Racing pigs! Motorsports Mayhem! Live music and more! The 87th Annual Placer County Fair is coming

Motorsports, live music, a plethora of food and little racing pigs. Those are just a few of the attractions featured at the 87th annual Placer County Fair, which kicks off Thursday, June 26. Organizers are promising a better-than-ever entertainment lineup, from live music, an array of food, wine tasting, carnival rides, motorsports mayhem, family fun zone and a crowd favorite: the All-Alaskan racing pigs. The family friendly fair – one of the largest events in Placer Valley with more than 20,000 fairgoers – opens @the Grounds in Roseville on June 26 and continues through Sunday, June 29. The fair is open 5-11 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 700 Event Center Drive. This year's theme is "Soundtrack to Summer," with an ever-increasing emphasis on live music at the Attaway Pavilion. The fair will feature 11 free concerts, from tribute band Journey Revisited on Thursday night to the wildly popular The Outlaw Mariachi on Sunday night. Two concerts are scheduled for Thursday and Friday nights at Attaway Pavilion, with four concerts Saturday and three performances Sunday. according to Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism. "We're committed to elevating the quality of the fair every year to attract more fairgoers and provide new experiences for families who have made the fair an annual tradition," said Summers. "We're excited about the changes and looking forward to celebrating with the community." The fair is the longest-running event in Placer County; it started during the Great Depression. The event combines decades of tradition, such as corn dogs and the livestock area, with new features every year. This year, the fair will feature the Placer County Scholarship Pageants and the fifth annual Placer County Fair Rib Cook-Off on Sunday afternoon, one of the most popular events that requires an additional ticket at $40 per person that provides one rib from each competing team. Rib cook-off tickets are limited and sell out fast. Fairgoers will also enjoy free daily entertainment, including the return of the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, Tyzen: The Comedy Hypnotist, and the Silver Starlets, an aerial silk show. Mind Works, with interactive games for all ages, is new to the fair. The Butler Amusements carnival will feature about 20 rides, such as the family friendly Century Wheel – think of a modern Ferris wheel – and a merry-go-round to the much faster Zipper and the new Khaos, a massive ride that spins and is said to make riders feel weightlessness. The carnival will be divided into two areas for the third year, giving fairgoers more space and separating the adult- and teen-focused rides from those more oriented for children. And then there is Motorsports Mayhem, which will feature four types of car and motorcycle events at 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday at All American Speedway. Motorsports Mayhem includes a demonstration of formula drift cars, flat-track motorcycle races, motocross-style riders with jumps as part of a Stadium Bikes event and a demolition derby, where cars crash into each other and the driver with the last operating vehicle is the winner. For many, the fair experience includes the livestock barns and show rings, where cute pygmy goats share space with 1,000-pound steer. (Birds, such as chicks and turkeys, are not allowed this year because of the risk of avian flu). Hundreds of FFA and 4-H students showcase their animals, dedication and hard work in the hope of blue ribbons and possibly a hefty price at the auction on Saturday morning. The livestock auction reached a record $453,000, an impressive gain from $400,000 in 2023. "The livestock barns have been around for generations and are one of the most popular areas of the fair," Summers said. "It's really the grass roots of county fairs." There will also be still exhibits, arts and crafts and about 20 food booths featuring a wide range of delectables such as ice cream sandwiches to fresh-squeezed lemonade. There is also wine tasting from local wineries. The Family Fun Zone will feature interactive games, including a dance floor and giant Simon Says. Admission to the fair is $10 for adults, $6 for children 6-13 years old, and children 5 and under are free. Admission for military members and seniors 65 years and older is $8. Fairgoers can save $2 per ticket if purchased online before midnight June 25. Parking is $10 per day. Learn more about the fair, including how to buy tickets, the daily entertainment schedule and parking, at https://www.placercountyfair.org.