Until 2021, the Los Angeles County Fair in Pomona generally ran from late August through September (closed Mondays & Tuesdays).

But the coronavirus pandemic shut down the Fair (and most other major venues) in both 2020 and 2021.

The good news is that the Fair will be back in 2022, and even better news is that they are permanently changing the Fair dates from the Fall to late Spring.

In the past, one of the major drawbacks (for me, at least) to the L.A. County Fair was the heat.  Held at the hottest time of the year in Southern California, in Pomona (an inland city without a sea breeze), weather there could get oppressively hot during the annual Fair.

But in 2022, when the Fair reopens, it will now run May 5 to May 30, 2022.

The month of May in SoCal usually features very mild, pleasant weather, sunny, with temps in the 70s, and no rain. It's ideal month for a County Fair, and the new move should make going to the L.A. Fair a much more comfortable, enjoyable experience.

The Los Angeles County Fair is the largest county Fair in all of North America, drawing a million and a half visitors each year,.

Pomona is so far northeast of central Los Angeles that many people tend to think of Pomona as part of Orange County or San Bernardino County. But in fact, Pomona is actually on the northeastern edge Los Angeles County.

Pomona boasts a permanent fairgrounds (called Fairplex) covering almost 500 acres. It features lushly landscaped grounds, over 200 permanent display buildings, a ski-lift ride, shady picnic areas, livestock barns & stables, a model farm, one of the world's largest miniature train displays, contests, judgings, two rodeos, fireworks, pot-bellied pig races, fine arts, a Mexican Village, numerous exhibitions, gardens, a huge midway full of carnival rides and games, tons of food, a full-size thoroughbred race track, and 13 stages featuring live entertainment. (Alas, the Arrowhead monorail, pictured above, was removed from the Fairgrounds.)

And it's a good spot to see some of your favorite performers in concert.

You'll find a lot of oldie acts out at Fairplex. Featured musical performers in the past have included Huey Lewis & the News ("The Heart of Rock & Roll"), ZZ Top, Johnny Rivers ("Poor Side of Town"), The Association ("Windy"), Three Dog Night ("Joy to the World"), KC and the Sunshine Band, The Commodores ("Three Times a Lady"), Sister Hazel, Hall & Oates, the Pointer Sisters, Peter Frampton, Smashmouth, Cheap Trick, Bryan White, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Randy Travis, Jan & Dean ("Dead Man's Curve"), Vonda Shepard, dc Talk, The Temptations, The Neville Bros, Pat Benatar, The Doobie Brothers, REO Speedwagon, Steven Curtis Chapman, Kool & The Gang The Righteous Bros, The Beach Boys, Monica, Jennifer Paige/Blaque, Jars of Clay, Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, The Four Tops, The Isley Brothers, The Moffatts, Clay Walker, Isaac Hayes, Kansas and Juice Newton.

Most of these concerts are free with admission to the Fair.

In 2017, the concerts included The Beach Boys, Joan Jett & the Blackhearts,  Cheap Trick, KC & the Sunshine Band, Kool & the Gang, Blue Oyster Cult, Bad Company, Grand Funk Railroad, The Commodores, The Stylistics, & The Ohio Players.

  (For a full list of Fair concerts, click here.)


In 2017, concerts included Patti LaBelle, Queen Latifah, Fifth Harmony, Styx, Kansas, and Chicago.

2016 concerts included Blondie, The Isley Brothers, Billy Currington and LeAnn Rimes.

he 2015 concerts included ZZ Top, Chicago & Boz Skaggs, Train, Kool & the Gang, Jake Owen, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Justin Moore & Kellie Pickler, Patti Labelle & Chaka Khan, War, the Beach Boys, and comics Cheech & Chong.

In 2014, concerts included Boyz II Men with Kenny “Babyface” Edmonds, Cheap Trick & Kansas, Martina McBride,  Jamie Lynn Spears, Neon Trees, War, Charlie Wilson, L.L. Cool J, Jennifer Nettles & Brandy Clark, Heart, Pentatonix, George Benson & Chaka Khan, Earth, Wind & Fire, Styx, and Roberto Tapia & Irene Davi.

2012 artists  included Carly Rae Jepsen (with the ubiquitious "Call Me Maybe"), The Wanted, Bridgit Mendler & Cher Lloyd, George Benson & Chaka Khan, the B-52s & Berlin, Styx, Tower of Power & the Average White Band, Karmin & Cobra Starship, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Grand Funk Railroad.

In 2011, performers included The Beach Boys, The Doobie Bros, LeAnn Rimes, REO Speedwagon & Styx, Miranda Cosgrove, Gn, Michael McDonald & BozScaggs, Earth Wind & Fire, War, Gloria Trevi, OneRepublic, Tower of Power & the Average White Band, and others.

In 2010, performers included Selena Gomez, Lifehouse, Hall & Oates, Rick Springfield, Boyz II Men & En Vogue, Gretchen Wilson, 3OH!3, Teena Marie, War, Bad Company, Tower of Power & the Average White Band.

In 2009, performers at the fair included The Beach Boys, Leann Rimes, Peter Framton, Al Green, The Spinners, the Average White Band, Donna Summer, Kansas, Good Charlotte, War, Blake Shelton and Ciara.

In 2008, the performers included Smokey Robinson, The Doobie Brothers, War, Sugarland, KC & the Sunshine Band, and the Bangles.

In 2007, the acts included Tower of Power, The B-52’s, Earth, Wind & Fire and Lifehouse.  (Click here to read the 2008 schedule.)

In 2006, the performers included: Heart, Pat Benatar, LeAnn Rimes, Donna Summer, Montgomery Gentry and The Doobie Brothers.

In 2005, the acts included Crosby, Stills & Nash, ZZ Top, Hall & Oates, Sugar Ray, Hoobastank, War, Tower of Power, Lifehouse, The Village People, KC and the Sunshine Band and José Feliciano.

2004 saw performers such as Jackson Browne, Willie Nelson, Lonestar, and The Doors of the 21st Century.

In 2003, concert acts included Willie Nelson, War, the B-52's, Earth, Wind & Fire, Styx, Brad Paisley, KC and The Sunshine Band, Tower of Power and REO Speedwagon. Most shows were scheduled for 8 p.m.

Most of the big name entertainers appear either at the Fair's race course or at the Fairplex Hill stage, but there are also lots of small bands and acts throughout the Fair: mimes, balloon artists, clowns, jugglers, magicians, steel-drum bands, Blue grass groups, Dixieland bands, local acts... plus fireworks.

Hours: The Fair will return in May of 2021, and will run from May 5 to May 30, Thursdays through Sundays (closed on Mondays - Tuesdays, & Wednesdays).  Exact hours to be announced later.

Click here for a map of the Fairgrounds.

 Getting there: From Hollywood, take the Hollywood (2) Freeway south (about six miles) to downtown Los Angeles, where it becomes the San Bernardino (10) Freeway. Take the San Bernardino (10) Freeway east (about 26 more miles) to Pomona, and exit at one of three offramps: Fairplex Drive, White Avenue or Garey Avenue, then follow the signs north to the fairgrounds.