The fair runs September 23 through October 4

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — The 2026 Kern County Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, September 23, through Sunday, October 4, at the Kern County Fair and Event Center, 1142 South P Street in Bakersfield. The organizer's official hours page lists different opening times by day, so visitors should not assume the gates open at the same time throughout the run.

Monday through Thursday hours are 4 to 11 p.m. The first Friday, September 25, runs from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m.; the second Friday, October 2, runs from 3 to 11 p.m. Saturdays are noon to 11 p.m., and Sundays are noon to 10 p.m.

Those are the published public hours reviewed Sunday, September 6. The fair's calendar states that event information is subject to change, which makes the official site the controlling source for a last-minute weather, safety or scheduling update.

Read the source: Kern County Fair: Official 2026 hours and admission ↗

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 official ticket page currently advertises advance admission at $11 for adults and $5 for children, plus a four-adult-ticket pack for $40. Those prices are offers displayed before opening day, not a promise that inventory will remain available through a particular date. The fair says ticket sales are final, with no refunds or exchanges.

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.

Read the source: Kern County Fair: Official tickets, advance deals, parking and carnival prices ↗

Carnival wristbands and a Senior Day benefit

The organizer lists carnival wristbands at $43 Monday through Thursday and $48 Friday through Sunday. Its advance page currently offers a one-day unlimited-ride wristband for $38. Ride restrictions, operating conditions and availability remain subject to the fair and carnival operator's rules.

Senior Day is Friday, September 25. The official FAQ says visitors age 62 and older receive free admission and free parking until 2 p.m. that day. Arriving after that cutoff can change the price, so the time condition matters as much as the age requirement.

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.

Read the source: Kern County Fair: Official 2026 concert series ↗

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.

Read the source: Kern County Fair: Official PRCA rodeo information and ticket boundary ↗

Rodeo tickets cost extra, and prohibited-item rules apply

PRCA rodeo performances are scheduled September 24 through 26 at 7:30 p.m. in the Grandstand Arena. The fair lists rodeo tickets from $12 to $22 and explicitly says fair admission is not included with a rodeo ticket. A visitor attending both must account for both forms of admission.

The fair's FAQ prohibits weapons, including pocket knives and pepper spray, along with drones, fireworks, outside alcohol, illegal substances, ice chests, laser pointers and pets. The published list is not exhaustive, and service-animal or accessibility questions should be directed to the organizer 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.

Read the source: Kern County Fair: Frequently asked questions and prohibited items ↗

Sources and further reading

Kern County Fair: Official 2026 hours and admission ↗

Kern County Fair: Official tickets, advance deals, parking and carnival prices ↗

Kern County Fair: Official 2026 concert series ↗

Kern County Fair: Official PRCA rodeo information and ticket boundary ↗

Kern County Fair: Frequently asked questions and prohibited items ↗

Wikimedia Commons: Robert Bejil Kern County Fair photograph and CC BY 2.0 license ↗