The Madera District Fair is almost here

MADERA, Calif. (KSEE/KGPE) – The Madera District Fair is almost here. On Wednesday, organizers were found working hard to make those finishing touches, as the fair kicks off Thursday.  

“I love the Madera Fair,” said 9-year-old Kennedy Jones. She says her favorite parts of the fair are the kiddie pool filled with corn and the Madera Co. Produce. “Because I get to, like, play like a shopkeeper and a customer,” Kennedy shared. 

This year’s fair theme is ‘so extra’. Meaning extra time at the fair, extra surprises, and extra savings. “We’re finding that families are looking for affordable opportunities and entertainment,” said Madera District Fair CEO Barbara Leach. Like on Friday, with a newly introduced $5 fair food happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m., which includes beer booths.

Fair hours have also been extended, opening an hour early each day. Thursday and Friday, the fair is open from 4 to 11 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 2 to 11 p.m. “Thursday is free for all to enter the fairgrounds as well as every day of the fair. Kids 12 and under are free,” Leach added.

And every night, the first 400 guests will receive a surprise at the gate. “Maybe some visors, sunglasses, just as merchandise and swag from Madera Fair, just to make their visit extra,” Leach explained. 

This year, the fair is also returning with a new youth admissions policy. After 7 p.m., kids under 18 need to be accompanied by someone over the age of 21. “We will be checking IDs for that.” The fair told us back in July that the move was to keep families together and improve safety. The Madera Police Department hopes this will also help reduce the number of missing children.

“We do offer a BOGO opportunity that will be available inside the gates on Saturday and Sunday between 2 and 5 p.m. So you buy one carnival wristband for $40, you get a second one for free,” Leach said. And each day, fairgoers can catch the concert headliners for free with admission. “We have Blue Oyster Cult opening Thursday night, Sugar Ray on Friday, Joe Nichols on Saturday, and Casimiro Zamudio closing out Sunday night.”