The 2019 Santa Barbara County Fair kicked off Wednesday.
The fair takes place at the Santa Maria Fairpark through Sunday, July 14.
Wednesday night, Grammy Award-winning singer Ashanti will perform on the main stage. The concert is free with fair admission and starts at 7:30 p.m. There will be no opening act and seating is first-come, first-served.
General admission for the fair is $9 for ages 6-11, $12 for ages 12-61, and $9 for ages 62 and older. Unlimited carnival ride wristbands are $35.
On Thursday and Friday, admission will be half off before 3 p.m.
Thursday is also Senior Appreciation Day and seniors aged 62 and older can get in for just $1.
Country singer Clay Walker will perform free on the main stage Thursday evening.
On Friday night, TLC will perform live.
Saturday is Military and Law Enforcement Appreciation Day. Active duty military members, law enforcement and first responders, with ID, will be admitted free all day.
A new event this year is the PBR Classic. Professional bull riders will compete at the fair on Saturday at 5 p.m. Tickets to the event are $40.
Following the PBR Classic, country duo Maddie & Tae will perform a free concert.
The fair also includes the usual favorites, including livestock and animal exhibition events, food, and carnival rides.
Alanna Flores is showing a 1,112-pound market steer this year. The cow will be sold at auction. She’s hoping it sells for $4 a pound.
“It’s interesting because you show them and people don’t really see it. They just come for the rides and stuff like that. But you know how much work you put in, your parents know how much work and then obviously the judge is going to see how much work you put into it,” Flores said. “I can make bonds with something I know is going to leave ’cause it’s just showing you to really know something and develop a bond, and then I can work with it and it can become a big project and I can prove to other people that I can do it.”
This is the 128th year of the Santa Barbara County Fair.
Click here for more information about the fair’s lineup of events.
