Frequently Asked Questions
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.
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!
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!
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.
Is smoking allowed on premises?
The San Diego County Fair is a smoke-free and vapor-free event. Smoking of any kind, including the use of pipes, e-cigarettes, vapors or similar devices of any kind, is prohibited. Thank you very much for your consideration!
Can I take pictures at the Fair?
Personal cameras are allowed, but professional cameras are not. Standard lenses (17-50mm, 18-55mm, etc.) are allowed and telephoto lenses (24-70mm, 70-200mm, etc.) are not. Audio and video recording are strictly prohibited. No drones are allowed on or around the Fairgrounds.
What is your service animal policy?
We welcome guests with disabilities who choose to bring their trained service animal into the San Diego County Fair. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines a “service animal” as dogs* that are individually trained to do work or perform tasks for people with disabilities. If they meet this definition, dogs are considered service animals under the ADA regardless of whether they have been licensed or certified by a state or local government. ADA requires service animals to be harnessed, leashed or tethered unless these devices interfere with the service animal’s work, or the individual’s disability prevents using these devices. In that case, the individual must maintain control of the animal through voice, signal, or other effective controls. The care and supervision of a service animal is solely the responsibility of his or her owner. Service animals are working animals, not pets. The work or task a dog has been trained to provide must be directly related to the person’s disability.
Dogs whose sole function is to provide comfort or emotional support, therapy dogs or dogs that provide a service to others not present (dogs in-training) do not qualify as “service animals” under the ADA.
Why is the San Diego County Fair Expensive?
San Diego County FairFair receives no state funding. To maintain the fairgrounds and ensure we have adequate staff for the event, including safety and personnel, we must generate the funds on our own.
There are many ways to purchase discount tickets before the Fair. Once you purchase an admission ticket, most major exhibits and entertainment are free.