Alameda County Fair

The 2026 Alameda County Fair took place in Pleasanton, Alameda County, from June 19 to July 12. The annual fair drew nearly 400,000 attendees and generated a local economic impact of $312 million, contributing $14.3 million in sales tax to the area.

Key attractions included a junior livestock auction which raised $1.3 million for youth agricultural education programs. A significant exhibit, "Rising Together: In Remembrance of 9/11," allowed festival-goers to write nearly 1,000 "notes of hope" and place white roses at a survivor tree. Additionally, in honor of the U.S. 250th anniversary, a time capsule filled with items representing 2026 was buried, destined to be reopened in 2076 for America's 300th birthday.

Fair food was a central highlight, with "The Main Squeeze" lemonade cookie by The Dough Show booth winning the foodie's choice award. Attendees consumed 28,726 corndogs and 20,400 funnel cakes. The fair also facilitated substantial community donations, including almost 12,000 pints of blood for the American Red Cross, over 59,000 meals for the Alameda County Food Bank, and approximately 1,900 pounds of pet food for the Valley Humane Society.