Alameda County Fair 2016: Ticket Discounts, Freebies

PLEASANTON, CA: The 2016 Fair opens June 15 and runs through July 4. Have you bought your tickets yet? It can be costly to take a large family to the fair. We have a round up of the discounts offered to help you and you family enjoy the fair without breaking the bank.

The fair is offering special pre-fair pricing through their website through June 14.

Special Pre-Fair Pricing (until 6/14/15):

• Adults (13-61) --$10
• Seniors (62+) --$8
• Kids (6-12) --$8
• Carnival Wristbands --$25
• Season Pass (admission for all 18 days) - $36
• Fun Pack (4 general admission tickets and 1 parking pass) - $40

Tri-Valley TV is giving away free tickets to the fair.

Details here:

• Tri-Valley TV Giving Away Free Tickets to the Alameda County Fair

Military personnel get into the fair for free with valid identification. On Thursdays, seniors 62 years and older may enter the fair for free and all kids 12 years and under are free on Fridays. Children under 6 years of age are always free. Admission on June 15 is $1 per person, until 5 p.m.

Gate Admission*:

• Adults (13-61) -- $12
• Seniors (62+) -- $10
• Kids (6-12) -- $10
• Children under 6 – FREE

*Purchase in advance (before June 14) and save up to 33%

Discounts and special pricing:

• Military Appreciation, FREE Fair admission with valid Military ID – ALL DAY, EVERYDAY
• Opening Day: June 15 -- $1 Admission & $1 Rides, UNTIL 5 P.M.
• $2 Tuesdays: June 21 & 28 -- Enjoy $2 admission and $2 samples of select Fair treats, UNTIL 5 P.M.
• Seniors FREE Thursdays (62+) – June 16, June 23, & June 30, UNTIL 5 P.M.
• Kids FREE Fridays (12 and under) – June 17, June 24, & July 1, UNTIL 5 P.M
• Feed the Need Food Drive & $1 Rides, benefitting Alameda County Food Bank.(Bring 4 non-perishable food items and receive FREE admission) – June 22, UNTIL 5
• Drop Zone Drive & $1 Rides: June 29 (Support our troops: Bring 2 items from donation list and receive FREE admission) – UNTIL 5 P.M.

2016 Alameda County Fair Information:

Hours of operation are Tuesday through Sunday each week, plus Monday, July 4 from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day.

Carnival Hours: Tues -Thurs, 12 p.m. to closing, Fri-Sun, 11 a.m. to closing

Horse Racing: June 16 - 19, June 23 --26, and July 1 - 4

Big O Tires FREE Concerts: 8 p.m. – 9:15 p.m., nightly. Special effects fireworks show with video celebrating local youth immediately following concerts.

Monday, July 4: Blues Festival, 1-9 p.m., Fireworks Spectacular featuring Oakland East Bay Symphony, 9:30 p.m., Budweiser Grandstand

Full lineup here:

• Alameda County Fair 2016 Concert Series Lineup

Photo courtesy Autumn Johnson/ Patch