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!”
Santa Cruz County Fair
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz County Fair searching for theme that celebrates nation’s 250th birthday
The Santa Cruz County Fair is holding a contest to select a theme for the 2026 fair.
Posted inFood & Drink
Eaters Digest: Janice Weaver’s Best in Show apple pie
Lily Belli got her hands on the recipe for the blue ribbon-winning Santa Cruz County Fair entry from Janice Weaver – take your best apple pie shot.
Posted inFood & Drink
Sweet victory at the Santa Cruz County Fair: A behind-the-scenes look at the apple pie contest
What makes a great apple pie? As a first-time judge at the 48th annual Apple Pie Contest at the Santa Cruz County Fair, Lookout food and drink reporter Lily Belli gained a new appreciation for the complexity and craftsmanship behind a perfect apple pie after scoring more than 30 entries.
Posted inFood & Drink
Recipe: The best apple pie in Santa Cruz County in 2025
See the recipe for Janice Weaver’s award-winning apple pie, which has won Best in Show at the Santa Cruz County Fair four times since 2019, including this year.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Opening Day: Scenes from the 2025 Santa Cruz County Fair
The Santa Cruz County Fair opened Wednesday with a vibrant mix of old and new traditions, from livestock exhibitions to wrestling matches. The annual event, which draws tens of thousands to Watsonville each fall, runs through Sunday. Lookout’s Kevin Painchaud captured the first-day fun.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Everything you need to know about the 2025 Santa Cruz County Fair
The Santa Cruz County Fair runs from Wednesday, Sept. 10, through Sunday, Sept. 14, at the fairgrounds outside Watsonville.
Posted inArts & Entertainment
Santa Cruz County Fair is set to return, with a brand-new CEO and a few new attractions
The Santa Cruz County Fair is set to return Sept. 10-14 to the county fairgrounds outside Watsonville. The fair is expected to have many of its beloved features and attractions, with new additions to the fun, including lucha libre wrestling and something called the Slime Lab.
Posted inLatest News
Santa Cruz County Fair names Dori Rose Inda as new CEO
Longtime Watsonville resident and nonprofit executive Dori Rose Inda has been named the new CEO of the Santa Cruz County Fair.
Posted inWatsonville / Pajaro
Santa Cruz County Fair has May 5 application deadline as CEO search continues
The Santa Cruz County Fair’s search for a new leader continues, with a deadline of May 5 for applications. The fair, which saw CEO Zeke Fraser resign effective Feb. 2 for health reasons, is now in search of a candidate with strong leadership, organization and management skills to take on the role of CEO/fair manager.