Mendocino County California Fair and Apple Show Festival
Every September, a small town in the heart of Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley does something it has done for a century: it throws open the gates of its fairgrounds and puts the apple harvest on display. The Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show is the annual centerpiece of Boonville, a town whose welcome sign reads 715 people, and it draws far more than that once the weekend begins.
The fair is equal parts county fair and harvest festival. Livestock barns and carnival rides sit beside tables of home-canned preserves, floral displays and racks of apples, and the weekend builds toward a rodeo, a parade down Highway 128 and sheepdog trials in the arena.
For anyone planning a visit, the appeal is straightforward: an old-fashioned fair that has kept its character while Northern California wine country grew up around it. It is a three-day event, Friday through Sunday, and it rewards a little planning.
Where the Fair Happens, and Why Boonville
The fairgrounds sit at 14400 Highway 128 in Boonville, the largest town in Anderson Valley, a narrow farming corridor that runs northwest from the Ukiah Valley toward the Mendocino coast. Boonville is unincorporated, so the fair is as much a civic institution as an entertainment one.
For a nearby comparison, see the Mariposa County California Mariposa Pride Festival.
Anderson Valley’s identity is bound up with apples. Orchards were planted here in the 1850s, and by the 1920s growers had organized a cooperative to pack and sell the crop. Wine grapes now cover many of the old orchard benches, but apples, cider and the fair remain the valley’s signature.
The drive in is part of the experience. Highway 128 winds through oak woodland and vineyard, and the fairgrounds sit close to the road in the middle of town, so you are on the grounds almost as soon as you spot the grandstand and the carnival rides rising above the fence line.
A Century of the Apple Show
The fair’s lineage stretches back more than a hundred years. An early apple show was staged in the town of Mendocino in 1911, and the event Anderson Valley knows today took shape in the 1920s; the fairgrounds’ own history dates its run to 1924.
For most of that time the fair has been a showcase for the valley’s agriculture rather than a commercial spectacle. Entries are still judged in categories that would be familiar to a fairgoer of the 1920s: apples, preserves, flowers, needlework, photography and livestock.
That continuity is the point. Generations of Anderson Valley families have entered the same competitions, and the fair’s volunteer board and staff have kept a three-day format that fits the rhythms of a farming community.
Key Facts at a Glance
| Location | Mendocino County Fairgrounds, 14400 Highway 128, Boonville, California |
| Typical timing | Three days each September, Friday through Sunday |
| Hours | 9 a.m. to midnight daily |
| Admission | Ticketed; children six and under free; discount days and pre-sale ride wristbands |
| Setting | Anderson Valley, Mendocino County |
| Signature events | CCPRA rodeo, sheepdog trials, parade, apple and wine tasting, wool and fiber festival |
| Organizer | Mendocino County Fairgrounds board and staff |
What Happens Across the Three Days
Friday
Friday opens gently, with the horse show in the rodeo arena in the morning and the exhibit buildings opening later. Wine tasting runs into the evening, and the carnival becomes the main draw for families arriving after school and work.
Saturday
Saturday is the busiest day. Livestock judging fills the barns, the wool and fiber festival draws spinners and weavers, and the CCPRA rodeo takes the arena at night, followed by live music and dancing.
Sunday
Sunday brings the sheepdog trials, classic car judging and the parade down Highway 128 at noon, with a second rodeo in the afternoon. The fair winds down with its championship announcements and a final round of music.
Apples, Cider, and the Wool and Fiber Festival
Two traditions sit at the center of the fair. The first is the apple: displays of local varieties, cider and wine tasting, and a long-running contest that crowns an apple champion for the year. The second is wool, through the California Wool and Fiber Festival, held on the same grounds.
The fiber festival brings spinners, weavers and shearers together for demonstrations and a national wool show, and it has grown into one of the largest gatherings of its kind in the state. For visitors, it is a chance to watch raw fleece become yarn in a single afternoon.
Entries for the wool show travel from across California, and the demonstrations run through the weekend, so there is nearly always something happening in the wool building. It is one of the few places where a fairgoer can follow the whole process, from shearing to a finished skein.
Food, Music, and the Fairgrounds Atmosphere
Away from the competitions, the fair runs on the familiar pleasures of a country fair. Food booths line the walkways, the lawn stages host magicians and live bands through the day, and the aroma of cider and fried food drifts across the grounds.
Free entertainment is a deliberate part of the weekend, from strolling performers to a children’s circus show and a petting zoo. Families tend to settle on the lawn between attractions rather than rush from one to the next.
A Fair Run by the Community
The fair is a nonprofit, community-run effort, overseen by a volunteer board with a small staff and an army of helpers during fair week. That structure shapes the experience: booths are staffed by local clubs and school groups, and the proceeds circulate back into the valley.
It is also why the fair has stayed modest in scale. There is no attempt to compete with the state’s large regional fairs. The result is an event that feels personal, where the people handing you a ribbon or a slice of pie are your neighbors.
Tickets, Hours, and Costs
The fair is ticketed rather than free. Adult admission has run in the low teens, with lower rates for juniors and children; kids six and under are admitted free, and at least one day each year offers a discount for seniors and free entry for young children.
Carnival rides are sold separately, usually as a wristband, and buying in advance saves money. Tastings for wine, cider and beer carry their own small fee. A multi-day pass is available for visitors who want to return across the weekend.
Getting There and Parking
Boonville sits on Highway 128, about an hour northwest of Ukiah and a similar drive inland from the Mendocino coast. Highway 253 offers an alternative approach from the Ukiah side. The fairgrounds are on the main road through town and are easy to find.
Parking fills quickly, especially on Saturday, and much of it is on grass and gravel around the grounds. Arriving before the gates open is the simplest way to secure a close space, and carpooling eases the crunch.
Cell service is patchy on parts of Highway 128, so it helps to save directions in advance. Drivers should also watch for pedestrians and fair traffic where the parade uses the highway on Sunday.
Where to Stay
Anderson Valley has a limited but distinctive range of lodging, from the historic hotel in Boonville to inns, cottages and campgrounds spread along Highway 128. The fairgrounds themselves offer an RV park, which fills early for fair weekend.
Because rooms are scarce, booking well ahead is wise. Ukiah and the Mendocino coast are both within driving distance and offer a wider choice of hotels for visitors who do not mind the commute.
Practical Tips for Fair Day
- Arrive early, especially on Saturday, to park close and beat the midday heat.
- Bring cash for vendors and small tasting fees; not every stall takes cards.
- Wear layers, because Anderson Valley mornings are cool even when afternoons turn warm.
- Save the parade and sheepdog trials for Sunday, and the rodeo for Saturday night.
- Buy carnival wristbands in advance to save money and skip the ride-ticket line.
- Wear comfortable shoes; the grounds are compact but you will be on your feet.
Beyond the Fairgrounds
The fair is a good reason to spend a whole weekend in Anderson Valley. Hendy Woods State Park, a short drive toward Philo, protects old-growth redwoods with easy walking trails. Apple stands and cideries, including long-established family orchards, line Highway 128.
The valley is also a recognized wine region, with tasting rooms in and around Boonville and Philo. Anderson Valley Brewing Company, a pioneer of the area’s craft beer scene, is a familiar stop for visitors making a day of it.
Listen for Boontling, the homegrown dialect once spoken in Boonville, and visit the small historical museum in the old schoolhouse to make sense of the place. Together these stops turn a fair visit into a proper trip.
Festival Area Map
The map below marks the Mendocino County Fairgrounds on Highway 128 in Boonville, with the main routes through Anderson Valley for planning your drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show held?
It is a three-day fair held each September, running Friday through Sunday. Exact dates shift from year to year, so check the fairgrounds’ schedule before you travel.
Where does the fair take place?
At the Mendocino County Fairgrounds, 14400 Highway 128, Boonville, in the heart of Anderson Valley in Mendocino County.
Is there an admission fee?
Yes. The fair is ticketed, with lower rates for children and juniors and free entry for the youngest visitors. Carnival rides and tastings cost extra.
What is the California Wool and Fiber Festival?
It is a wool and fiber event held on the fairgrounds during the fair, featuring shearing and spinning demonstrations, a national wool show and vendors of yarn and fiber.
Is the fair family-friendly?
It is built for families, with carnival rides, a petting zoo, livestock barns, food booths and free entertainment on the lawn stages throughout the weekend.
Can I camp at the fairgrounds?
Yes. The fairgrounds operate an RV park and offer fair-time camping, but spaces are limited and should be reserved early.
What should I wear?
Comfortable shoes and layers. Anderson Valley can be cool in the morning and warm by afternoon, and you will be walking on grass and gravel.
What to Expect From the Next Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show
How often is the fair held?
The Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show is an annual event, held each September in Boonville.
When is the next fair?
The next edition is expected the following September. Confirm the dates with the fairgrounds before planning travel, as they change from year to year.
Will the dates or format change?
Dates vary annually, and attractions such as the rodeo, parade and entertainment lineup change from year to year, though the three-day September format has held for decades.
Last updated: October 2026
The Mendocino County Fair and Apple Show endures because it belongs to the valley that stages it. Come for the apples and the rodeo, stay for the wine country around it, and you will understand why Boonville has kept this September tradition alive for a century.
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