Marin County Fair attendance up, revenue flat

Attendance was up at the 2025 Marin County Fair compared to last year, but changes in ticket pricing resulted in similar revenues.

According to organizers, 79,988 people attended the fair, a 14% increase from 2024, when the five-day event occurred during a record-setting heat wave.

The busiest day this year was Friday, with 19,661 attendees. The opening day on July 2 — when admission was free for seniors, pre-teens, veterans and active service members — had 2,736 attendees who were 65 or older, 4,620 youths under 13, and 151 vets and active military members.

Overall, the ticket revenues this year were $1,640,035, compared to $1,632,615 last year.

This year, the fair eliminated “gold circle” tickets for evening concerts. In 2024, those tickets for premium seats earned $53,350, but fair officials had challenges with scalpers and fake tickets.

“We’re trying to recoup our funds and break even for the fair, but our first priority is to serve the community,” said Steve Dow, director of the Marin County Cultural Services Department. “The more folks we can get from the community here at the fair is our primary objective. We are very happy with the numbers in that regard.”

The theme for the fair this summer was insects, which Dow said was popular with young attendees and contest entrants. Organizers also reintroduced many exhibits and contests that had not appeared since the COVID-19 pandemic, he said.

“We did bring back this year a large number of exhibits and competitions that have not been there in the last couple of years,” Dow said. “All the baked goods, all the preserved foods, hobby arts, adult hobby arts, horticulture, floriculture have historically been part of of the fair, but since COVID have not really been held.”

Organizers said 5,500 children and families participated in the MCA Art Studio. Eight hundred performers from 45 local organizations and ensembles performed at the community stage. Among the art exhibits, 81 works were sold for a total of $29,610.

Outdoors in the barnyard, there were more large farm animals and competitions even though California agricultural officials banned fairs from showing poultry in the “fur and feathers” tent and dairy cows on Sunday because of avian influenza.

“The other four days were fully active with large animals and the show ring, and, of course, the other exhibits in the barnyard,” Dow said.

“Our primary goal this year is to make the event more community based,” he said. “That’s our goal moving forward, too, to really make the event something where everyone in the community can connect in some way to an exhibit, an exhibitor, or something going on on the campus.”