Fresno Fairgrounds

Love the food and environment :) I love going every year with my boyfriend! The rides and carnies are fun to do. The employees are helpful too

It was alright but we do have to make it to the fair at least once a year, right? We went on the $ 1 day so everything was pretty much cheap that day if you’re not doing much. Spent $ 2 to get in and about $ 20 on tickets, which we ended up giving away because the lines for the rides were long and the kids were a little short to ride. Daughter loved the pony ride and merry go round. Son wasn’t able to do anything because he was under 32 inches. Maybe next year, we’ll look forward to coming again.
It was very crowded and line was very long to get tickets. The line stretched all the way down to Chance.
The line for the Kiddieland was very long to get in but thankfully, it was fast paced. As we got in, there were barely any space for us to get in. The lines were long and out of place, as well as confusing. Maybe if we came during the morning, we won’t have this experience. But I like the way they lay out this kiddie land. At least the kids have an area to themselves.
Food was very expensive, so we just got a funnel cake and went out for Robertitos lol. Saved money and had more to eat.
Overall, it was fun. Not too bad, but not the best also. Like I say, I’ll look forward into coming back next year. Coming to the fair is a tradition for us.

This review is just for the Hmong International New Year celebration that runs every year from December 26 through January 1^st.
This is an annual event put on by the Hmong International New Year organization located here in Fresno. The fairgrounds have been home to the new year celebration for the past 2 decades.
Parking — Parking in the fair parking lots will cost you $ 6. If you find a worthy neighbor that lives around the fairgrounds, you may be able to park for $ 5 or less depending on how far their house is located from the fair. Be weary of parking situations where they ask you to leave your keys. I try to avoid these at all costs.
Entrance: Children under 6 years old is free. Seniors/​Elders are free.
Anyone 7 years old and up to almost being a senior citizen is $ 4 each. It can be costly if you have a large group.
When you walk onto the fair grounds, you’ll experience something similar to an outdoor swamp meet where there are vendors lined up along the walk ways all the way around. They’ve got better at dividing up the areas: keeping the music vendors in a certain location, food vendors in another location. This helps isolate the smell of concentrated smoke from the bbq pits into one general area. It also allows for the music vendors to blast each other’s sounds with their 12 inch power amp speakers. Always trying to talk louder then their neighbors to earn a couple of bucks.
Food situation: You will be able to find a variety of food options from Chinese food, to Thai, to Phở, and almost everything in between. Your most common platters will be either Hmong made sausages, grilled pork, grilled chicken, grilled fish. These usually come with purple sticky rice. Each plate usually runs around $ 10 each.
Alcohol Situation: None.
Vendors: You can find the latest Hmong DVDs, to the latest Hmong Music CD’s from local and international artists. I usually wait on the last day and try to get a deal before the celebration closes.
There are also vendors that sell traditional Hmong clothing of all sizes. From head dress wears all the way to the stockings. There are many varieties that you can choose from. Vendors also usually sell the jewelry/​coins that you can add to the clothing if you choose. They sell both men and women.
You can find many medicinal/​herbal experts that have all kinds of solutions from your common ailments.
Shows: There is a main stage inside the Industrial Commerce building that holds the main events of the celebration such as the singing, dance, and beauty competition. There is no cost to go inside.
Outside there are two stages where performers sign up to sign, dance, and chant traditional songs.
Night Celebrations: Night parties, and celebrations may be held at the fairgrounds but is usually not affiliated with the day’s entrance fee. These events at night are usually put on for fundraiser purposes or for profit. The Education Building by Chance Ave, and the Industrial Commerce Building are the most popular Other events during the new year may be held at other venues away from the fairgrounds at night.
Overall: Go if you have never been to one. I usually go at least one day a year. Be ready to walk through crowds of people and prepare to smell like bbq smoke if you roam around the food areas.
For the past 15 years, the traditions of the Hmong New Year has lost it’s meaning. Yes, you may see bits and pieces of it, however, it is more commercialized now and days in order to pay for costs of renting the facilities, hiring security, clean up, and other costs.
Happy New Year.

Went to see sublime with rome and it was amazeballs! People and staff everywhere were very friendly and helpful! Must be from all the good vibes from the weed in the air! Lol. The prices on food were not to bad. My only complaint is that for a water bottle it was 3 dollars!!! Unbelievable!!!

This was my first time attending the Fresno Fair. So I don’t know if this is the right place to post the review. Tickets were 10 bucks a piece, parking was close 5 bucks, and fairly close.
The food choices were not what I expected, more like carnival food. Over priced and small portions. There certainly seemed like there were more food joints than ware vendors. All in all it was ok, but couldn’t spend more than a few hours here, as you would see everything they offer.

This is an awesome country fair.

Big Fresno Fair is my favorite!!! I love the food I love to eat at the fair! The fair grounds are pretty big and have swap meets on certain weekends.

Been here a couple of times for the Hmong New Year festival. It’s large and open and there are lots of vendors. The most annoying thing though are the loud audio vendors. They are super annoying. Lots of little teenagers trying to look cool walking around. Glad I didn’t go this year.

Fair is always good! Beer, food yes! Stay away from Saturday nights! To many dam kids

The Fresno Fair is an annual staple for every Fresnian. The fairgrounds, though they have improved drastically over the years, still have a «dirtiness» to them that’s just a little unsettling to me. Granted, it is a fairground but call it high standards, I’m convinced they could do much better.
On the plus side, I was quite pleased by the level of security and police presence at the grounds during the fair. Though it was to the point of almost being in excess, I truly didn’t mind.

Big, busy venue, unfortunately it’s kind of ghetto and bathrooms aren’t taken care of as they should be.

Apart from the «Big, Big, Big, Big, BIG Fresno Faaaaair,» Hmong New Year is my favorite event that goes on out here. I mean now that I think about it, there’s not a whole lot to do other than eat and walk around (kinda like the fair in that aspect, I guess) but it’s something different to do in a town without a whole lot going on.
If you’re strapped for cash, go later on in the day (after 4 PM.) We went yesterday afternoon a little on the late side and didn’t get charged the usual $ 3 or $ 4 entrance fee, and since people were getting ready to close up, we got a great deal on food– $ 5 each for regularly $ 9 BBQ plates. I ate some great Hmong sausage, and still got to walk around for about another hour before the place winded down too much and then we left. That’s the ideal thing to do for me, since it’s pretty much the same thing every year from what I can tell.
I would recommend if you went with Hmong friends so they can explain some of the things to you, (like why a large group of people are standing around in an open area throwing tennis balls around) but if you don’t have any, the place is still worth the trip for the Hmong sausage! Oh, and the cuties walking around… Om nom nom!