San Diego County Fair 2027: Dates, Tickets, Rides & Parking

The 2027 San Diego County Fair runs Thursday, June 10 through Monday, July 5, 2027 at the Del Mar Fairgrounds, according to the official fair site. The fair lists closures on June 14, 15, 21 and 28. Expect about 20 days of rides, fair food, livestock barns and nightly concerts. Ticket and parking prices for 2027 had not been posted as of November 2026, so the numbers below are the 2026 rates, marked as such. They give a reliable sense of what you will pay.

What the San Diego County Fair is

Locals still call it the Del Mar Fair. It takes over the Del Mar Fairgrounds at 2260 Jimmy Durante Blvd., Del Mar, CA 92014, about 20 miles north of downtown. The racetrack next door is the same complex that hosts summer thoroughbred racing (see our guide to reading a Del Mar race program).

Each year has a theme. 2026 was “Once Upon a Fair,” built around books and storytelling. For 2027, fair leadership told 10News the theme will be chocolate. The official tagline had not been announced.

2027 dates and hours

• Dates: June 10 – July 5, 2027
• Listed closed days: June 14, 15, 21 and 28
• Hours: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Gates close at 10 p.m. Exhibit buildings, shopping halls and Family Funville close at 10 p.m., and bars close at 10:30 p.m. Rides and games may stay open later when crowds are big.

In 2026 the fair was closed every Monday and Tuesday. The 2027 schedule lists fewer closed days, so check the fair’s calendar before you pick a date. The Fourth of July falls inside the run. In 2026 the fair marked it with a fireworks show at the Grandstand.

Tickets and admission prices

Prices change with the day of the week and drop if you buy online at least 24 hours ahead. These are the 2026 rates from the official tickets page. Use them as a guide until 2027 prices go up.

2026 admission (online / at gate)	Wed–Thu	Friday	Sat–Sun
General (13–61)	$17 / $20	$20 / $25	$20 / $25
Senior (62+)	$14 / $17	$17 / $22	$17 / $22
Youth (6–12)	$14 / $17	Free	$17 / $22
Child (5 and under)	Free	Free	Free

Other ticket options in 2026:

• Season pass: $65 for every day of the fair. Not sold once the fair opens.
• Military: Discounted tickets through GOVX and base MWR/ITT offices.
• Grocery discounts: Albertsons, Vons and Pavilions sold discounted tickets. Axios put the savings at up to $8.50.
• Concert tickets: Grandstand concerts were included with admission. Paid shows at The Sound included same-day fair admission.

Online ticket and parking orders had no transaction fees, and discount codes only work online. The fairgrounds is cashless, so bring a card or phone wallet.

Free admission options

There is no free day for adults. The free options are:

• Kids 5 and under, every day.
• Kids 12 and under on Fridays in June (2026 “Kids Days”).
• Free kids’ tickets through the public library summer reading program, which ran in 2026.
• The Fair For All program, which donates tickets to nonprofits. Individuals can’t apply, but schools and community groups can.

Rides, games and ride prices

The midway has more than 70 rides and games, split between the Fun Zone and the smaller Kids Zone. Rides are not included in admission. You pay with BlastPass credits loaded onto a card, and each ride or game costs 4 to 12 credits.

2026 BlastPass price	Bought Feb 16–Apr 30	Bought May 1–Jun 9	Bought during fair
$20	24 credits	20 credits	16 credits
$50	60 credits	50 credits	40 credits
$100	120 credits	100 credits	80 credits

Credits expire when the fair ends, so don’t over-buy. Buying in spring gets you up to 50% more credits, which is the best ride deal there is if you know you’re going.

Unlimited rides: On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., a pay-one-price wristband covers unlimited rides. It was $55 at the gate in 2026, and the official rides page also listed a lower $50 price, likely the advance rate. If your kids will ride more than about six times, the wristband usually pays off. Game On Fridays cut every Fun Zone and Kids Zone game to 4 credits from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Food at the Del Mar Fair

Food is half the reason people come. The fair has well over 100 food stands, from long-running favorites like Chicken Charlie’s to new oddities each season. Headline items in 2026 included a blueberry-brie corn dog in a croissant, a churro hot dog and a torched ice cream sandwich on a stick.

Two deals help with the cost:

• $15 meal deals at dozens of stands (an entrée, side and/or drink).
• Foodie Fridays: every Friday in June, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., the finalists in the Fair-tastic Food Competition sell their entries at half price. It’s the cheapest way to try the new foods.

Expect a chocolate-heavy lineup in 2027 to match the theme. The official deals page usually lists the competition finalists in late spring.

Parking, shuttles and the best way to get there

Traffic on I-5 around Via de la Valle backs up on weekends and concert nights. Choosing how you arrive matters more than almost any other decision.

Option	2026 price	How you reach the gate
On-site General (Blue and Green lots)	$25 at gate, $20 online in advance	Free tram
On-site Preferred (orange flags)	$60 at gate, $55 online	Free tram, closest walk
Del Mar Horsepark, 14550 El Camino Real	$15	Free shuttle
Torrey Pines High School, 3710 Del Mar Heights Rd	Free	Free shuttle
Solana Beach train station	Train fare	Free shuttle

2026 lot prices come from the fair’s ticket coverage on NBC 7. Lot locations and shuttle details come from the official parking page.

A few practical points:

• The free lot is the best value. Torrey Pines High School and Horsepark open at 10 a.m. and close an hour after the fair. Shuttles drop you at the West Gate and O’Brien Gate.
• The train is the calmest option. Ride the COASTER or Amtrak to Solana Beach and take the free fair shuttle from the station. NCTD has sold a combined transit-and-admission “Fair Tripper” ticket in past seasons. Check GoNCTD in spring.
• Rideshare drop-off is past the Blue Lot gate on Jimmy Durante Blvd. Look for purple flags.
• Bikes: Racks are at the O’Brien and Arena gates. There is no valet, so bring a lock.
• Re-entry: If you drive out, you pay to park again.
• ADA parking stalls are paid and first come, first served. Trams and shuttles are wheelchair accessible.

Best things to do at the fair

• Grandstand concerts: Big-name shows at 7:30 p.m. on most nights, included with admission. The 2026 lineup ranged from Chicago and Demi Lovato to Marshmello and Los Tucanes de Tijuana. 2027 acts are usually announced in spring.
• Livestock and the farm: The Junior Livestock show and the daily swine races are included with admission and a hit with kids.
• Exhibit halls: Competitive exhibits, the Student Showcase, the PlantGrowEat garden program and the photography show.
• Free stages: The Paddock concert series, roaming acts and acrobatic shows.

The photography contest

The International Exhibition of Photography is one of the fair’s oldest competitive exhibits. It is open to adults, plus a youth division for ages 13–17. In 2026 the online entry deadline was April 7, fees were $20 per entry, and the limit was 20 entries across 35 classes, including smartphone, film and digital art. Generative AI images are not eligible. The fair says 2027 rules will be posted on the photography entry page in February.

Tips for a smoother day

• Go on a Wednesday or Thursday for the cheapest admission and the unlimited-ride wristband.
• Arrive at opening for short ride lines and easier parking. Evenings bring cooler air, concert crowds and the lit-up midway.
• Buy online before the day. Admission, parking and ride credits are all cheaper bought ahead, and the season pass pays off by the fourth visit.
• Coastal weather swings. June afternoons are often gray and mild, and nights get cool. Bring a layer.
• Make a beach day of it. Del Mar’s beaches are a short drive away. Our San Diego beach guide covers the closest ones, and the beach at Torrey Pines is a few miles south.