After a monthlong contest to select a theme that celebrates the nation’s 250th birthday, the Santa Cruz County Fair has one for its 2026 edition: “Apple Pies and Starry Skies!”
The winning theme was submitted by Randy Fong, who will receive a prize of four passes to the fair, plus a parking pass.
The fair is slated for Sept. 16-20 at the fairgrounds outside Watsonville.
This year, the county fair received nearly 100 suggestions through its 2026 theme contest. The winner was selected by the administrative office staff, who chose their favorite submissions, with the volunteer department heads then picking their favorite from that list.
This year’s theme was selected because it evokes a classic American dessert that is symbolic of summer, and the imagery of the night sky above the Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds, according to a media release.
“There’s nothing more American than apple pie,” said Ronald Haedicke, marketing director for the fairgrounds.
The fair invites artists to enter its 2026 poster art contest to create this year’s official fair poster, which will be used in advertising, social media and on signs throughout the fairgrounds.
More details, deadlines and criteria for the 2026 poster art contest will be released soon.
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