Kern County Fair 2026: Hours, Admission, Concerts and Parking

Final weekend: October 1–4 hours and concerts

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The Kern County Fair closes Sunday, October 4, at the fairgrounds, 1142 South P Street. The organizer’s remaining gate hours are Thursday, October 1, 4–11 p.m.; Friday, October 2, 3–11 p.m.; Saturday, October 3, noon–11 p.m.; and Sunday, October 4, noon–10 p.m. All times are Pacific.

The remaining Budweiser Pavilion concerts begin at 8 p.m.: Daughtry on October 1, 90’s Rewind on October 2, Joe Nichols on October 3 and Industria del Amor on October 4. Concerts are included with fair admission, with first-come seating; admission does not guarantee an available seat.

These final-weekend details were checked against the organizer’s hours, ticket and concert listings on October 1. Check the official daily calendar for last-minute changes before leaving home.

Monster trucks require a separate ticket

The official monster-truck schedule lists Friday and Saturday, October 2–3, at 7 p.m. and Sunday, October 4, at 3 p.m. Tickets are listed at $12–$22; fair admission is purchased separately. Include both charges when budgeting for a grandstand visit.

Gate prices, advance discounts and parking

The fair lists gate admission at $15 for adults, $10 for people age 62 and older, $6 for children ages 6 through 12, and free admission for children 5 and younger. Active and retired military members receive free admission with valid military identification, according to the official ticket and FAQ pages.

The ticket page also displays advance offers alongside buy-early language. This guide uses confirmed gate prices for the final weekend; a discounted price is not promised to remain available. Check the organizer’s checkout before paying.

General parking is $10 and subject to availability. Families comparing the cost of a visit should count parking, food, rides and any separately ticketed attraction rather than treating gate admission as the total price of the day.

A hand stamp covers fair reentry—not parking readmission

The official FAQ allows same-day fair readmission with a hand stamp, without another gate-admission charge. It separately says there is no parking readmission. Do not assume a parking ticket lets you drive out and return without another charge.

Carnival wristbands and gate payment

The organizer lists carnival wristbands at $43 Monday through Thursday and $48 Friday through Sunday. Ride restrictions, operating conditions and availability remain subject to the fair and carnival operator's rules.

Visitors should purchase only through the fair's verified website or a seller identified by the organizer. A social-media message offering a discount is not proof that a ticket is valid, and the fair says it accepts both cash and card at the gate for people who buy in person.

Twelve concerts are included with fair admission

The Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tejon Concert Series is scheduled for 8 p.m. nightly at the Budweiser Pavilion. The official concert page says no extra concert ticket is required beyond fair admission and seating is first come, first served. Included admission does not guarantee a seat after the available space fills.

The announced lineup is ERNEST on September 23; Collective Soul September 24; Barenaked Ladies September 25; Mario September 26; Ezequiel Peña September 27; Gretchen Wilson September 28; Chandler Moore September 29; Carly Pearce September 30; Daughtry October 1; 90's Rewind October 2; Joe Nichols October 3; and Industria del Amor October 4.

Individual artist pages can provide a separate gate-opening time for the pavilion. Visitors who care about a particular performance should check that artist's official fair listing on the day of the show rather than relying only on a saved screenshot of the lineup.

Entry rules and earlier rodeo dates

The September 24–26 PRCA rodeo dates have passed. For the closing weekend, use the October 2–4 monster-truck schedule above rather than the earlier rodeo listings.

The FAQ prohibits weapons, drones, fireworks, outside alcohol and other listed items. Coolers and ice chests are generally prohibited, with a stated School Day and Special Friends Day exception subject to search. Factory-sealed water bottles are allowed; glass, aluminum cans and metal bottles are not. Review the full official list and accessibility guidance before arrival.

The featured photograph is an authentic 2009 image made by Robert Bejil at the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield and licensed under CC BY 2.0. It documents the real fairgrounds atmosphere but is a file image; it does not show the 2026 crowd, lineup, prices or layout.

Archive: September 25–27 opening-weekend schedule

These dates have passed. The following describes the previously announced opening-weekend schedule, not current offers. Friday, September 25, was Senior Day. The fair's official listings show a 9 a.m. gate opening, with commercial buildings opening at 10:30 a.m.; visitors age 62 and older receive free admission and parking until 2 p.m. The daily calendar lists the PRCA Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. and Barenaked Ladies at the Budweiser Pavilion at 8 p.m.

Saturday, September 26, the general fair schedule opens at noon. The official calendar lists a full afternoon and evening of stage entertainment, the PRCA Rodeo at 7:30 p.m. and Mario at 8 p.m. Sunday, September 27, also opens at noon; the calendar lists Fiesta del Charro Rodeo performances at 3 and 6 p.m. and Ezequiel Peña at 8 p.m.

The headline pavilion concerts are included with fair admission and use first-come seating. Rodeos are separately ticketed, and individual schedules can change. Visitors should use the official daily calendar shortly before leaving rather than relying on a saved social post or an earlier version of this guide.