The historic May Day fair is getting closer each week, and along with April showers comes Los Banos’ latest and greatest Spring Fair.
Beginning April 29 and wrapping up May 3, this May Day celebration has many new developments both at the fairgrounds and in the fair committee’s approach to planning this year’s festivities.
The fairgrounds have gotten various improvements, both big and small, since last spring, and fairgrounds staff can’t wait to show the fairgoers all the new additions that will help maximize fun and minimize cost.
The livestock areas have seen the most renovation since the last May Day Parade, and their many extensions are sure to give animals and humans alike more space than ever.
The Morning Star Pavilion, for example, now boasts both an additional 40 by 60 square foot stretch of land, and the entire area has been paved over with concrete. Gone are the days of students bringing their own pop-up tents to cover their animals on uneven turf – now livestock shows will be held on solid ground with plenty of pre-installed coverings to keep animals (and their humans) nice and cool.
The surrounding buildings will also be getting a “facelift” of their own, and this year’s attendees will be greeted with brand new red barn fronts on four of the fairground’s barns.
The Henry Miller Ag exhibit will also be getting what fair staff is calling a “refresh,” promising all new ways to get little farmers engaged with their community’s history and future.
Fair staff are eager to unveil the upgrades to the children’s areas most of all, and cut no corners when making the family attractions both fun and affordable.
Camel rides will be available for the first time this year, and the petting zoo – now triple the size from last year – will have a much wider variety of animals.
The kids zone is back and will now include a power jump trampoline, a rock wall for climbing and both a pirate show and a bubble show, all completely free.
Though more events mean more planning and coordination, Fairgrounds Manager Cinnamon Howell and her staff were more than happy to put in the extra effort to make it work.
“We’re really excited for the expansions and the enhanced kids zones,” says Howell, “more than anything, we really enjoy being able to bring free entertainment to our local families.”
The kids’ zone isn’t the only part of the May Day festivities that will have more, as food vendors both new and familiar will be ready to serve hungry fairgoers with a variety of menu items.
In an effort to help lower the overall cost of a day at the fair, event staff has been working with many of the food vendors to ensure that they have menu items that won’t break the bank: many food stands will feature snacks for bite-sized prices, and most will occasionally discount their prices depending on the day or time of day to make sure no guest leaves hungry.
The live entertainment promises to be as varied as the food, and, true to this year’s theme of Roots, Rides, and Ribbons, attendees can expect to see everything from cowgirls towering over the crowd on stilts to pirates lurking amongst the food stalls.
The destruction derby and tractor pulls – staples of the Valley’s May Day celebration – will keep engines revving in the truck lot while Hypnotist Tina Marie returns to dazzle the crowd on stage, and live music from acts from around the state are sure to keep the speakers on full blast.
The stage events, of course, are all free of charge, so fairgoers looking to move their feet are guaranteed a place to do it.
Parade applications are still open, and applications for the Miss May Day pageant have just opened up. If anyone from the community is interested in being part of either the parade or taking a shot at being crowned “Miss May Day 2026,” they can find all they need on the LB county web site.
Tickets for this year’s Spring fair will go on sale Feb. 18, and the kickoff dinner will be held exactly two months later on April 18.
Fair time is fun time, and the Spring Fair is only months away from springing into action.
