Santa Barbara County Fair Final Week

The Santa Barbara County Fair resumed its final five-day run on Wednesday, July 8, 2026, at the Santa Maria Fairpark, reopening after a two-day break in an eight-day split schedule. KSBY and KEYT reported that the fair’s closing stretch includes carnival rides, exhibits, food vendors and nightly concerts through Sunday, July 12. (keyt.com) The fair is being held at the Santa Barbara County Fairgrounds in Santa Maria, and organizers are still selling admission, parking and concert upgrades online. (tickets.santabarbaracountyfair.com) ### Why is the fair running in two parts this year? The 2026 Santa Barbara County Fair is scheduled for July 3-5 and July 8-12, with the fair closed on July 6 and July 7, according to the official tickets and hours pages. (santabarbaracountyfair.com) KEYT described the format as an “unprecedented split schedule” when the fair reopened Wednesday for its final five days. The fair’s official hours list weekdays from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. and weekends from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. That means the remaining run after Thursday includes Friday afternoon and full-day Saturday and Sunday operations before the event ends July 12. (ksby.com) ### What can visitors still do during the final stretch? KSBY said the final week features entertainment and activities across the grounds, including rides, exhibits and food vendors. The fair’s ticketing page also continues to sell carnival wristbands separately from admission, indicating the midway remains a central part of the event through the closing weekend. (santabarbaracountyfair.com) The official admission page lists single-day tickets at $14 for adults ages 12-61, $12 for seniors 62 and older, and $10 for youth ages 6-11. Parking is listed at $10. Organizers say fair admission is required in addition to any VIP concert purchase. (santabarbaracountyfair.com) ### Which concerts are left on the schedule? The Santa Barbara County Fair ticketing page lists Everclear for Thursday, July 9, Dylan Scott for Friday, July 10, and Rodney Atkins for Saturday, July 11. The fair’s entertainment page says the 2026 Concert Series includes free grandstand seating with fair admission, with upgraded VIP options for closer seating. (ksby.com) VIP pricing on the ticketing page is listed from $15 to $40 for the named concerts, while tables are listed at $400 for eight seats, or $50 per seat. The fair says VIP tickets do not include admission and that all eight seats must be bought together for table purchases. (tickets.santabarbaracountyfair.com) ### How does concert access work if you already bought fair admission? Free grandstand bleacher seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis for the concert series, according to the official ticketing site. The same page says visitors can add VIP access for exclusive food, bars, cocktails and seats closer to the stage. (tickets.santabarbaracountyfair.com) The fair’s entertainment page promotes the concerts with the line “Go FREE or Be a VIP,” framing the shows as included with general admission unless a visitor wants a paid upgrade. That setup leaves both no-cost and premium options in place for the final three announced headline nights. (tickets.santabarbaracountyfair.com) ### What should visitors know before heading out? The official fair website says admission tickets are valid for any one day during the 2026 run and that carnival wristbands require a separate transaction. Hours remain 2 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, then 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, according to the hours page. (tickets.santabarbaracountyfair.com) Sunday, July 12, is the final day of the 2026 Santa Barbara County Fair. Tickets, parking and remaining concert upgrades are listed on the fair’s official ticketing pages, while local coverage from KSBY and KEYT has tracked the event’s closing week in Santa Maria. (santabarbaracountyfair.com) (tickets.santabarbaracountyfair.com) (santabarbaracountyfair.com)