-age animals, and fossils. The fair's theme was "Nuts Are Dino-Mite."

2007 Fair

The 96th Stanislaus County Fair ran from July 27 to August 5, 2007. The Kids Zone had the Wildlife Experience Show and racing pigs from Ham Bone Express! The fair's theme was "Summer Safari."

Turf Club

The Turlock Turf Club is located at the Stanislaus County Fairgrounds. Here, you can watch live horse races broadcast from other fairs and tracks across the United States all year round.

Awards and Recognition

The Stanislaus County Fair has won many awards from the Western Fairs Association (WFA) for being awesome!

2012: The fair won 14 awards, including six first-place wins for its website, magazine ad, the "Everybody Walk" campaign, the Kids Club Educational Program, and a new community outreach program called "Christmas in July."
2011: The fair received four first-place awards for its marketing, social media campaign, community outreach, and competitive exhibit handbook.
2010: The fair won three awards, including a first-place award for its "Social Media Campaign."
2009: The fair's Company Picnics Program won first place for being a great way to make money in a new way.
2008: The WFA gave the fair a first-place award for its "Best Overall Children’s Program."