Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival Opens Thursday in Indio

The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival returns to the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio on Thursday, running Thursdays through Sundays—plus Presidents Day—through March 1.

Now in its 76th year, this year's theme is "Return to the Oasis," celebrating the history and traditions of the Coachella Valley's largest community event. The fair includes outdoor activities, the Date Pageant, and community performances on the Historic Arabian Nights Stage. Traditional fair fare is back as well, including date shakes and date-beer-battered corndogs.

General admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors, and $10 for children. Season passes are $35. Carnival wristbands are $32, and parking is $10 (or $20 for VIP). The fair opens at 3 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. on weekends and Presidents Day, with gates closing at 8 p.m. Full hours and tickets are available here.