By Alexis Alvarez, May 6, 2025
The Los Angeles County Fair returns to the Pomona Fairplex from May 2-26, and brings new food options and attractions for its 103rd anniversary.
The theme for the 2025 Los Angeles County Fair is Art Unleashed, and according to Renee Hernandez, the director of communications, there are several hands-on activities such as an open art studio and clay throwing, which is done on a pottery wheel. Several LA County art institutions are hosting the activities, such as the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, LA Opera, the Center Theater Group and the Getty Museum.
Additionally, there is art from the LA Gallery and the Pomona Valley Association.
Ray Cammack Shows is back with its carnival entertainment for the corporation’s 39th LA County Fair and has four new rides, including three new roller coasters and a new swing that goes up 160 feet, Hernandez said. There is also a new petting zoo with different miniature animals such as horses, donkeys and cows.
Keeping to its traditions, Hernandez said the highly anticipated food brings options everyone can enjoy. For vegan and vegetarian options, The Veggie Box offers a vegan empanada with a chimichurri and a mushroom-pulled-pork sandwich. For gluten-free options, Vartanian Concessions offers a turkey burger with a bacon jam and choice of gluten-free buns, as well as gluten-free corn dogs.
Many of the vendors are offering classic food staples and new vendor items such as funnel cakes, chocolate covered strawberries, turkey legs stuffed with macaroni and cheese, pickle lemonade and dole whip floats.
A new vendor available for its first LA County Fair is Disco Chicken, which offers items such as chicken sandwiches with a choice of classic or spicy, chicken and waffles and more. Some fan favorites are the spicy chicken sandwich, which includes hand-breaded chicken with jalapeños and additional flavor from their signature sauce, and their chicken strips, which are also hand-breaded, according to Kayla Taggart, owner of Disco Chicken.
“I’m really looking forward to the craziness and being able to share Disco Chicken and the theme, vibes and energy with people that come to the fair,” Taggart said.
To help save money, there are value meal passes where every concessionaire offers a meal for $9.75. There are also discounted tickets and parking. All of the information can be found on the LA County Fair website, according to Hernandez.
At The Hill section of the fair, visitors can find America Great Outdoors, which is a reptile house. The exhibit provides hands-on educational experiences about wild burros and California’s park systems. The Hill has also crosscut sawing, where guests can saw their own piece of wood and brand it with their choice of imprints offered.
Ben Garcia, lead for the crosscut saw demonstration, recommended the LA County Fair American Great Outdoors section for its family-friendly nature. He also recommended this section to people who like the outdoors or want to keep their children away from technology for the day.
“We have people coming back year after year,” Garica said. “I’ve had one family. They’ve been coming back for 21 years. It’s something that you never forget.”
Feature image courtesy of Alexis Alvarez