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    Alameda County Fairgrounds

    3.4 (259 reviews)
    Open 8:00 am - 4:00 pm

    Alameda County Fairgrounds Photos

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    Jocelyn G.

    My wife surprised me with going to see the lights here.. this year. It was our very 1st time ever paying to see Christmas lights. She paid $16 per ticket for the 7:30 pm slot. However, upon arriving.. we were met with many other ppl/cars waiting as well. We got there at 7:30 pm. We waited on a extremely long line. Got to the front at about 8pm. We were there for only 20 mins or even less honestly... then it was done. The lights were meh. Was nothing extraordinary nor extravagant. Nothing popped.. or truly jumped out. It was flat!. This should have been done better overall.

    Aftermath of the race. Shoes were soaked and muddy
    Daniel F.

    Came here for Muddy Dash 2025 and had a great time. I wasn't in the best of shape but was able to still finish within an hour. The people were amazing and had a lot of great energy. There was some great obstacle courses, but there was a lot of running. The fairgrounds is very spacious and was able to see everything as we ran through the whole fairgrounds. Definitely coming back next year if Muddy Dash is here again.

    6/25/25 FYI. Might need this later today. lol
    Lee D.

    Quality/Quantity - Our annual family tradition. We also try to time it for the donation day, today we supported the Humane Society; see pictures. Very consistent fair. Excellent, 6 stars, as we come every year. Fair foods are a treat. Free shows and amazing bands; they are a good way to take a break from the heat. A little of everything for the whole family. I also like that the prices are "regulated," so I do not have to "shop" for the lowest priced booth for my beer, LOL. Extra plus that there were so many different areas to buy alcohol! They even have a wine bar, see pictures. This year's wine bar was by McGrail; a winery I am thinking of joining. Today was the Humane Society promotion and $1 rides until 5pm. They also have season passes, but one day is plenty. Special concerts for extra $$ - See website. Horse racing. None today. Dining at the track - Sky Lounge & Terrace. Fastrak for rides. Rides are/were extremely short, is it due to the $1 ride days? Or because these rides are for very young kids? Some of my favorite highlights of the fair, not in any order: Turkey legs. Caramel apples - For my daughter Many different promotions to cater to all. Can food drive, $1 ride days, $2 food bite days, concerts, etc. Contactless and mobile options. Wristbands for rides. Atmosphere - Something for everyone. Easy in and out parking. Plenty of parking, especially since we get here early. Got a space right up front! Plenty of clean restrooms. Color coded map, see pictures. Mobile charging stations. Petting zoo $$. Kids' areas - Quite a few kid areas and shows. Service - Good, plenty of ambassadors and security. Plenty of employees and volunteers. Shuttle from the parking lot to the entrance if needed. Price - Parking - $15. Rides - $1 until 5pm. Admissions - Donation to Humane Society. Owner Comment - Glad you are back. My daughters' band used to play here annually, so after being the "groupie" loading and unloading all the equipment, we got to enjoy the fair for free. :)

    Fair time!!!
    Dianalynn R.

    There is so much to see and do at this fair, it's impossible to do it all in one day. If you want to relax, there is a gorgeous garden to sit and relax in, I love all the shade. There are so many rides for kids and adults to ride, you can have a thrilling day. You can basically find any food too. Greek, kabobs, salad, burgers, corn, Hot dogs, fries, ice cream, slushies, coffee. They have it all. I loved all the entertainment, trapeze, juggling, ropers, yo-yo, science, dancers, singers. This is an incredible fair. One of my very favorites. Parking is pretty reasonable but I didn't see a way to pay with cash anymore. FYI

    SF Bay Flower & Garden Show (2024)
    Annabelle R.

    It's not just the setting of my favorite annual county fair, I've attended so many diverse events and festivals here over the years, including the Norcal Reptile Expo, Bay Area Pet Fair, TinyFest, 626 Night Market, Pirates of Emerson haunted house attraction, horse racing, and most recently, the SF Bay Flower & Garden Show this past weekend. Tons of space and a massive amount of parking (typically charging $15). The types of events held here are diverse and interesting, usually family-friendly and/or fun for couples, and the setting offers the flexibity of utilizing a single building, multiple buildings, or a combination of buildings and outdoor space. The fairgrounds Sky Ride (chairlifts used at Alameda County Fair) are just one of the many unique elements and nice touches that make this place an appealing venue. No doubt, I'm a fan of the Alameda County Fair (so much to do, see, and eat, plus it's where I first fell in love with bunnies!). But I often get excited when I learn that any special event is being held here... I don't attend them all, but when I do, it usually ends up turning into a positive experience, including the SF Flower & Garden Show this past weekend, which had much to offer for plant lovers like me.

    Hollandlop Rabbits for sale
    Salvador Z.

    My favorite pastimes as a kid was going to the fair with my family. It's still my favorite thing to do during the summer. Although my daughter is grown up now, I'm so happy she still enjoys going to the fair. Last year was still remnants of covid and very few vendors and livestock were here. This year was as normal as it was before covid. Lot's of vendors and all the livestock was here. It was a very hot day to visit the fair today but keeping hydrated was the plan. I was able walk the entire fair and had a great time. Most vendors do not take cash so be prepared to tap your credit card for payment. I enjoyed a corn dog and pineapple agua Fresca. Very fortunate I live close enough to walk to the Fair. Otherwise I would be paying $15 -$25 to park.

    Celeste L.

    It's been a while since my family and I went to the Alameda County Fair. My older kids were not as impressed. My husband thought it was okay, prices have gone up. They've gone cashless. Purchase tickets online or at a kiosk at the fairground. If you brought cash- there is a kiosk to add your cash into a card. You can pay your food, tickets with it. You'll have to show your parking pass on your phone. Attendants will scan the QR code. We tried the little kids section. Purchasing the card to ride/play games was a little confusing. Good thing staff was near by to answer questions. Once you find a "deal" and pay, you will receive a bracelet. Must wear it to ride rides or play. The prices are a big high. My 6 year old rode a ride with her older sibling. Attendant scanned her bracelet scanned my daughter's bracelet 3x. My older daughter explained that there were only 2 riding and that he scanned it 3x. He didn't care much. Food was okay. We were a little disappointed that a lot of items were not available when we went. There were a couple of buildings that sell products. That was pretty interesting. We bought a few things that we thought were good deals. Overall, the family and I stayed about 4 hours and was ready to go home. I asked the family what they thought. From a scale of 1-10, 1- would they come back to 10- I'm definitely coming back. They said, eh, maybe a 4 or 5. So, maybe Alameda County Fair will not be a yearly family outing.

    mango and pineapple dole whip
    Frances C.

    Perfect day to visit under the cool weather where you can really enjoy Theo food, animal shows and people watching. Many food trucks with great and interest g options. Mango and Pineapple Dole Whip- this was more like a soft serve ice cream with great consistency and the mango and pineapple complimented one another quite well. Really recommend this one! Turkey Leg Taco - these were your normal street tacos with turkey leg meat, pinto beans (I think), and pico de gallo. This was a 5/10 because it got really soggy really fast and the tortillas broke almost right away upon picking it up to eat. This was also lacking some flavor because they didn't have much salsas to work with other than tapatio jalapeños, and green tobasco. Corn with Hot Cheetos - this consisted of canned corn, mayonaise, cheese, and hot Cheetos. 10/10! Cant go wrong here because it is very simple yet the burst of flavors that compliment the corn was delicious! We went to the sauce station on the right side of the stand and also added lime juice, tapatio, Cajun seasoning, and valentina. Carne Asada Fries - consisted of fries, steak (asada), sour cream, pico de gallo, and cilantro. They offer red and green salsa on the side which we added and this was super delicious. It tasted very authentic and was the perfect portion size for two at a county fair, not being too overwhelming. Our family enjoyed and even helped in critiquing the foodie experience

    Hazardous waste drop off!
    Brunella D.

    This review is for their Hazardous Waste drop-off event only. This Drive-thru event was very well organized. There were two separate queues. The attendants were around guiding the traffic. They scanned Driver License of every car entering because this event was only for Alameda County residents. The queue moved quickly and everything was conducted very efficiently. We had to stay inside our car at all times for safety and masks were mandatory. The attendants collected the bags/bins of hazardous waste promptly from our car trunk and we were out in less than 20 min. The attendants and staff were friendly and very helpful. We are very thankful for this essential service offered to us- residents of Alameda County!

    Corn dog is a must!

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    3 years ago

    Everything is expensive, foods are disgusting and rides are dirty and old. Will never to go to Alameda county fair again.

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    Review Highlights - Alameda County Fairgrounds

    The Alameda County Fair offers fun for the whole family, whether rides for the children, games, exhibits...

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    Inklings Coffee & Tea - Pumpkin Spice Latte and Blueberry Scone

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    Just traveling through on family vacation headed to Yosemite National Park. My wife, planned a…read morestop here not realizing that Inklings was named after the famed literary giants! We are huge Lewis and Tolkien fans. In fact we are reading "Mere Christianity" on the trip! Anyway, enough of that! Here's what you really need to know--GREAT atmosphere! GREAT coffee! GREAT sandwiches! Definitely the jewel of the city! Family on our vacation are from Washington, Oregon and Texas, so you have fans across the country! Please bring an Inklings to Texas! This is a must stop! You won't be disappointed!

    Coffee shop located in the heart of Downtown Pleasanton. I'm not sure this place took over another…read morebusiness at some point because the space is really large. It also has an old-timey study or library or at least a literary vibe to this place. There's multiple rooms, including a stage in the back room. I think they have events here. Service is friendly and they have classic drinks as well as some festive ones. I was here on St. Patrick's Day so I got something festive even though it was overly sugary lol. I ordered the Lucky Charms White Mocha. It was tasty, but definitely a drink I wouldn't be able to order on the regular. I was able to set up my computer and one of the side rooms and get some work done. This place seems to be a very popular place for studying and doing some work. Just a great place in a great area. They have a large lot and there's also plenty of street parking in the area, especially during the day.

    Kottinger Barn

    Kottinger Barn

    (2 reviews)

    The trinkets here are expensive but beautiful! I just visited this place again and now that I am a…read morefew years older I am able to appreciate the beauty of the aged building. There are cracks on the walls and the shackles and rooftop is very old-fashioned but that just adds to its charm. The owners of the shop were so sweet. They offered water and snacks and are just plain genuine. They didn't put any pressure on us to buy or to leave, even though they were closing up. They seemed more content with people just visiting and gawking at the historical site. This place is also part of the ghost tour held during Halloween. Yup, there have been many incidents here. Like footsteps on the second floor, objects being moved, stuff like that. The staircase within the shop gave me a creepy vibe. It is made of old wood and it is narrow. Looking up to the second floor is eerie and uncomfortable. Maybe I felt that way because my friend just told me that the ghosts known to inhibit the Kottinger Barn can be heard walking up and down these very steps. **Shivers** Ohhh ghost stories give me the willys but I love them! The way the owners set up the back yard is cute. It's ambiance is old and used and also kind of sad and lonely for it looked like it was abandoned for years. I can imagine the ghost sitting on one of the chairs, looking out of the yard at the changed world...(there goes my imagination again)

    I've been to the Milfleur Gift Shop and Garden :) I know the history and have shopped there many…read moretimes. Haven't seen anything out of the ordinary, but then again I bet most people don't. Wish I were one of the few lucky ones that do ~ It's now a beautiful place with fabulous gifts with a Down Home, Friendly owner, Teri. Worth checking out ~ Some of the bars in the window from when it was a jail, are still attached and in view ~

    Palm Event Center In the Vineyard  - Black & white haven

    Palm Event Center In the Vineyard

    (296 reviews)

    Attended a wedding here on a Monday afternoon evening early July 2026 and it was amazing! The drive…read moreto the venue is beautiful, there were staff directing us where to park and how to get into the venue, even when it was hot. It is like within a winery, I didn't explore much outside but we were welcomed with a drink either a sangria or lemonade, people immediately wanted to go into the shade and there were places to sit, listen to the live music and sign and drop off gifts. Then cocktail hour started and the bartenders were great and friendly and the alcohol and drinks were really good. The hordouvres/appetizers were amazing!! I liked how they came out and served them and they kept on coming, I ate so much I was worried I was going to be to full for dinner. The bacon wrapped something, I think dates? And the fried chick peas, sandwiches, ceviche, everything was so good with our drinks! They then opened up the ballroom for us to take our seats, it was a sot down served meal and I chose the fish option. It came with a salad first that was huge and bread and then dinner was served efficiently, food was good! The bathrooms are located behind the stage but overall it's a big ballroom, for lots of space and activities like the Photo Booth and other vendors. Sound was good, decorations and staff were awesome, they also have a bridal room with a bathroom nearby for the wedding party and their stuff. I really enjoyed this venue as a guest, pictures were also really nice! Also well air conditioned on a hot day.

    We had a full Hindu wedding ceremony and reception at the Palm Event Center and had an excellent…read moreexperience overall! We reserved our date quite in advance but had a lot of support in the planning. We first worked with Nicole during the initial planning process, and then things were handed off to our coordinator Makenna. She was excellent to work with when we had questions and changes as we got closer to our date. Palm was also very flexible with us viewing the venue with family in advance and scheduling a rehearsal the week of. Our coordinator Makenna was sick last minute so we worked with Melissa on the day of the wedding. Despite coming in last minute, she took great care of us and everything went smoothly! The ceremony package with wedding coordinator was a great value for how smoothly everything went. We definitely recommend working with preferred vendors whenever possible to make things even easier, as they have good relations with the venue and paperwork is easier. We are so glad we got married here and can't wait to visit the winery again in the future! Thanks so much to Makenna and Melissa for making our special day so memorable!

    Sunol's Casa Bella - Sunol's Casa Bella - Indian wedding reception photography- Yin & Yang Studios

    Sunol's Casa Bella

    (156 reviews)

    Beautiful venue for an outdoor wedding ceremony followed by dinner inside in downtown Sunol. It was…read moreour first time coming to in which the closest town is Pleasanton. Probably one of the most memorable weddings as during the couples vows when a freight train passed by for 5 minutes which caused some laughter by the Officiant and guests. After dinner was served which by the way the pre-selected entrees of steak, salmon and chicken Marsala were actually really good snd not overcooked, the guests were either dancing or waiting in line for their ice cream from Mr. Softee when those inside were told to evacuate due to an electrical fire. Prior to the announcement, many of us had seen the outdoor lights flicker on an off and we thought that someone had accidentally was playing with the light switch. Fire department was called and shortly after we left. Staff was very professional throughout the event and no complaints with the indoor and outdoor venues.

    Casa Bella was the perfect wedding venue for our special day! The property is absolutely beautiful…read morewith a cozy, romantic, and elegant atmosphere, making every part of the celebration feel so memorable. The staff was professional and incredibly helpful throughout the process. We really appreciate how we were able to use some of their complimentary items too! We couldn't have asked for a better venue and highly recommend Casa Bella to any couple planning their wedding in the Bay Area that prefers a ceremony and reception all in one place, which makes it super convenient for all the guests. We loved our wedding here so much, that we also came back for Casa Bella's Mother's Day Brunch event too!

    Alameda County Fairgrounds - venues - Updated August 2026

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