SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The Alameda County Fair returns to Pleasanton this weekend, kicking off its nearly month-long annual celebration.
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The Bay Area staple, held during summer for the first time since 2019, begins on Friday at the Alameda County Fairgrounds and lasts until July 10. After it was canceled in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair returned last year but was pushed to fall.
This year’s event features an assortment of new attractions, highlighted on Saturday by the hosting of a regional qualifier, the only one on the West Coast, for Nathan's Famous Hot Dog Eating Contest. Eaters will take center stage and attempt to eat as many hot dogs as they can over a 10 minute stretch. The top three male and female finishers will be invited to the finals on July 4 at Coney Island. The regional competition was open for all to join, however registration has since closed because it reached capacity.
Food-lovers that don’t want to stuff their face on stage still have plenty of options. Classic fair food will be available such as giant corn dogs, cotton candy, kettle corn and ice cold lemonade as well as new menu items including Hot Cheeto Pizza, Boba, Lobster Nachos, Bubble Waffles and a BunBao booth.
"For me, I feel like the corn dog is the classic," Tiffany Cadrette, fair spokesperson, told KCBS Radio. "Summer doesn’t officially begin until there’s a corn dog for me. It’s symbolic of summer, of the fair, just good times."
Patrons can wash that fair food down at the brew fest on Saturday, which will feature beer from 15 breweries such as Sierra Nevada, 21st Amendment, and Deschutes.
Other highlights over the 19 days include a fun run around the track, a Pride Month celebration, free admission for dads on Father’s Day, a drone light show and the fair's famous pig races.
"Pig races are back," Cadrette said. "We could not have a summer fair without our pigs, so the Alaskan pig race will return every day of the fair. I've had a lot of people tell me that means summer for them, watching the pig races."
In addition, attendees over the course of the fair will receive a glimpse of the John Madden Memorial Bus, a special bus which honors the life and legacy of the legendary Raider coach, NFL broadcaster and KCBS Radio contributor. Madden, who famously did not like flying and would travel in a bus, affectionately named the "Madden Cruiser," across the country, grew up in Pleasanton and lived there until his death last year.
The fair begins on Friday with free admission until 3 p.m. and kicks off with a concert headlined by celebrated R&B singer Ginuwine.
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