The Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival returns to the fairgrounds in Indio February 11 to 28, 2027, open Thursdays through Sundays plus Presidents Day. That works out to 13 fair days across three weekends. Tickets go on sale November 27, 2026.
The fair calls itself the county’s largest community celebration, and it has deep roots: the festival began in 1921 to celebrate the end of the date harvest, and the fair says it now welcomes more than 250,000 guests each February. Expect midway rides, animal shows, date shakes, and a lot of Arabian Nights styling. Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is the presenting sponsor.
The quick version
| When | February 11 to 15, 18 to 21, and 25 to 28, 2027. Gates open 3 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays, 10 a.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and Presidents Day. Gates close at 8 p.m. |
| Where | Riverside County Fairgrounds, 46350 Arabia St., Indio, CA 92201 |
| Highlights | Midway rides, arena shows, free shows, animal attractions, the Presidents Day Parade, date treats |
| Tickets | On sale November 27, 2026. Prices not yet posted. |
| Kids | Under 18 must be with an adult 21 or older |
| Official site | datefest.org |
The calendar, day by day
The fair is not open every day, so check before you drive out. Here is the posted schedule:
| Week | Open days | Gates open |
|---|---|---|
| Opening weekend | Thursday, February 11, through Monday, February 15 (Presidents Day) | 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday, Sunday, and Monday |
| Second weekend | Thursday, February 18, through Sunday, February 21 | 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday |
| Closing weekend | Thursday, February 25, through Sunday, February 28 | 3 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday |
Gates close at 8 p.m. every open day. The fair is closed February 16, 17, 22, 23, and 24.
What’s on the menu
Dates, of course. The fair’s ticket page sets the mood with cinnamon rolls and the sweet taste of a date shake, and the site keeps a collection of date recipes if you want to take the flavor home. The full 2027 food vendor lineup has not been posted. Outside food and drinks are not allowed in, so plan to eat at the fair.
Things to see
The fair’s attractions page lists Magical Midway Rides, arena shows, free shows, and the Presidents Day Parade. Its animal attractions page currently lists:
- Camel rides with Arteaga’s Epic Camel Encounters, starring local camels Diamond, Onyx, and Syd (extra fee).
- Pig races with the All Alaskan Racing Pigs.
- Sea Lion Splash, a show with rescued sea lions.
- JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show, with trainer Lou Mack and dogs rescued or adopted from shelters.
- Fabian’s Petting Farm and Fabian’s Pony Rides (pony rides are an extra fee).
The Arabian Nights tradition
The festival long featured a Queen Scheherazade scholarship pageant, named for the storyteller of One Thousand and One Nights. In 2023 it was replaced by a scholarship program for Riverside County graduates, according to Wikipedia’s history of the fair.
For 2027, the fair is carrying the Date Pageant tradition forward with the Arabian Nights Showcase, a competition for local school performing arts groups. Each group creates a 20 to 30 minute show inspired by Arabian Nights, and the grand prize winner receives a $10,000 grant for its program and performs on the City of Indio Celebration Stage during closing weekend, February 25 to 28.
What’s new in the exhibit halls
Competitive exhibits get five new categories for 2027: original 3D design and printing, interlocking brick-building, recycled and upcycled art, generative AI art, and electronics, robotics, and engineering. Most entry fees are $1 or $2, and the full rules are on the fair’s new and featured exhibits page.
Getting there
The fairgrounds are at 46350 Arabia St. in Indio. The parking entrance is on Oasis Street and Arabia Street, between Dr. Carreon Boulevard and Avenue 48. Walking in? Pedestrian entrances are Gate 1 on Highway 111 and Gate 6 on Dr. Carreon Boulevard, both between Oasis and Arabia streets. Parking prices for 2027 have not been posted.
What to leave at home
From the fairgrounds’ code of conduct, the items most likely to trip people up:
- Outside food and drinks, and metal water bottles.
- Pets and emotional support animals.
- Drones, selfie sticks, and tripods, including ones bought at the fair.
- Bikes, skateboards, skates, hoverboards, and scooters.
- Toy blasters and squirt guns, which count as weapons under the rules.
- Anything that covers your face, except medical or health masks.
- Alcohol brought from outside.
Family notes
This is a family fair, with one rule to know: anyone under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older, and guests may be asked for ID at the gate. Unaccompanied minors will not be admitted, with exceptions at fair management’s discretion. For younger kids, the petting farm, pony rides, and animal shows are the obvious draws.
Accessibility
Accessibility details for 2027 have not been posted. Questions go to the fair at info@datefest.org or 760-863-8247.
A little history
The first Date Festival was held in 1921 in Indio City Park, with 72 booths and about 5,000 visitors, and it staged the first street parade that year. Riverside County bought the original 40 acres of today’s fairgrounds in 1940, and the grounds now cover 120 acres, according to Wikipedia. The fair’s ticket page says it has been celebrating the desert’s history, traditions, and flavors for more than 75 years.
Still to come
As of September 28, 2026: ticket and parking prices (tickets go on sale November 27), the concert and arena lineup, the full 2027 animal and free show schedule, the food vendor list, and the Presidents Day Parade details. The 824 Journal will update this guide as the fair posts them.
Sources
- Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival, official site (dates, origin, attendance, address, contact)
- Datefest: Hours and Days
- Datefest: Tickets (on-sale date, code of conduct, unaccompanied minors policy)
- Datefest: Find Your Way (parking and pedestrian entrances)
- Datefest: Attractions and Animal Attractions
- Datefest: Arabian Nights Showcase
- Datefest: 2027 New and Featured Competitive Exhibits
- Wikipedia: Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival (history)
Featured photo: Randy Heinitz via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0
