California Mid-State Fair returns to Paso Robles! Here’s your complete guide
Howdy, partner from another planet: Welcome to the “Biggest Little Fair Anywhere”!
For the 78th year in a row, the California Mid-State Fair is coming to Paso Robles for 12 days starting Wednesday with family-friendly fun, concerts, contests and attractions.
And this year’s festivities are where alien abduction meets the wild West with a “space cowgirl” theme, according to Tom Keffury, a longtime fair employee who works in corporate sponsorships and concert marketing.
Keffury told the Tribune that any fair-goers looking to really take in the theme of the event should start their visit at the exhibit halls located by the main entrance, because the theme is integrated into some of the arts-and-crafts contest entries.
Keffury said that this year’s festivities are made extra special by the construction of a brand-new iron gate to refurbish the entrance to the fair. The opening ceremony for this year’s festivities will take place at 3:45 p.m. Wednesday at the main entrance.
This year’s fair runs from July 17-28. The fairgrounds will be open from 4 p.m. to 12 a.m. Monday through Thursday and noon to midnight Friday through Sunday.
“We are so excited for everyone to get here,” Keffury said. “We are so ready for everyone to have a great time.”
Here is everything you need to know to plan an out-of-this-world visit.
Where to park at the fair?
Once guests arrive at the fairgrounds located at the Paso Robles Event Center on Riverside Avenue, they have a few options for parking.
Each year, dozens of houses in neighborhoods around the fairgrounds run parking services out of their yards and driveways, allowing visitors to park near their houses for a fee.
The fair also provides limited paid parking on a first-come-first-served basis in the lot across from the main entrance.
According to the fair website, those that choose to park on-site should keep their parking tags visible at all times on their vehicle. There is no re-entry to the paid parking areas.
Those who choose to park outside of the fairgrounds can take advantage of a free shuttle service by SLO Safe Ride running every day of the fair.
The shuttle will operate Mondays through Thursdays, from 4 p.m. to midnight and noon to midnight Friday through Sunday.
Shuttles will pick up and drop off passengers at a three locations around Paso Robles:
The city bus stop at the Albertsons parking lot
Paso Robles City Hall at the intersection of 10th and Spring streets
The main parking lot of Lowe’s Hardware on Golden Hill Road
A map of the fairgrounds and parking areas is available on the Mid-State Fair website.
How to get tickets?
Tickets can be bought online or at the gate for $15 for adults, $12 for seniors and $10 for children 6-12 years old. Admission for children 5 and younger is free.
Special days allow certain groups to enter the fair at free or discounted prices.
Senior’s Day on Friday, July 19, allows people 62 and older to buy admission for half price.
Kids Day on Friday, July 26, gives free admission to all kids 12 and under.
Armed Forces Day gives visitors with a valid military ID free admission on Saturday, July 17.
A special promotion for $39 gets two adult admission tickets, two cheese curds and two bottled sodas with the coupon “222 for YOU!” It can be presented at any admission sales booth.
The flyers say that the package is a savings of $19 over the $58 value, and the coupon is valid through the full run of the fair.
Keffury told The Tribune that residents of SLO County were mailed a flyer with the 222 coupon earlier this month and those outside of the county interested in taking advantage of the deal can find the coupon on the fair’s website.
For avid fans of the fair who want to visit multiple days, season passes are also available. They are $71.50 for adults and $36.50 for kids.
Sing along to this year’s concerts
This year’s Michelob Concert Series welcomes headliners Miranda Lambert, Jelly Roll, TLC & Shaggy, and others to the Chumash Grandstand Arena.
Concerts by Carin Leon and Jelly Roll have already sold out.
Tickets to other paid concerts at the fair’s biggest stage are available for purchase online or at the fair box office.
Two of the fair’s most popular attractions in past years, the Country Rodeo and Monster Truck Madness, are set to return the fair’s final weekend.
Here’s the full schedule and prices for the grandstand stage:
July 17, Miranda Lambert with special guest Ben Haggard ($53-$123)
July 18, Nate Bargatze ($73-$98)
July 19, Sublime with Rome ($58)
July 20, Brad Paisley with special guest Matt Stell ($58-$108)
July 21, Zac Brown Band ($58-$168)
July 22, Carin Leon (sold out)
July 23, Jelly Roll with special guest Annie Bosko (sold out)
July 24, Nickelback with special guest Dillon James ($58-$138)
July 25, TLC & Shaggy with special guest DJ Flashback ($58-$83)
July 26, Cheap Trick at an Evening of Music & Wine ($48)
July 27, Country Rodeo Finals ($28-$33)
July 28, Monster Truck Show ($23-$43)
Free concerts are also set to run throughout the fair on the 805 Frontier stage.
Guests will be able to enjoy shows like the Miss California Mid-State Fair Pageant and tribute bands to Elton John and AC/DC.
Carnival rides and games
Keffury told The Tribune that the fair will continue to partner with Helm and Sons Amusements, whcih he said has been working with the Mid-State Fair for over a decade.
He said the company will provide the fair with 30 to 40 carnival rides, including past favorites like Big Splash and Giant Wheel.
Admissions to all rides will be free for all fair-goers on opening day Wednesday. The promotion does not include fair games, which are priced on a pay-as-you-play basis on all days of the fair.
For the remainder of the fair, admission to carnival rides need to be purchased separately along with fair admission. Unlimited ride wristbands are available for purchase online for $35.
Family- and kid-friendly events and rides
Special sections of the fair will be set aside for the very youngest of visitors.
At Cub Country, kids can go on smaller rides designed with them in mind.
Parents or guardians can buy tickets for individual rides on the fair’s website or purchase them at the admissions booth.
Smaller riders can get their fair thrill on rides like the Gummi Bear, Kiddie Bumper Cars, and the Loli Swings.
Little ones can also learn a new skill in the Kids Gardening corner on Friday, July 26, from 1 to 5 p.m., where kids can learn to transplant zucchini seedlings. Each participant will be able to take home their plant after the activity.
Wine tastings and cocktail competitions
Those looking for a more mature fair experience can stop by a number of adult-oriented events. Guests must be 21 to attend.
Wine Tasting & Awards: More than 40 wineries will share their top-rated wines with attendees on Friday, July 19, at the Mission Square Stage. Tickets are $40 in advance online and $50 in-person.
Mixology Tasting: Come join local mixologists from 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Sunday, July 21, to observe and experience the work of masters of the spirits industry. Mixologists will partner with local restaurants and compete to create unique cocktails that combine local farm-to-table products with craft spirits. Tickets are $40 in advance online and $50 in-person and include access to the competition and the two-hour tasting that follows.
More events and free pancakes
The fair also offers a range of other events, competitions, contests and demonstrations open to all.
Check the fair website to see a schedule of each day’s events before deciding which days you want to attend.
On Thursday, July 25, a free pancake breakfast will be held at the Downtown Paso Robles City Park in partnership with the Downtown Paso Robles Main Street Association. Hot cakes will be served with butter, syrup, eggs, sausage, orange juice, and coffee starting at 7:30 a.m.
Livestock shows and auction
If you or your kiddos love animals, the fair again offers a number of livestock events.
The schedule begins with pygmy goat and milk goat shows and contests on opening day, followed by a variety of other events as the county’s youth show and then eventually sell their animals.
Keffury told The Tribune the fair hosts livestock events through 4H and FFA, both of which give young people in the community an opportunity to exercise their independent agricultural skills.
“We have great support in the community for these young people,” Keuffury said. “People end up spending over $2 million on these animals.”
The livestock events culminate with the Junior Livestock Auction on Saturday, July 27, starting at 8 a.m.
Hot weather in the fair forecast
Finally, anyone headed to the fair should check the day’s forecast as hot weather is continuing in Paso Robles.
The city is expecting temperatures in the high 90s, reaching into the triple digits by the time the fair opens its gates, according to Mike Wofford, a meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Oxnard office.
“We are expecting a warming trend,” Wofford told The Tribune. “By Thursday, Paso Robles will be getting into the lower 100s. As we get into Saturday or Sunday, we’re looking at 103 to 106.”
Keffury said that the Mid-State fair will provide cooling centers at each fair building for those in need of a designated space to cool down; he also encouraged fair-goers to drink lots of water.
He offered one final piece of advice for the community — arrive early.
Keffury said that the fair expects parking at the event to be tight and said that the community should plan for a longer trek to the fairgrounds than they might expect.
