Everything you need to know about the 2025 Santa Cruz County Fair

The Santa Cruz County Fair is just around the corner. Starting next Wednesday, Sept. 10, fairgoers will be able to enjoy funnel cakes, pig races, and countless rides and entertainment for everyone. 

This year’s fair, located on the county fairgrounds just outside of Watsonville, will run through Sept. 14. New county fair CEO Dori Rose Inda told Lookout earlier this week that there will be new attractions added to this year’s festivities, including a “Slime Lab” and lucha libre wrestling shows. 

But before you make the trip next week, here’s everything you need to know about the Santa Cruz County Fair. 

County fair hours and ticket pricing

The fair runs from Sept. 10-14, and will be open Wednesday through Friday from noon to 11 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m to 11 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. 

Tickets for admission to the Santa Cruz County Fair are $22 for adults age 13 to 61 and $11 for kids 6 to 12 (kids get in free on Thursday, Sept. 11). Children 5 and under can enter for free, and adults over 62 will pay $14. Active duty military members can also receive free admission. 

Fairgoers can purchase tickets online or in-person at the venue on the day of. The fair is also offering discounts for those who buy tickets or ticket packages, which include parking passes and ride wristbands, on its website. Parking is $15, though vehicles with five or more occupants get free parking. 

Rose Inda told Lookout that the fair will be offering a shuttle service from its parking lot to the front gates to help those not able to walk the distance from their vehicles. 

Free rides and discounted ticket prices to fair via Santa Cruz Metro 

Santa Cruz Metro is also offering discounted fair admission ticket prices to those opting to take public transit to the fairgrounds this year. Metro is launching a special weekday route just for the fair, which will offer free rides from the Watsonville Transit Center to the county fairgrounds everyday. Bus services to the fair will run from 10:35 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. on weekdays, and 8:35 a.m. to 9:35 p.m. during the weekend. 

Fairgoers must ask the bus driver for the ticket voucher in order to purchase tickets at the discounted price. Tickets for adults are $7 and children 6 to 12 are $6. 

Entertainment lineup and new attractions

New entertainment will be added to this year’s festivities. On Wednesday, there will be a freestyle motocross show that promises to be “a spectacular fusion of music and extreme sports,” featuring X Games gold medalist Adam Jones. The show will require an additional ticket that can be purchased on the fair’s website. Tickets for adults 13 and older are $32.50 and $19.75 for children 6 to 12. 

Fairgoers will also get to enjoy the highly popular form of Mexican wrestling, known as lucha libre, another new entertainment act to the fair being introduced this year. The lucha libre shows are free every day. The fair is also adding a Slime Lab, a co-presentation with the Santa Cruz Children’s Museum of Discovery, which gives kids — and kids at heart — a chance to play with goo. 

Like every year, there will be live music every night starting on Thursday. From Outlaw Mariachi, a fusion band mixing rock and traditional mariachi sounds, to tribute bands performing hits from The Beatles and Taylor Swift, each show will start at 7:30 p.m. at the Amphitheater Stage. 

All the pavilions at the fair will be open, featuring displays fn collectibles, photography and fine art, textile crafts, agricultural displays, fruits and vegetables, prepared goods, historical exhibits and livestock corrals. Due to precautions with avian flu, Rose Inda said that some animals typically seen at the fair — primarily chickens and cows — will not be available for public access. 

Job opportunities at the fair

Seasonal jobs are also available for this year’s fair. Topknotch Security will be holding interviews for its parking team, which handles parking lot control and traffic directions and operation. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a valid ID and a completed application with references, if any. Interviews will be held Monday at the fairgrounds office, located at 2601 East Lake Ave. in Watsonville.

For more information, contact the Santa Cruz County Fairground office at 831-724-5671.