Fond du Lac County Fair 2026 guide to tickets, rides and food

The fair runs July 15-19 with free admission, $10 parking, carnival rides, Korean corn dogs, Trace Adkins, Night Ranger and a demolition derby.

The Fond du Lac County Fair runs from July 15 to 19 with free general admission.
Grandstand events, including concerts by Trace Adkins and Night Ranger, require separate tickets.
The fair features carnival rides, various food vendors, and animal judging in the barns.
Other attractions include a demolition derby, tractor pull, and multiple stages for live entertainment.

FOND DU LAC – The Fond du Lac County Fair runs July 15-19 at the county fairgrounds, 520 Fond du Lac Ave., and opens daily at 9 a.m.

General admission is free, but parking on the grounds is $10 per carload and tickets are required for grandstand events.

Here’s everything to know before heading to the fairgrounds.

Bull riding and barrel racing kick off activities before opening day

The Immel Insurance and Financial Services Professional Bull Riding and Barrel Racing show will draw visitors to the Holiday Automotive Grandstand before the fair officially opens, starting at 6:30 p.m. July 14.

Gates open at 5:30 p.m., and tickets are $19 for adults and $6 for kids ages 3 to 12, available on the county fair website. VIP tickets are $41 and include early entry and a $5 food and drink voucher.

Fireworks kick off the fair season after the show at 9:30 p.m.

Carnival rides open each afternoon

Carnival rides from Rainbow Valley Rides range from kiddie rides to high-speed thrill rides, including the Tilt-A-Whirl, Rock Star, Wacky Shack, and more.

Rides open at 1 p.m. July 15 and noon July 16-19. Unlimited ride wristbands are $15 for the first opening day timeslot — valid from 1 to 4 p.m. — then $25 for the 5 to 10 p.m. timeslot.

Wristbands are $25 for each five-hour timeslot the rest of the fair: noon to 5 p.m. and 5 to 10 p.m. July 17 and noon to 5 p.m. July 18-20.

Cows, pigs and more are featured in the barns between judging

The Cow Palace, the Horse Arena and the Poultry Barn will host judging of a variety of animals, including cows, goats, pigs, horses, rabbits, llamas and caged birds.

The Cow Palace will also hold the small animal auction and Little Britches Animal Show, followed by a kids’ tractor pull.

The Horse Arena will have the horse shows at noon July 18 and 9 a.m. July 19, plus the Drill Team Performances at 5 p.m. July 15, 4 p.m. July 16, 6 p.m. July 17, 3 p.m. July 18, and noon July 19.

In other farm-related activities, the “MOO”-ternity Ward and Education Center in the Recreation building brings in cows that are close to giving birth to give attendees a chance to see a live birth, meet baby animals and learn more about the area’s livestock industry.

Food includes classic fare and Korean corn dogs

Food options will include fair favorites like shaved ice, cheese curds, ice cream, kettle corn, french fries, gyros and funnel cake.

The Fond du Lac County Fair Facebook page featured vendors offering Korean corn dogs, fresh-squeezed lemonade, chopped brisket sliders, and deep-fried cookie dough on a stick.

A Wine Walk across 10 booths around the fair runs from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. July 19. Tickets are $18 and in limited supply from the county fair website.

Vendors are featured in the Expo Center

Vendors will set up in the Expo Center, ranging from small business crafters to home improvement businesses. This also includes 4-H projects and face painting.

Entertainment is featured on National Exchange Bank stage and other stages

The Midway Patio Tent will feature Brent Bel and the Boys at 5:30 p.m. July 15 and Frankie Moscato at 5:30 p.m. July 16, while July 17 features Fred Ferguson at 2 p.m., Free Comedy Show at 6 p.m., and Seven Heads at 9 p.m.

July 18 includes the Mercury Marine Veteran Program from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., an Apple Pie Contest at 2 p.m., America 250 Trivia at 4 p.m., and music from Brandon Todd at 9 p.m.

Evening entertainment on Leinie Lodge Stage will include Eagles tribute band Take It Easy at 6 p.m. July 15, followed by Fleetwood Mac tribute band Hypnotized at 8:30 p.m.

The Glam Band will play at 6 and 9:30 p.m. July 16, while Driftwood will play the same timeslots July 17, and The Now will play July 18. The stage will also feature a car show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. July 19.

Headliners on the National Exchange Bank and Trust stage at the Holiday Automotive Grandstand include MJ LIVE July 16, Night Ranger July 17, and Trace Adkins July 18.

Tickets are available for MJ LIVE for $39, Night Ranger for $35, and $49 for Trace Adkins. VIP options are also available for Night Ranger and Trace Adkins.

Other grandstand shows include a tractor pull and demolition derby

Non-music grandstand entertainment for July 15 will be the truck and tractor pull. Gates open at 4:30 p.m. for the 6 p.m. show. Tickets are $17 for adults and free for kids age 12 and under.

The demolition derby will start at 2 p.m. July 19. Tickets are $19 for adults and $6 for kids ages 3-12. VIP tickets are $40 and include early entrance at noon and a $5 food voucher. Gates open for general admission at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets for both events are available on the county fair website.

More entertainment is featured for all ages

Kid-friendly activities include watching the Bear Hollow Wood Carvers and Dominguez Attractions daily at the Kids Carnival Corral, an area that also features free pony rides and a giant sandbox.

Halls of Magic will have daily performances at 12, 2:30, and 4 p.m. in the Expo building. The Expo Building will also feature bingo, the Culver’s Kids Coloring Contest, 4-H graduation, and the Fondy’s Got Talent competition, engaging a variety of talents from the area’s youth ages 2 to 18, starting at 1 p.m. July 18.

On the grounds, the Fun on the Run Pig, Duck & Goat Races will have daily shows at 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 5:30 p.m., and 7:00 p.m.

The Fondy 5K & Kids Fun Run will kick off at 8 a.m. July 18, followed by a baby crawling contest.

For more about this year’s fair, including the full schedule and fair map, visit fonddulaccountyfair.com.

Daphne Lemke is the Streetwise reporter for the Fond du Lac Reporter. Contact her at [email protected].