Support Us Button Widget

A guide to the 2023 Santa Clara County Fair

Here’s what you can expect at the Santa Clara County Fairgrounds from Wednesday, July 26. to Sunday, Aug. 6.

The "Fire Ball" amusement park ride with fireworks exploding in the backyard.

Get ready for a full-scale 2023 Santa Clara County Fair.

Photo via Santa Clara County Fair

Table of Contents

Are you ready for fried food, farm animals, live painting, and thrill rides? Great — the Santa Clara County Fair returns to the fairgrounds Wednesday, July 26-Sunday, Aug. 6.

This year is especially important, because unlike the past three years (disrupted by the COVID-19 pandemic), all the traditional fair fun is returning.

Step right up and catch a glimpse of what the 2023 Santa Clara County Fair has in store.

🎟️ Hours, tickets, parking

  • The fair is open 3-10 p.m. on Wednesdays + Thursdays, and 1-11 p.m. on Fridays-Sundays. Note: The fair will be closed Monday, July 31-Tuesday, Aug. 1.
  • Grab tickets online — kids age 5 and younger are free.
  • Parking is $15 and available at Gates C + D.

🎡 Entertainment

There will be an opening day ribbon cutting and parade to kick off the fair at 3 p.m. this Wednesday, July 26. Once inside, you can expect a ton of entertainment with your admission:

  • Four stages of musical acts including a ton of cover bands playing hits from Michael Jackson, Elton John, Selena, and more
  • Art Alley,” a showcase of 125+ artists with live painting, an art gallery, and vendor booths
  • DIY classes on flower crowns, balloon garlands, decorative cookies, bouquets, and charcuterie boards

🐖 Exhibits

There’s no doubting our region’s rich agricultural history, so it wouldn’t be the Santa Clara County Fair without the Junior Livestock Auction — held Saturday, Aug. 5. Also, the little ones will get to see exotic animals at “Safari Encounter” + learn agricultural education activities at “Little Hands on the Farm.”

    Don’t miss: All the hard work of youth and adult exhibitors who display their talents in baked goods, floriculture, collections, Legos, needle + fiber arts, photography, tech and computer science, quilting, and more.

    More from SJtoday
    These San Jose gifts are way better than a Jelly of the Month Club membership.
    To help make your entire process at the San Jose Mineta Airport as smooth as possible, we’ve created a guide that covers everything from gates and parking to details on the airport’s 41 nonstop flights.
    The biggest step in completing your New Year’s resolution? Show up.
    Christmas in the Park, holiday pop-up bars, twinkling lights, and ice skating under the stars? We’d watch the heck out of this fictional, AI-generated holiday movie set in the great 408.
    San Joseans kept it diverse at the library check-out line, that’s for sure.
    Prepare for winter in San Jose with these seasonal temperature and precipitation outlooks.
    The great 408 is made up of so many wonderful small businesses, here are a few our readers love in honor of Small Business Saturday.
    The rink at 120 S. Market St. will be open Thursday, Nov. 21, 2024 to Jan. 20, 2025.
    The list of volunteer opportunities in San Jose includes everything from renovating homes to caring for furry friends.
    Including gifts for neighbors, foodies, significant others, homebodies, students, and gifts under $20.