Save the Date, literally: It’s almost time for the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival! The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival is a fun-filled event that looks like a fair but acts like a festival. It offers entertainment, rides, delicious food, and must-see attractions for the whole family.
Held at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio, California, this annual fair-festival celebrates the rich culture of the Colorado Desert. This includes an homage to dates, which have been a major crop in the region since 1903. You’ll find date smoothies, snacks, candies, and other delightful treats to keep you fueled while you enjoy the festivities.
At Xpress Shuttles, we love community celebrations and invite you to explore this unique, family-friendly Indio festival with us:
When is the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival?
To avoid the harsh summer heat, the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival is usually held in late winter or early spring. This lets the festival take advantage of peak desert weather. You’ll still get lots of sunshine and warm temperatures during the day, but the nights are cool and refreshing.
This year, the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival starts on February 13 and goes until March 2, 2025. The fairgrounds open to the public at 3pm on weekdays and 10am on weekends. The fair’s events end at 10pm every night.
History of the Riverside Fair
If the name Indio sounds familiar, it’s probably because it’s one of the world’s music festival hotspots. But long before superstars like Beyoncé and Harry Styles graced its stages, Indio played a vital role in the history of the Western United States. It was the halfway point for the Southern Railroad between Yuma, Arizona and Los Angeles.
As more people moved to Indio and the Coachella Valley to support the railroad, it soon expanded into an agricultural center. In the early 1900s, dates were introduced to the region. Indio’s arid climate was perfect for date palms, so transplanted trees thrived. By the early 1920s, dates were a major part of the local Coachella economy.
In addition to their value as exports, dates became a tourist attraction. People from all over would visit the Coachella Valley to tour the date groves of Indio. In 1921, the first Date Festival was held in the city’s park. It was a celebration of the end of the date harvest that proved immensely popular.
Later, in 1936, the Indio Civic Club sponsored another event called the Riverside County Fair & Coachella Valley Date Festival. With a playful Western theme honoring the region’s history with the railroad, this 1936 festival had 72 exhibition booths and over 5,000 attendees!
Today, the event is held at the Riverside County Fairgrounds. Covering 120 acres, the current fairgrounds hosts thousands of visitors every day during the County Fair & Date Festival. It’s also home to independently-sponsored events such as conventions and expos, concerts, rodeos, motorsports, and more.
Must-See Attractions
The Riverside County Fair & Date Festival offers a wide variety of must-see attractions. Every year is different, but you’ll always find live music, stage shows, interactive exhibits, animals, arts and crafts, and vendors of all kinds of goods.
The entertainment this year promises to dazzle and bring you the spectacular. On the fairgrounds’ historic Pageant Stage, you can watch the annual Arabian Night Musical Pageant, which has been held at every Date Festival since 1948. This award-winning show combines themes from the classic tale and rich humor.
Animal races are another can’t-miss attraction. Camel races and ostrich races are held each year to celebrate the exotic fauna of the desert ecosystem. Grab a date shake and root for your favorite furry or feathered contender! If you’re bringing your family, kids will love these animal races as well as mimes, puppet shows, and educational attractions designed especially for the little ones.
Carnival Fun for the Whole Family
Of course, no County Fair experience is complete without a carnival. The fairgrounds in Indio offer a range of carnival rides for adults, kids, and everyone in between. Make memories and feel the fun on classic rides like Ferris wheels, roller coasters, bumper cars, swings, speed rides, and more. The Kids’ Alley offers small-scale versions of these carnival attractions, too.
You’ll also find numerous games to play. Try your chances at ring toss, basketball, milk bottle throw, water gun races, darts, and more. You might just win a fantastic prize!
Delicious Dates & Fair Food
If you’re a foodie in the Coachella Valley, there’s no better place than the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival. The festival offers over 40 unique date treats, including:
- Date shakes and smoothies
- Date chocolates
- Stuffed dates
- Bacon-wrapped dates
- Date tarts and other baked goods
- Date syrup
- Date bars
Aside from their uniquely smooth, sweet flavor, dates are one of the most popular foods in the world thanks to their nutritional benefits. Dates are high in fiber, potassium, magnesium, and B vitamins. They also have a low glycemic index. This means that although dates are high in sugar, they don’t cause a rapid spike in blood sugar levels.
But if you’re looking for something less healthy, the Riverside County Fair is also home to the fair-favorite foods you love, like BBQ, cotton candy, corn dogs, fried twinkies, ice cream, and more.
Preparing for the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival
Have we convinced you to attend? General Admission Presale is $12 on the festival’s website, where you’ll also find special deals and discounts like free tickets for Veterans and First Responders. Avoid the rush and get your tickets today.
But remember, this County Fair is held in the Coachella Valley desert. Make sure you’re prepared and won’t have your day ruined by dehydration or a sunburn. We recommend you and your family bring the following items:
- Comfortable walking shows
- Sunscreen
- Water
- Sunglasses
- A sun hat
- A light jacket or sweater if you’re staying after dark
Celebrate with Xpress Shuttles
So gather your festival essentials and get ready to celebrate dates, deserts, and more at the Riverside County Fair & Date Festival. One final pro tip: skip the drive (and the festival’s parking fees) by scheduling your ride today with Xpress Shuttles!
We offer a variety of transportation options for groups of all sizes. Our professional drivers can pick you up and drop you off from anywhere across Southern California. Call 866-805-4234 or book online today.