I've been going to the Alameda County Fair since I was a kid, and I truly don't think I've missed a…read moreyear. Even during COVID, when they couldn't hold the regular fair, they put on a special fall version instead. Getting to go to the fair in a Halloween costume was honestly such an awesome experience. I hope they do something like that again someday. I definitely have my traditions. Funnel cake is a must (always with strawberries ). Non-negotiables include the Sky Ride, the petting zoo, and the Model Railroad exhibit (ask about their scavenger hunt!). Before I leave, I have to stop at one of the old-fashioned photo booths too. I write the year on the back of every photo strip, so I've ended up with this little collection that's basically a timeline of my life at the fair. One of my favorite things is that it really feels like the community coming together, and the whole place has such a festive vibe. My dad has won a couple of blue ribbons over the years, I have friends who enter competitions, and I genuinely love walking through the exhibits to see what people have grown, baked, photographed, painted, and created. I always end up spending way more time (and money! ) than I planned, so now I just budget for it every year. The concerts have been incredible too. I've seen Bowling for Soup, Smash Mouth, the Village People, Flo Rida, and plenty of others over the years. Between the concerts, the demolition derby, the drone shows, the animals, the rides, and all the new entertainment they bring in every year, I usually end up going more than once before the fair is over. Speaking of food, the best (and most ridiculous) fair food appears every year. This year it was Spam fries. Did I try them? No. Did I absolutely stop to take a picture? Of course I did. Also, one year I somehow came home from the fair with a mattress. We weren't planning on buying one, but I guess that's just another Alameda County Fair memory. After almost 30 years, I still get excited every time I walk through those gates. I have to leave with my traditional photo strip, my feet tired and dusty, and already looking forward to next year.

We went to this fair on July 11th, and it happened to be one of the hottest day ever!! If I…read moreremember well, it was 96 degrees that day! Before my granddaughter went back to Bellevue, we bought tickets online and went to this fair. It was quite a fun experience! We arrived early, and parking was a breeze, well organized . We headed to one most wanted attraction, the Alaska pig racing!! The benches were full, but some very kind people squeezed in to make room for us. It was quite a show, and the host made the crowd participate too!! Then the petting zoo, the games, the food, the snacks.... Expensive, but it was fun. Then the heat got to us and we went home. It would be so awesome if the weather was cooler so we can enjoy everything!!! Guess we need to come back next year.

Paying for parking and hard to access was not disclosed prior to purchasing tickets. Entertainment…read morewas less than entertaining.

You have probably seen ads for this event on Facebook or TV. Bright lights, festive, cultural -…read morelooks cool, right? I didn't see many reviews for the Pleasanton event online so hopefully this review can be helpful for someone on the fence about going. - It's expensive(!): one adult ticket is $27 after online fees, plus $10 in parking. The event is located on the east side of the Fairgrounds along Fairgrounds Road, so if you're looking to save money you can find neighborhood parking along Rose Ave and walk 5 to 10 minutes. - It's VERY, VERY small: the commercials on TV make this event look vast and spacious, but in reality, it really just occupies a small grass field. You can walk through the whole thing in less than an hour - and that's after taking your time, stopping to take pics, reading the light descriptions, etc. - The light installations are pretty cool: the quality and attention to detail of the light installations were well done. The lights definitely weren't cheesy and you could get some nice pictures here. - Stay for the acrobat show: they have a 20-minute Chinese acrobat show a few times a night. It was really good and entertaining! Wish it was longer. Start times vary depending on the night, so check the schedule at the ticket window when you arrive. - Not crowded: I went with my family on a Saturday night and it wasn't crowded at all. You can easily walk around and take pics. Very quiet and peaceful. Overall: at almost $30 a person (plus more if you pay for parking) I would recommend skipping this event. The light installations are nice, but you won't walk away saying "wow" or anything. The space is also REALLY small and underwhelming. But if you are looking for something new to do this holiday season, you can make this a good time out. Just level your expectations. Personally I wouldn't pay no more than $10 for this event and tickets are nearly 3x that amount.

We walked to the gate from downtown Pleasanton. We attended many other events walking up to this…read moregate. Security told us we had to enter from the other side which meant that we would walk 1.5 miles around plus almost a mile through their parking lots. We were not adding 2.5 miles to our trip. Also there were big no pedestrian signs along the road that the guard told us to take. Seriously? In times when they are trying to encourage walking and public transit why are you making it so difficult to atttend your event?

$9 admission + $15 parking=$24 to enter. It's ridicules. They get money from the vendors and the…read moreitems are way over-priced, so the admission should be free. In addition, they closed all entrances and just open for the $15 parking entrance where you cannot find any street parking nearby. You must walk 30min if you avoid paying for $15 parking. Someone else also wrote it, but you see the similar vendors as Art and Wind Festival and that's a free event. Why do we need to spend $24 to shop at Harvest Festival?

The Pleasanton Antiques and Collectibles Faire takes place on the town's main drag in May and…read moreOctober. I've been to lots (and lots) of antique fairs but this one stands out for multiple reasons: *Pretty much every business on the street was open, so there were a lot of places to grab a snack or something cold to drink; it also made the fair more festive-feeling overall (this isn't always the case with some small-town fairs) *There were plenty of places to sit and rest, which was especially nice because last Sunday's fair was in 90-degree-plus heat *Parking was free and easy on an adjacent street *The laid-back vibe was just so darn great If you want to find me, come to the next fair on October 12th and look for the chunky middle-aged lady buying up all the vintage Pyrex.

Great fair and great fun! For people think it's terrible because it was canceled, it was for safety…read morereasons, the wind was 20+ mph and tents could go flying easily, this has been reinforced since a big wind storm hit an antique street fair years back, and killed 6 people (and the wind speed then was 23 mph) this is for your safety not for your annoyance! It's a great fair and they care about your life!

Great Hula competition this year! Also, best place to eat a Hawaiian plate lunch and go shopping…read morefor your Hawaiian snacks, apparel, and accessories.

This year will be the 154th Scottish Highland Gathering and Games and if anything like last year's…read moreevent, will be a must for all. Great music, athletics, dancing, vendors, food throughout the Fairgrounds with whisky tasting, sheep herding exhibition, Highland cows and Clydesdale horses on display and kids events section. Family friendly (kids entry is free) and you don't have to be Scottish to enjoy.

Fun for the whole family.. Activities include; Pipers, drummers, dancers, athletic events. sheep…read moredog trials, lots of shopping, car show, birds of prey demonstrations, camping, whiskey sampling events, Living history reenactors, and great Celtic rock groups. Highly recommend buying your grandstand seats as soon as you arrive. They sell out fast! Food lines can be long, so plan ahead.

Are you kidding me?! How is this the first time that I'm hearing about this event?! This event was…read morefabulous! It's basically an all you can sip wine buffet! An absolute dream for all of you winos out there. I came across this event on the Alameda County Fair website. I had planned to attend the fair, but couldn't figure out which date that I wanted to go. But once I saw this event, I knew that I just had to go and check it out because it just sounded too good to be true! I paid $45 for the event which included admission into the fair. Parking was not included, and I prepaid for parking online which costed $10. This event was actually held on the field right in the middle of the horse races! I was given a wrist band that included in and out privileges, but I ended up staying there the whole time since I got there about an hour and a half after it started. The event was held between 2 and 5 pm, but I rolled in "fashionably late" (ahem!) at 3:30pm. I actually feel like this was a great time to go because the lines weren't excessively long, and I might have passed out from all of the wine if I would have kept drinking. There were over 40 different wineries pouring their most popular and award winning wines! There were many local wineries as well as a few that I had recently visited while wine tasting in Mendocino county! Way too many to name, but there was so much variety! The pourers were mostly volunteers, so many of them didn't know too much about the wineries and the background of the wines. However, this event wasn't meant to be intimate as there were so many different wineries that were showcasing their wines. There were many shaded tables and chairs around where people could sit. They also had a big wager tent where people could sip while betting on the horse races! I did not participate in the betting this time around, but I would like to do it next year for sure. I must have tried over 50 different wines that day! A word of advice to anyone who is thinking about coming out: drink lots of water and pace yourself! I believe that they had a water stand available in the wagering tent, but I just brought my own. Unfortunately, I didn't follow my own advice and didn't pace myself. I'll let you figure out how the night ended... In any event, the Sip, Savor, & Wager was really fun! I met lots of people, mingled around, and tried many different wines that I had never tried before. There were also a few food trucks around for those who didn't get a chance to eat. This was the first time that this event was held in conjunction with the Alameda County Fair and I think it was an excellent turn out! Being able to get a closeup view of the horse races was icing on the cake. I definitely plan to attend the event next year if they decide to have it again!

Fun event. Gets really hot. First year they ran out of water! Next year they addressed it. It gets…read morereally busy later in the event so get there early. Biggest problem is they don't serve the wines (especially reds) at appropriate temperatures. Reds shouldn't be served at room temp when its 93 degrees out! Otherwise it's a decent time.

Taking place at the Alameda County Fairgrounds, this event is actually like the Alameda County…read moreFair, but everything Scottish... meaning attire, food, music, entertainment, animals (sheep dogs and birds of prey), and merchandise vendors selling various items, from swords to drinking horns, and of course kilts and accessories too (picked up a cute frog instrument from The Fiddle Guy, while testing out the sounds of several of his string instruments for sale). The athletic events are different (a lot of throwing heavy objects), but still amusing to watch. The pipe band competitions were awesome. Not just talented musicians on the bagpipes in these marching bands, but a variety of pipes and drums. There were also a couple different stages with live music performances, various bands playing unique instruments, even a celtic didgeridoo. It was a lot of fun. For food and drinks, we had some meat pies (lamb rosemary and beef mushroom), a funnel cake with strawberry and chocolate, and alcoholic beverages (michelada and margarita), picnicking in the grass while enjoying the music and entertainment. Some of the lines were quite long in the early afternoon, but at least food vendors were spread out, not all in one place. Later in the afternoon, we did some whiskey tasting, choosing from a nice variety, my fave being a Milam and Greene bourbon. They also sold cigars and chocolate in this building, and we took home the Whiskey and Barrel Nite shot glasses as souvenirs. Our day ended with more live music, all of the bands performing altogether in the Grandstand, it was quite impressive. I'm glad I was able to check out this event, and would definitely return in future years.

Held for the last 20 years at the Pleasanton fairgrounds…read more Ticket price 45$ parking 15$ There are so many things to do at this fair. Taste great food, get hair braided, watch folk dancing, singing, sheep dog trials, caber tossing, shopping and Food Food Food

I visited this free holiday attraction on Friday, and even with the freezing winter temperatures, I…read moreenjoyed my time here. I arrived around opening time (6:00pm), and there was just a short line for entry. With so much to see and admire about this place, the walk thru was much longer than I expected, though that's partly cuz I didn't know you could pass people till I reached the mid-point. It's only one-way through the various pathways and illuminated tunnels that make up this experience, but if people stop and block foot traffic for long periods of time (for instance, families telling their toddler to look at every single doll and figurine in the windows and displays, or having them pose to take pictures like tourists), there's enough space to just pass them. Widmer World presents a range of themes and collections, including Disney (mickey mouse, toy story, disney princesses, etc), Minions, Snoopy, Santa, Abominable Snowman, geese, penguins, and stuffed animals galore. Cardboard cutouts with artwork, inflatables in various characters, moving props and decor, and animated xmas figures. Detailed miniature displays of various scenes including a charming village, a carnival with ferris wheels, roller coasters, and hot air balloons, and a festive model railroad with multiple trains moving along the tracks. It's so much more than a light show lined with impressive displays all around. It's a whimsical wonderland with lots of moving parts and interactive exhibits to delight guests of all ages. There's a scavenger hunt to find 12 gnomes, as well as a Mr. Potato Head coin toss game, and at the end of the walk thru, there's a guest book you can sign. In the front of the house, a giant chair is available for photo ops, along with more holiday lights and decorations. There are also signs directing visitors on where to find street parking (since you can't park in the court where this event is located).

Amazing Christmas displays fill the space with lights and detail. Every area feels thoughtful and…read morefestive. A giant chair invites fun photos for kids and adults. The setting feels warm, joyful, and memorable. A great experience for the whole family.

Every time I try to go to an event in downtown Pleasanton I am reminded that I would never want to…read morelive there. Parking is a nightmare and the city blocks off many access streets. Cars, people, and dogs everywhere! I am not really sure what all the booths have to offer as I couldn't get near one as there are too many people with tiny dogs on long leashes that will take you down very quickly. But they are extremely cute little dogs. Add to that all of the gifts left by the 'Doggies' during the parade that there is an unmistakable odor wafting through the air that will take your appetite away. The best part is the Doggie Parade and the Beer Garden. For $5 bucks you can get either a full beer glass or a full glass of wine. Not just samples. There is a live band as well that is nice to listen to while you check out all the bad hair, fake tans, and general 'situations' running around. When they closed Aura did everyone just start coming here instead? The problem is that instead of spreading out into the roped off area everyone crowds up by the booths spilling their vino all over you and your feet. C'mon people there will still be wine left for you even if you do go more than ten feet away. As we were leaving there was a huge crush of people hanging out by the entrance to the beer garden. Not people trying to get in but those under 21 trying to get a contact high from the beer and wine fumes. I think I will go to the next one and dress up my pups in their finery and join the parade.

First Wednesday starts in May (?) through September every year. There's a beer garden, booths, food…read moretrucks and various activities for kids spread throughout. This past First Wednesday featured an adorable pooch parade along with a game truck and one or two food trucks and other vendors. There's also an art area where local artists make art right in front of you for purchasing. A lot of the stores stay open a little later so you can browse while walking around. If you order from the beer garden, you'll have to stay in that area because you're not allowed to walk around with an open container in the area. If you're looking for something to do, then stop by. If I'm not busy, I'll go with a few friends and wander for a bit.