Frequently Asked Questions
What are the dates and times of the San Diego County Fair?
The 2024 San Diego County Fair is open June 12 – July 7(closed Mondays and Tuesdays)
Gates open each day at 11am and close at 10pm.
Gate hours are when you can enter the grounds; many activities — like rides and games — stay open after the gates close for the night.
Should I purchase my tickets in advance?
Advanced purchase of tickets is strongly encouraged to reduce contact points at the admission entrances and make your entrance to the San Diego County Fair faster and easier.
Additionally, there will be 60,000 tickets for sale per fair day. There is a chance tickets can sell out!
Please note: The only authorized website to purchase tickets is sdfair.com, If you purchase tickets from any other source, the San Diego County Fair cannot guarantee the validity of the tickets and you risk being denied admission, refunds and/or exchanges.
Can I still buy admission tickets at the gate?
Yes, you can still purchase tickets at the admission entrances; however, it is a cashless experience meaning we accept credit and debit cards only.
Additionally, there will be 60,000 tickets for sale per fair day. There is a chance tickets can sell out!
Will I be able to pay with cash for my tickets?
The parking, admission, and carnival experiences for the San Diego County Fair are cashless.
Cash will not be accepted for parking, admission tickets, or carnival rides & games at the San Diego County Fair.
Convenient Cash-to-Credit ATM machines are available in select locations to exchange cash for a debit card.
Please note: There is a small fee to receive a debit card from a reverse ATM, additionally, cards may take up to five minutes to be activated after purchase from any cash-to-credit ATM.
Will physical tickets still be available, or will they all be digital/online?
Physical tickets will be available for purchase at the San Diego County Fair admission entrances while supplies last. Advanced ticket purchases are recommended for a faster entrance experience. We also offer print-at-home ticket options that you can print out and bring with you.
Additionally, there will be 60,000 tickets for sale per fair day. There is a chance tickets can sell out!
What if I bought tickets to the San Diego County Fair through a third-party website?
BEWARE OF TICKET SCAMS! Though many online ticket brokers may imply that they are an official website for concert ticket purchases for the San Diego County Fair, only this website: www.sdfair.com is the official online ticket purchase point for the San Diego County Fair. We are not affiliated with any third-party ticket company or selling sites. We cannot guarantee that tickets purchased from other sources are legitimate nor will we be able to assist you if there is a problem with tickets purchased from such companies.