2024 Nevada County Fair!
The 2024 Nevada County Fair begins in earnest today with its usual and familiar events, but despite its regularity, the Nevada County Fair is likely the most anticipated event in Nevada County for both children and adults. Since we moved here in 1998, the Nevada County Fair has always been a staple on our calendar and even more so being that my first date with my wife was a Saturday night at the fair in 2016. After our “date,” my daughter told me that I had found “wife material,” and my daughter could not have been more correct. As such for us not only is the Fair a special event for our community, the Fair represents our family’s beginning. Even prior to our first date and with the beauty of the fairgrounds, the food on Treat Street, and seeing and talking to friends in the community who we may not have seen in a while, the Fair had always been special for us.
What Makes the Fair Special?
Besides the wonderful folks in our community without whom the fair would not happen, the Nevada County Fairgrounds are stunningly beautiful with its 90 acres of massive pine trees covering the fairgrounds.
The Nevada County Fairgrounds justifiably has been recognized as “California’s Most Beautiful Fairgrounds” by the California Heritage Council with an Award of Achievement and Recognition for historic preservation. Not only is the Nevada County Fairgrounds the home of the county fair, but it also annually hosts “the Draft Horse Classic, the Country Christmas Faire, world-class music festivals, and year-round community events.”
The Nevada County Fairgrounds – also known as the 17th District Agricultural Association – was established in 1884, stemming from legislative action in 1859, which authorized the formation of agricultural districts. The first Nevada County Fair was held in 1938 at Veterans Memorial Building, and has been around since that date, with the exception of no Fairs from 1942 – 1946, due to World War II. The first Nevada County Fair at its current location on McCourtney Road was held in 1947. The first buildings on the grounds were built in 1951.
General Information about the 2024 Nevada County Fair
The 2024 Nevada County Fair begins on August 7 and ends on August 11. The hours of the Fair are as follows:
Wednesday through Sunday—10 am to 11 pm
Exhibit Buildings will be open from 10 am to 10 pm
Carnival open daily from 11 am to 11 pm
Parking is available at Gate 1 with a permit and for disabled parking and at Gate 4 for general and disabled parking as well. There are also private lots available around the fairgrounds, but with the new RV Park at the corner of Old Auburn Road and McCourtney Road instead of the Knights of Columbus parking area, parking near the fairgrounds will likely be quite limited. As such, attendees should consider carpooling or riding the public transportation. There will be free parking at Nevada Union High School with a free shuttle to and from the fairgrounds. The free shuttle bus runs nonstop from Nevada Union High School to the Fairgrounds, Gate 1 entrance. Shuttle service begins at 8:30 am. The last bus leaves the Fairgrounds at 11:30 pm.
In addition, Nevada County Connects will provide a Grass Valley shuttle bus to and from the Nevada County Fair, with free fares system wide. The direct-to-Fair bus will be available in Grass Valley and will depart from Church and Neal Streets (in front of Tri-Counties Bank) starting at 10:30 am on Wednesday and at 9:30 am on Thursday through Sunday. The bus runs every 30 minutes with additional stops at the Pine Creek and McKnight Crossing shopping centers and the Tinloy Transit Center. The last departure from the Fairgrounds leaves at 11:00 pm. Call 477-0103, extension 0, for schedules, pick-up points or trip planning.
Governor Newsom Has Neglected Appointing Directors to the 17th District Agricultural Association
There has been one ongoing issue with our wonderful local Nevada County Fairgrounds which needs to be addressed and rectified. The 17th District Agricultural Association which controls the Nevada County Fairgrounds is governed by nine volunteers who are appointed by the Governor of California. Until appointing Claudia Hanson from Truckee to the board of directors a few weeks ago, Governor Newsom had failed to fill any of the five vacant director positions on the board for the 17th District Agricultural Association for years. As it currently sits, there are still four vacant directors’ chairs on the board which Governor Newsom has still neglected to fill by appointment. Our community hopes that this lack of interest by the governor in our beautiful fairgrounds will be rectified in the near future with proper appointments.
Weather Forecast – It’s gonna be hot, Folks
While it looks as though we will be spared from the super-hot summer weather which we have experienced almost all summer, this week at the fair will start off being quite hot, but it should cool off as the fair continues.
Wednesday - 98°
Thursday - 95°
Friday - 94°
Saturday – 90°
Sunday - 87°
Stay hydrated folks and have a wonderful time at the best damn fair in the land!
