Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival Kicks Off 78th Year With 'Return To Oasis'

The following is a news release from the county of Riverside:

INDIO, CA — The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino returns February 12–March 1, 2026, with a refreshed look, immersive new spaces, and a full lineup of entertainment celebrating tradition, community, and fun.

Celebrating the Fair & Date Fest’s 78th year with the theme “Return to the Oasis,” organizers are refreshing the event’s 1001 Nights legacy and blending it with a mid-century style inspired by Greater Palm Springs’ iconic architecture. Fan-favorite attractions return alongside new experiences designed to invite guests to explore, relax, and rediscover the awe and wonder of a shared desert fantasy.

“We’re always looking for ways to make the things people love even better, while adding new surprises to bring guests back and welcome those who haven’t visited in a while,” said Chris Pickering, CEO of Pickering Events.

New for 2026, the Fair & Date Fest will debut the National Date Festival Museum inside the Sands of Time building, offering an engaging look at date farming, Festival history, and the agricultural roots of the Coachella Valley. Nearby, each space offers its own experience—from the Hall of Ribbons featuring competitive quilts, fine art, and baked goods, to the Cave of Wonders gem and mineral showcase, and the Palm Pavilion highlighting the Valley’s signature crop: dates.

Another highlight this year is the new Oasis Lounge & Tiki Bar, a relaxed hideaway within the fairgrounds that transports guests into a world of classic tiki drinks and tropical vibes. Designed as a true escape from the midway, it’s an ideal place to cool off, recharge, and enjoy Hawaiian music on the Balcony Stage or Polynesian dancers and fire spinning performances on the Luau Stage.

The Fair & Date Fest arena schedule delivers high-energy entertainment throughout the run, including Monster Trucks on February 12–13, the Monster X Demo Derby on February 14, Gran Jaripeo-Tardeada featuring Roberto Tapia and more on February 21, and PRCA Rodeo performances on February 28 and March 1. Special ticketed experiences also include Love on the Wheel, a Valentine’s-themed sunset Ferris Wheel dating event; Bingo, Honey!, a comedy bingo show; and Shaken Midway, an interactive cocktail workshop.

Saturday, February 14 also marks Out at the Fair, an LGBTQ-inclusive day featuring live music, dance-fitness programming, and a high-energy drag show with performers from One Eleven Bar, celebrating visibility, joy, and community.

Animal encounters remain a key part of the Fair & Date Fest experience, grounding the excitement of the midway in agriculture and education. Guests can enjoy hands-on learning at the petting farm and livestock exhibits, where kids see what it takes to care for animals and understand the role agriculture plays in Fair tradition and daily life.

Daily entertainment is included with Fair & Date Fest admission and spans stages, midways, and strolling zones. Highlights include All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show, the Globe of Death motorcycle stunt show, Magic of Rafael, Science Wizard, Sea Lion Splash, the Petting Farm, livestock exhibits, and family-friendly roaming performers throughout the grounds.

“The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival reaches communities across the county and supports programs that matter,” said V. Manuel Perez, Riverside County Fourth District Supervisor. “Every visit helps sustain youth exhibits, arts and baking competitions, gem and mineral showcases, and the agricultural traditions that make Riverside County unique.”

With a refreshed design, expanded entertainment, and agriculture at its core, the 2026 Fair & Date Fest invites guests to rediscover a classic—reimagined.

The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival runs February 12–March 1, 2026 at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, California. Tickets, schedules, and full event details are available at datefest.org.