Date: May 23, 2025
Nostalgia is the bread and butter of county fairs. The memories from fairs past are deeply imbedded in so many people’s lives. Todays fairs hold the promise of nostalgic feelings yet to come. The Plumas Sierra County Fair tries to walk the line of preserving those memories, but still striving to create something new and different. The 2025 version of that effort arrives in Quincy, California on July 24 thru the 27th.
Each year, the Plumas Sierra County Fair Board is tasked with coming up with a theme that can both promote and set the tone for the annual fair. In discussions for the upcoming fair, the Board was focused on getting the community to participate in any aspect of the event. Fair Manager and fair historian John Steffanic reminded the Board that the first theme of the modern Plumas County Fair in 1940 was “It’s your fair, be there!” From that, the group quickly added a simple tag line that summed up what every fair needs: ”It’s your fair, be there and share!” That’s all it takes! Share your time. Share your knowledge. Share your jelly. Share anything you have made, grown or raised. Share your spirit. Whatever you can, just come to the fair and share!
What can you count on from the past? You will find our devoted carnival, still coming to our small community with a great selection of rides. You will find live music from local musicians on our Plumas Bank Old Town Stage, a place many of us still refer to as the beer garden. There are the beautiful family gardens next to the newly renovated Floriculture Building. The Art Barn still shows off one of the finest art competitions around. The best quilt barn in the State along with sewing projects, preserved and baked foods and even home brews can still be found in the Home Arts Building. Yes to the swine, goats, steers, lambs, and rabbits. You can watch the 4H/FFA horse show that has been around for decades; different kids, same experience. Sunday evening will still have auto racing. And of course, you can expect to see the most beautiful fairgrounds in California.
How about those new memories to be made? Motorcycle races are back for a second year on Saturday night, which was one of the largest draws in dozens of years. Several new entertainers will delight the whole family with children’s shows, Steam Punk hypnotism, and Dangerously Fun Juggling. Music, laughs, and dancing throughout the day, every day. A both new and old feature will be the rock and mineral display in the Mineral Building by the Reno Gem and Mineral Society along with participation by several local rock and mineral experts.
Yes, the Annual Fair Parade will happen in downtown Quincy beginning at 10am on Saturday, July 26. You can contact the Quincy Chamber of Commerce for more information on how to be a part of that long tradition. The Junior Livestock Auction takes place, as usual, on Sunday morning at 9am. Church services also start at 9am on Sunday morning. A more recent addition to the special events at the fair includes the International Mini Donut Eating Contest on Friday evening.
Back to the topic of sharing; the Fair Exhibit Guide is now available on the fair website, or you can pick up a copy at any Plumas Bank branch, county libraries or at the fair office. Take a moment to look through all the different categories that you could enter something you have made, grown or raised. It’s as simple as filling out the entry form in the back of the guide and mailing or dropping off the entry at the fair office before the deadline, which for most items is July 11. That’s just the entry form, you don’t have to bring in your actual item until the week before the fair. Details are all spelled out in the free Exhibit Guide.
The Plumas Sierra County Fair opens at noon beginning on Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27. It closes at 10pm on Thursday and Sunday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday. The carnival opens at 2pm each day and closes shortly before the fair closes. All the exhibit buildings open at noon and close around 8pm. A complete calendar of events will be posted on the website in the weeks before the fair and the most up-to-date information will be published daily in the Chipper Gazette newsletter.
Admission fees have not changed for many years; Adults are $6, Students/Seniors $5, Kids 6-12 are $4. A family up to 5 can get in for $14. There are discounted prices for weekly passes. Tickets are only available at the ticket booths on the days of the fair. The fair only accepts cash or checks. Admission to the motorcycle races and auto races are in addition to fair admission.
The fair features free admission on Thursday between noon and 2pm. Visitors that come in during that time can stay all day if they wish, but do not get a stamp to return if they leave the fair. Sunday is Pay What You Can Day. Everyone is welcome at no charge and if you feel like kicking down a few bucks to help the fair, well thank you very much!
Presale carnival tickets also remain unchanged from last year. A daily unlimited ride ticket is only $30 and a Golden Ticket, which is good for unlimited rides every day of the fair is only $100. A daily unlimited ride ticket can be used on the day of your choice. Presale tickets are exchanged for bracelets at the carnival ticket booth. Attendants are on site to help. You can purchase presale carnival tickets beginning in early June from any Plumas Bank branch, the Fair Office or Safeway in Quincy, Sierra Valley Home Center in Loyalton and Sierra Valley Feed in Sierraville.
If you are motivated to be more involved in the fair, consider volunteering. The fair always needs people to monitor some of the buildings, which basically involves spending a couple hours visiting with other guests and making sure no one drinks the home brew! It’s an enormous help to the fair and it’s a great way to share your time with this beloved event. Contact the fair office at 530-283-6272 and see if there is a time slot that works for you.
Find the most current information on the fair website; www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net or on Facebook. Come on people….it’s your fair, be there and share!
Nostalgia is the bread and butter of county fairs. The memories from fairs past are deeply imbedded in so many people’s lives. Todays fairs hold the promise of nostalgic feelings yet to come. The Plumas Sierra County Fair tries to walk the line of preserving those memories, but still striving to create something new and different. The 2025 version of that effort arrives in Quincy, California on July 24 thru the 27th.
Each year, the Plumas Sierra County Fair Board is tasked with coming up with a theme that can both promote and set the tone for the annual fair. In discussions for the upcoming fair, the Board was focused on getting the community to participate in any aspect of the event. Fair Manager and fair historian John Steffanic reminded the Board that the first theme of the modern Plumas County Fair in 1940 was “It’s your fair, be there!” From that, the group quickly added a simple tag line that summed up what every fair needs: ”It’s your fair, be there and share!” That’s all it takes! Share your time. Share your knowledge. Share your jelly. Share anything you have made, grown or raised. Share your spirit. Whatever you can, just come to the fair and share!
What can you count on from the past? You will find our devoted carnival, still coming to our small community with a great selection of rides. You will find live music from local musicians on our Plumas Bank Old Town Stage, a place many of us still refer to as the beer garden. There are the beautiful family gardens next to the newly renovated Floriculture Building. The Art Barn still shows off one of the finest art competitions around. The best quilt barn in the State along with sewing projects, preserved and baked foods and even home brews can still be found in the Home Arts Building. Yes to the swine, goats, steers, lambs, and rabbits. You can watch the 4H/FFA horse show that has been around for decades; different kids, same experience. Sunday evening will still have auto racing. And of course, you can expect to see the most beautiful fairgrounds in California.
How about those new memories to be made? Motorcycle races are back for a second year on Saturday night, which was one of the largest draws in dozens of years. Several new entertainers will delight the whole family with children’s shows, Steam Punk hypnotism, and Dangerously Fun Juggling. Music, laughs, and dancing throughout the day, every day. A both new and old feature will be the rock and mineral display in the Mineral Building by the Reno Gem and Mineral Society along with participation by several local rock and mineral experts.
Yes, the Annual Fair Parade will happen in downtown Quincy beginning at 10am on Saturday, July 26. You can contact the Quincy Chamber of Commerce for more information on how to be a part of that long tradition. The Junior Livestock Auction takes place, as usual, on Sunday morning at 9am. Church services also start at 9am on Sunday morning. A more recent addition to the special events at the fair includes the International Mini Donut Eating Contest on Friday evening.
Back to the topic of sharing; the Fair Exhibit Guide is now available on the fair website, or you can pick up a copy at any Plumas Bank branch, county libraries or at the fair office. Take a moment to look through all the different categories that you could enter something you have made, grown or raised. It’s as simple as filling out the entry form in the back of the guide and mailing or dropping off the entry at the fair office before the deadline, which for most items is July 11. That’s just the entry form, you don’t have to bring in your actual item until the week before the fair. Details are all spelled out in the free Exhibit Guide.
The Plumas Sierra County Fair opens at noon beginning on Thursday, July 24 through Sunday, July 27. It closes at 10pm on Thursday and Sunday, and midnight on Friday and Saturday. The carnival opens at 2pm each day and closes shortly before the fair closes. All the exhibit buildings open at noon and close around 8pm. A complete calendar of events will be posted on the website in the weeks before the fair and the most up-to-date information will be published daily in the Chipper Gazette newsletter.
Admission fees have not changed for many years; Adults are $6, Students/Seniors $5, Kids 6-12 are $4. A family up to 5 can get in for $14. There are discounted prices for weekly passes. Tickets are only available at the ticket booths on the days of the fair. The fair only accepts cash or checks. Admission to the motorcycle races and auto races are in addition to fair admission.
The fair features free admission on Thursday between noon and 2pm. Visitors that come in during that time can stay all day if they wish, but do not get a stamp to return if they leave the fair. Sunday is Pay What You Can Day. Everyone is welcome at no charge and if you feel like kicking down a few bucks to help the fair, well thank you very much!
Presale carnival tickets also remain unchanged from last year. A daily unlimited ride ticket is only $30 and a Golden Ticket, which is good for unlimited rides every day of the fair is only $100. A daily unlimited ride ticket can be used on the day of your choice. Presale tickets are exchanged for bracelets at the carnival ticket booth. Attendants are on site to help. You can purchase presale carnival tickets beginning in early June from any Plumas Bank branch, the Fair Office or Safeway in Quincy, Sierra Valley Home Center in Loyalton and Sierra Valley Feed in Sierraville.
If you are motivated to be more involved in the fair, consider volunteering. The fair always needs people to monitor some of the buildings, which basically involves spending a couple hours visiting with other guests and making sure no one drinks the home brew! It’s an enormous help to the fair and it’s a great way to share your time with this beloved event. Contact the fair office at 530-283-6272 and see if there is a time slot that works for you.
Find the most current information on the fair website; www.plumas-sierracountyfair.net or on Facebook. Come on people….it’s your fair, be there and share!
