Insiders Guide to the 2023 Marin County Fair
Who's ready for the fair?! The 2023 Marin County Fair opens on Friday, June 30 and runs through Tuesday, July 4, at the Marin County Fairgrounds in San Rafael, near the Marin Civic Center. This year's Marin County Fair theme is "Electrifying!", celebrating all things electric and solar. It will be charged with excitement!
While last year's fair was an outdoor-only event, the 2023 will once again feature a both indoor and outdoor headline entertainment, exhibits, and interactive art experiences for all ages. Experience fair favorites like carnival rides, the Global Marketplace, the animals of the Barnyard, food and drinks, and nightly fireworks over the Civic Center’s Lagoon Park.
Favorite entertainers and attractions, including Stilt Circus, the Rawhide Express Train, Balloonacy, and Jeremiah the Juggler, will roam the fairgrounds, as well as new acts like the Drumheads, Hillia Hula Hoop Extraordinaire, and the Edison and Tesla Quest for Power interactive experience. Don't miss you chance to meet favorite Star Wars characters at the Marin Galactic Outpost in the exhibit hall. The Marin County Library Bookmobile and Learning Bus and the Bay Area Discovery Museum's Try-It Truck will be on site at the fair, too.
2023 Marin County Fair Hours & Admission
This year's Marin County Fair runs from Friday, June 30 through Tuesday, July 4, from 11 am to 11 pm daily; last entry at 10 pm.
All tickets to the 2023 Marin County Fair must be purchased online in advance. Tickets cost $15 if purchased before May 31, $20 if purchased between June 1–29, and $25 June 30–July 4. All tickets for admission on July 4 are $25; no early-bird pricing is available for that day. Admission is free for children under 4 and active duty military. Order advance tickets online here. No ticket kiosks will be available at the fair entrance but there will be QR codes that link to the purchasing website.
All admission prices include exhibits, entertainment, nightly fireworks, and carnival rides. (An additional $5 ticket is required for some rides.) The Fair accepts Visa and Mastercard at the gate for admission, and there is an ATM inside the main gate. Friday, June 30 is Special Day: children 12 and under, seniors 65+, and veterans (with ID) are admitted free.
2023 Marin County Fair Concert Schedule
The Marin County Fair always presents a range of diverse musical acts, all included in the price of admission. This year's lineup includes a number of famous names as well as some of the best tribute bands out there. Concerts begin at 7:30 pm. Reserved seating costs $60 per person and includes fair admission. The 2023 concert schedule features:
- Friday, June 30: Blue Öyster Cult
- Saturday, July 1: Exposé
- Sunday, July 2: Patti LaBelle
- Monday, July 3: Stephen Marley
- Tuesday, July 4: Melissa Etheridge
If You Go
The Marin County Fairgrounds are located near the Marin Civic Center in northern San Rafael, right off Highway 101. Parking for cars and motorcycles is $15–$20 in all lots. Free bicycle valet parking will be provided by the Marin County Bicycle Coalition.
The Marin County Fair is also serviced by several different Golden Gate Transit and Marin Transit bus lines as well as the SMART train; for more information, visit www.goldengate.org, www.marintransit.org, and sonomamarintrain.org or call 511.
To get to the Marin Country Fairgrounds, take Highway 101 to the North San Pedro Road exit and head east on North San Pedro Road toward the Marin Civic Center. Turn left at the stop light onto Civic Center Drive and look for parking — you'll find it near the Lagoon Park and around the Marin Veterans' Memorial Auditorium. Additional paid parking can be found in lots off civic center drive just north of the fairgrounds.
Ice chests, coolers, pets, cans, or glass bottles are not permitted, and the Marin County Fair is a smoke- and vape-free event.
More Info on the Marin County Fair
For more information on this year's Marin County Fair, visit www.marinfair.org or call (415) 473-6400.
