Ventura County Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ventura County Fair |
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Garden Street gate
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| Status | active |
| Genre | Agricultural show |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Venue | Seaside Park |
| Location(s) | California |
| Coordinates | 34°16′34″N 119°18′3″W / 34.27611°N 119.30083°W |
| Country | United States |
| Years active | 150 |
| Established | 1875 |
| Previous event | 2024 |
| Next event | July 30 to August 10, 2025 |
| Attendance | 333,000 (2023) |
| Area | 63 acres (25 ha) |
The Ventura County Fair is a super fun event that happens every August in Ventura, California. It takes place at Seaside Park, which is also known as the Ventura County Fairgrounds. The fair is packed with exciting things to do, like seeing farm animals, riding thrilling carnival rides, trying delicious food, and enjoying live music concerts every night.
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History of the Ventura County Fair
The very first Ventura County Fair happened way back in 1874. It was held after a harvest festival called San Miguel Days. Back then, it featured horse racing and evening dances.
Where the Fair Has Been Held
From 1877, the fair was held at Pierpont Bluffs. Then, in 1891, it moved to Port Hueneme. In 1909, a kind person named E. P. Foster gave the Seaside Park property to the county. The fair has been held there ever since 1914.
Changes to the Fair Schedule
The fair used to happen in early October. This was because it focused a lot on farming and harvests. In 1987, the fair moved to August. This change helped more people attend because the weather is usually better then.
Fair Attendance and Security
More than 300,000 people visit the Ventura County Fair each year! During the fair, the Ventura City police keep everyone safe with 24-hour security. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office also helps out with deputies on horseback.
Times the Fair Was Not Held
The Ventura County Fair has been canceled a few times in its long history. It did not happen in 1917 and 1918 because of World War I. It was also paused from 1942 to 1945 during World War II. More recently, the fair was not held in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Musical Entertainment at the Fair
Many famous musicians and bands have performed at the Ventura County Fair. Some of these include The Beach Boys, Jimi Hendrix, Deep Purple, The B52’s, Smash Mouth, and Smokey Robinson.
