In 1935 the first Fair was held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Since then, not only has the Fair continued annually, but the Monterey County Fair & Event Center has become the site for an eclectic mix of public and private events including music festivals, community dinners, trade shows, and weddings. When the State of California eliminated funding for its fairgrounds in 2011, the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation was created to assist in supporting the Fair & Event Center.
2 Adults & 3 Children
2 Adults
Season pass (wristband) to the show and fair grants you daily entrance to the Monterey County Fair – “Surfin’ Safari”. You must present your wristband at the admission gate for entry. You will not be permitted entry without a valid wristband. A lost wristband may be replaced for a fee of $25 each.
Heritage Parking passes are valid at the designated CVS Parking lot area during Fair dates. It is a “First Come, First Served” basis. Your assigned Parking Pass must be placed on driver’s side of windshield and visible to parking staff. Heritage Family Members* may purchase an extra Parking Pass for $100 (very limited number available).
We will again be utilizing the Seaside Room in 2025. The schedule for us is as follows: Hospitality passes are good during the Monterey County Fair (8/26, 8/28, 8/29, & 8/31) – Doors Open at 4:00 p.m., and at the “Kick-Off BBQ” on August 23. We will have a section reserved at the Flying U Rodeo, on Friday, August 29, 6:00 pm, after dinner. There will be no hospitality in the Seaside Room on Saturday, August 30, due to the Junior Livestock Auction and Buyers Reception. Each Heritage Member is limited to a specific number of Hospitality passes included with their membership packet and must be presented for entry into the hospitality area. All members and guests will be required to sign in each day they visit the Hospitality Room. No food or beverages may be taken outside of the hospitality area. A Heritage Membership holder may purchase additional hospitality passes for immediate family members for $50 each which will be valid during the Fair. Any Heritage Member may also purchase up to two additional “One Day Guest” hospitality passes for $50 per person, and the member must accompany the guest. A guest may join the Heritage Foundation and the $50 per person fee paid when they were a guest will be applied towards their annual membership fee for the current year.
The Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation is pleased to announce the 2024 Heritage Animal Exhibitor, and recipient of a $2,500 Scholarship, is Aleena Chavez. She will be graduating from Everett Alvarez High School in Salinas, California in 2025 and plans to pursue her goal of becoming a veterinarian or agriculture teacher through her studies.
