The Big Fresno Fair

The Big Fresno Fair Board Announces Formal CEO Search

The Big Fresno Fair (Fair) Board of Directors announced its formal search for the next CEO to lead year-round operations for the fourth largest fair in the State of California. The Board is working closely with the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA), Fairs & Expositions Branch on the CEO Search process. Information about The Big Fresno Fair and the application for the CEO position can be found here.

In September 2020, longtime Fair CEO, John C. Alkire retired and transitioned to the Fair’s nonprofit Foundation, Friends of The Big Fresno Fair, in an effort to elevate fundraising amid the uncertainty of the pandemic. At that time, Deputy Managers Stacy Rianda and Lauri King were appointed by the Fair Board to oversee all Fair operations as an interim leadership strategy. Since then, the Fair has pivoted from a historical in-person Fair to a drive-thru event in 2020, and then navigated back to more normal year-round operations and a successful in-person fair in October 2021.

“The Board is pleased that the Fair has returned to its robust level of year-round activity,” stated Chuck Riojas, President of The Big Fresno Fair Board. “We are confident that with this search, we will determine the right person to lead the Fair into the future.”

Big Fresno Fair Wins BIG for 2022 Best of Central California People’s Choice Awards!

We’re thrilled to announce that The Big Fresno Fair and the Fresno County Historical Museum took top honors in the Fresno Bee’s “Best of Central California’s” People’s Choice Awards! Thank you for voting us as:

The Big Fresno Fair
Gold – Best Annual Event/Festival
Gold – Best Attraction
Silver – Best Family Attraction
Silver – Best Live Music Venue

Our Fresno County Historical Museum took GOLD in BEST Museum!

You – our community, our BFFs, our biggest fans and fairgoers – are what makes our Big Fresno Fair so special! Thank you to our community for voting for us and congratulations to all of the winners who make our Valley so great! Mark your calendars for the 2022 Big Fresno Fair, October 5 – 16!

Win Tickets to See Ice Cube at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair | Thursday, October 6

Today is a good day to win a FREE pair of tickets to see iconic rapper, Ice Cube on Thurs, 10/6 at the Table Mountain Concert Series presented by Modelo Especial and Toyota during the 2022 Big Fresno Fair! Here’s what you have to do…just go to our Big Fresno Fair Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or Instagram and then follow the contest rules on the post! Contest ends on Friday, June 3 at 5 p.m. where the winner will then be chosen and notified.

💥REMINDER💥 The Ice Cube special online only pre-sale is happening NOW for Big Fresno Fair Fan Club Members only! The special BFF Club pre-sale will go from now until Tuesday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m., during which members can purchase their Ice Cube tickets, PLUS get 50% off their Fair Admission with each ticket purchase! Concert tickets and discounted admission must be purchased in the same transaction. Tickets to the general public for Ice Cube will go on-sale ONLINE ONLY Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: If you’re selected as the winner of this contest and have already bought your Ice Cube tickets, we will refund them for you.

Not a Fair Fan Club member or know someone who’s note? Click here to sign up today! A special pre-sale password was sent to Fan Club Members via email; any new signups will receive the password in their confirmation email.

The Ice Cube concert at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair on Thursday, October 6 is part of the Table Mountain Concert Series presented by Modelo Especial and Toyota.

Office Closed for Memorial Day Weekend | May 27 – 30

“The legacy of heroes – the memory of a great name, and the inheritance of a great example,” – Benjamin Disraeli

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in service of our country. The Fair Administration Office will be closed Friday, May 27 through Monday, May 30 in observance of Memorial Day. The office will reopen Tuesday, May 31.

Win Tickets to See Midland at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair | Wednesday, October 12

Tickets to see country award-winning trio, Midland, are on-sale online only to BFF Members NOW and we have your chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to the show! Here’s what you have to do…just go to our Big Fresno Fair Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or Instagram and then follow the contest rules on the post! Contest ends on Wednesday, June 1 at 5 p.m. Winner will be chosen and notified on Thursday, June 2.

💥REMINDER💥 The Midland special online only pre-sale is happening NOW for Big Fresno Fair Fan Club Members only! The special BFF Club pre-sale will go from now until Tuesday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m., during which members can purchase their Midland tickets, PLUS get 50% off their Fair Admission with each ticket purchase! Concert tickets and discounted admission must be purchased in the same transaction. Tickets to the general public for Midland will go on-sale ONLINE ONLY Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: If you’re selected as the winner of this contest and have already bought your Midland tickets, we will refund them for you.

The Midland concert at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair on Wednesday, October 12 is part of the Table Mountain Concert Series presented by Modelo Especial and Toyota.

Win Tickets to See Dwight Yoakam at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair | Wednesday, October 5

Tickets to see country legend, Dwight Yoakam, are on-sale online only to BFF Members NOW and we have your chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to the show! Here’s what you have to do…just go to our Big Fresno Fair Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or Instagram and then follow the contest rules on the post! Contest ends on Thursday, June 3 at 5 p.m. Winner will be chosen Friday, June 3.

💥REMINDER💥 The Dwight Yoakam special online only pre-sale is happening NOW for Big Fresno Fair Fan Club Members only! The special BFF Club pre-sale will go from now until Tuesday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m., during which members can purchase their Dwight Yoakam tickets, PLUS get 50% off their Fair Admission with each ticket purchase! Concert tickets and discounted admission must be purchased in the same transaction. Tickets to the general public for Dwight Yoakam will go on-sale ONLINE ONLY Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: If you’re selected as the winner of this contest and have already bought your Dwight Yoakam tickets, we will refund them for you.

The Dwight Yoakam concert at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair on Wednesday, October 5 is part of the Table Mountain Concert Series presented by Modelo Especial and Toyota.

Win Tickets to Ladies Night Out Ft. Ashanti and Baby Bash at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair | Saturday, October 15

Tickets to see Grammy award-winning singer, Ashanti and the one and only, Baby Bash at Ladies Night Out are on-sale online only to BFF Members NOW and we have your chance to win a FREE pair of tickets to the concert! Here’s what you have to do…just go to our Big Fresno Fair Facebook, Twitter, TikTok or Instagram and then follow the contest rules on the post! Contest ends on Tuesday, May 31 at 5 p.m. Winner will be chosen and notified on Wednesday, June 1.

💥REMINDER💥 The Ladies Night Out featuring Ashanti and Baby Bash special online only pre-sale is happening NOW for Big Fresno Fair Fan Club Members only! The special BFF Club pre-sale will go from now until Tuesday, May 31 at 11:59 p.m., during which members can purchase their Ladies Night Out tickets, PLUS get 50% off their Fair Admission with each ticket purchase! Concert tickets and discounted admission must be purchased in the same transaction. Tickets to the general public for Ladies Night Out will go on-sale ONLINE ONLY Wednesday, June 1 at 10 a.m.

PLEASE NOTE: If you’re selected as the winner of this contest and have already bought your Ladies Night Out tickets, we will refund them for you.

The Ladies Night Out featuring Ashanti and Baby Bash concert on Saturday, October 15 at the 2022 Big Fresno Fair is part of the Table Mountain Concert Series presented by Modelo Especial and Toyota.

International Tour de Mexico en el Corazon This Sunday! | May 29

Head to the Fresno Fairgrounds’ Paul Paul Theater on Sunday, May 29 for the International Tour de Mexico en el Corazon from 6 p.m. – 10 p.m.! Enjoy dancing, music, Mexican art, folklorico, live music from Banda Colores, plus so much more. Tickets are FREE to this event and can be picked up at Arte Americas, Fiesta Insurance, Mi Cafecito inside Manchester Center and Cochinito Contento Mexican Restaurant.

For more details, click here.

Bubble Run 5k This Weekend! | Saturday, May 28

Race to the finish line at the Bubble Run 5K on Saturday, May 28 at the Fresno Fairgrounds! Here’s what to expect the day of the race:

Registration opens at 6 a.m. on Race Day
Heat #1 begins at 8 a.m.
Heat #2 begins 9 a.m.
Heat #3 begins at 10 a.m.

Runners/walkers can enjoy a course full of bubbles along the way! Once the race ends, participants can enter into the raddest Bubble 5K celebration ever! For more details, click here.

Hall of Fame and Community Champions Awards Reminder

Those who work hard to better Fresno County through their ongoing actions deserve to be recognized for their tireless efforts. If you know someone who deserves to be recognized, nominate them today for The Big Fresno Fair’s most prestigious honor – the Hall of Fame Award.

The Big Fresno Fair Hall of Fame honors individuals who have demonstrated long-time, continuous support and extraordinary passion to better The Big Fresno Fair. Nominations are now being accepted! Deadline for entries is Monday, August 15. To place your nomination, click here.