Heading to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival? 5 things to know

The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival is back this week — after a three-year hiatus — with tasty food options, exciting entertainment, rides for kids to adults and other fun events for the whole family.

But patrons can expect a few changes this year.

Chris Pickering of Pickering Events said there is a change to the entrance into the fairgrounds. Patrons will still park in the south parking lot, but the access point will be on Oasis Street instead of Arabia Street, and digital signs will direct the new traffic pattern. Those coming from Interstate 10 on Monroe Street will go down to Avenue 48 and come across Oasis Street.

"This will help alleviate that traffic on the residential area around us as well as moving people in on Oasis during the weekend when we have our overflow parking at the county parking structure behind the courthouse," Pickering said.

In previous years, the entertainment in the Grandstand Arena was included in the price of admission and patrons were allowed to enter until maximum capacity was reached. Entrance now requires a ticket for each event. Pickering said organizers have created reserved seating with numbers on each of the seat benches. The capacity of the bleachers is 3,000, with an additional 400 VIP box seats. The field level will add over 900 during concert nights.

"One of the things we heard from people is they would bring their kids to the fair and want to take them to see the monster trucks, but (when) they would show up, it was at capacity, they couldn't get in and the kids were devastated," Pickering said. "With the reserved seating system, you know that you have a seat, you're going to get in and there's no disappointment when you arrive."

Also new this year, each food vendor will feature at least one menu item with the fair's namesake, adding to a selection of offerings such as bacon-wrapped dates and date syrup-drizzled kettle corn.

The fair runs Friday through Feb. 26 and festivities will take place at the Riverside County Fairgrounds at 82-503 Highway 111 in Indio.

Whether you're a newbie or returning to the fair, here's a guide to the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival.

Where do I get tickets?

The best option is to buy your tickets at datefest.org. General admission, seniors and children (6-12) are $10, a carnival wristband is $30 and a season pass, which is only available online, is $30.

Tickets are also available at the gate. General admission is $15, $13 for seniors and $12 for children 6-12. A carnival wristband for rides is $32 to $37.

Children 5 and under are free.

Are there any special admission days?

There are three special admission days.

Kids Day: Tuesday, Feb. 21, children 12 and under are freeMilitary Appreciation Day: Wednesday, Feb. 22, all active duty, reserve, National Guard, retirees and veterans of all military branches are free with valid ID First Responders Day: Thursday, Feb. 23, law enforcement officers, firefighters, and EMTs are free

What about parking?

General parking is $10 per vehicle and VIP parking is available on the north side of the property for $20 per vehicle. VIP parking is also included with the purchase of a box seat to any grandstand show.

What about entertainment?

There's plenty of entertainment and other events taking place in the Grandstand Arena such as a demolition derby, monster trucks and performances by The Fray and Flo Rida. But each grandstand event will now require a separate ticket. Tickets for each event are available at datefest.org

Here is a list of entertainment at the fair.

Demolition Derby: 7 p.m. Feb. 17, $5 to $149 Tejano Fest: 3 p.m. Feb. 18, $5 to $400 Pancho Barraza: 4 p.m. Feb. 19, $25 to $149 PRCA Rodeo: 5 p.m. Feb. 20, $5 to $149 Monster Trucks: 7 p.m. Feb. 21 and 22, $5 to $149 Flo Rida: 7 p.m. Feb. 23, $5 to $149 The Fray: 7 p.m. Feb. 24, $5 to $149 Rock Fest: 3 p.m. Feb. 25, $5 to $144

More:9 live entertainment options to check out at the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival

Are there any free events?

There are several fun events for all ages such as a sea lion show, an interactive science exhibit, a hypnotist and a BMX Stunt Show. A complete list is available at datefest.org/p/about/entertainment/free-at-the-fair

Desert Sun reporter Brian Blueskye covers arts and entertainment. He can be reached at brian.blueskye@desertsun.com or on Twitter at @bblueskye. 

This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Heading to National Date Festival? Tickets, parking and free events