El Dorado County Fair is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3)
Office Hours: Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm
El Dorado County Fair is a registered non-profit 501 (c) (3)
Support the Future of our County Fair
The El Dorado County Fair has been a cherished tradition since 1859, celebrating the rich heritage, community spirit, and agricultural roots of our region. What began as a small gathering of farmers and townsfolk has grown into a vibrant, family-friendly event that showcases the best of El Dorado County—from livestock and homemade goods to live music, thrilling rides, and local talent. Through generations, the Fair has remained a place where memories are made, traditions thrive, and the heart of our community shines.
The first recorded Fair in El Dorado County was held in 1859 in Coloma. Until 1939, the Fair was held at various locations including Coloma, Diamond Springs and downtown Placerville.
The Fairs of 1859, 1860 and 1864 were held in Coloma. Two other towns where the Fair was held in the early years were Placerville and Diamond Springs. The downtown areas of these small towns were transformed into the fairgrounds each time the County Fair was held.
With no permanent facilities to call its own until 1939, the County Fair annually used whatever facilities it could glean to hold the event. In those early days, the entire town where the Fair was held became the Fairgrounds. When in Placerville, some venues included the Confidence Hall, Sigwart’s Opera House, the Central House Hotel and Ballroom and the Stockyards.
The first County Fair at the current site on Placerville Dr. (old Hwy 50) was held in 1939 conducted by the American Legion under a contract with El Dorado County. The American Legion conducted the County Fairs until 1952 when the current Fair Association was formed. World War II caused the Fair to become dormant from 1942 until 1947 when the American Legion reactivated the event.
Today, the El Dorado County Fair Association operates the Annual County Fair under contract with El Dorado County. The Fairgrounds are privately owned, and the Association is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
The land that now makes up the El Dorado County Fairgrounds was purchased from Loren and Mary Forni in three separate transactions between 1939 and 1950. The first purchase took place on January 12, 1939, when 17.31 acres were acquired for $2,596.50. In total, 47.77 acres were purchased for a combined cost of $6,196.50. All funds for the acquisitions came from a horse racing pari-mutuel tax account established by California legislation in 1933—no County funds were used.
All major improvements to the Fairgrounds were also funded through this state-managed tax resource, which was discontinued in 2010. You might be surprised to learn that even today, no County funds are included in the Fairgrounds’ annual operating budget. The El Dorado County Fair Association is proud to be completely self-supported.
The Works Progress Administration (W.P.A.) and other New Deal programs were responsible for the initial construction of the permanent facilities at today’s Fairgrounds. Between the end of the Great Depression and the onset of World War II, what was once bare land was transformed into the foundation of the Fairgrounds we use today. Several buildings still display plaques honoring the hardworking men and women of the Civilian Conservation Corps (C.C.C.) who played a vital role in these early construction efforts.
1859: El Dorado County Fair began without a permanent fairground location, moving each year there was a Fair (1860 and 1864).
1938: The Fair was held October 14 – 16, still without a permanent home.
1939: The Fair moved to its current location, finally finding a permanent home in the community.
1939 – 1941: The Fair was held the third weekend of August.
1942 – 1945: The Fair closed during World War II.
1950 – 1954: The Fair was held the second weekend of September.
1955 – 1970: The Fair was held the third weekend of August.
1971 – 1976: The Fair was held in mid-July.
1977: The Fair was held the third weekend of August.
1978 – 1980: The Fair was held the first weekend of August.
1981 – 1983: The Fair was held the last weekend of July.
1984 – 1985: The Fair was held the first weekend of August.
1986 – 1987: The Fair was held the last weekend of July.
1988 – 1990: The Fair was held the first weekend of August.
1991 – 1996: The Fair was held the last weekend of July.
1997 – Present: The Fair has been held Father’s Day weekend, beginning the Thursday before and ending on Sunday, the longest running dates of the El Dorado County Fair.
2020: The Fair was postponed, moving from Father’s Day weekend to the second weekend in July, only to be forced to cancel altogether due to the COVID pandemic.
2021: The fair was posponed yet again, moving to September, only to be canceled due to the Caldor Fire.
2021: The Fair’s gatehouse on Placerville Drive was rebuilt using the original rocks from the building and adding the rustic wooden look you see today, making it safer
2022: The Magic was back, and the Fair once again was held on Father’s Day weekend, running Thursday through Sunday.