97th Annual Tulare County Fair Kicks Off

The 97th year of the Tulare County Fair began its five-day run September 14 following a kick-off parade through downtown Tulare.

Fair gates will be open from 11 a.m. to midnight through Sunday. Entrance fee is $8 for adults, $5 for children 6-12, and free for 5 and younger. Thursday is family value day, and tickets are $4 per person before 4 p.m.

New special exhibits this year include Robocars, described as “robots that turn into cars” that children can get into and manipulate. Panning for gold is also new this year. A new ride at the midway is the 110-foot-tall Giant Wheel, a type of Ferris wheel.

Returning special exhibits include camel rides and Walk on the Wild Side, which has live exotic animals including a tiger.

Free entertainment includes War (Thursday, Sept. 15), Colt Ford (Friday, Sept. 16), En Vogue (Saturday, Sept. 17) and Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters (Sunday, Sept. 18).

For tickets and more information visit www.tcfair.org.