The Alameda County Fair Opens in Pleasanton

The Alameda County Fair Opens in Pleasanton

PHOTO BY JAKE SANDSKY

Discover old school charm in pig races and frozen lemonade, concerts, and amusement park rides.

The fair is coming to town. You know that the Alameda County Fair is here by the stampede of cows down Pleasanton’s Main Street. But this is the last year that the traditional cattle drive, featuring real live cowboys ropin’ and wrasslin’ real live cows, will thunder through city streets to signal the opening of the annual fair festivities.

But rest assured, all the other traditions of the fair, from the pig races to funnel cakes, are here to stay. It may be an annual tradition to gorge on deep-fried twinkies and frozen lemonade before jumping on the spinniest, flippiest, nausea-inducingest amusement rides, but this year, fair goers have the chance to push their stomachs to the extreme with a brand new ultra-extreme ride: the Mega-Flip. The Mega-Flip thrusts riders into the air from four different swinging booms while simultaneously spinning and flipping like a hurricane. Hold onto your hats, because this one’s a doozy.

But the fair’s got way more to offer than just opportunities for instant regrets. The 2019 Big O Tires Concert Series brings out superstars like Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe, Trace Adkins, Ashanti, Loverboy, Gin Blossoms, Sheila E., and Ramon Ayala.

Wednesdays through Sundays, June 14-July 7, Gate admission $8-$15, season pass $40-$80, Alameda County Fairgrounds, 4501 Pleasanton Ave., Pleasanton, AlamedaCountyFair.com.

Faces of the East Bay