Fairgrounds
Fairgrounds policies
The rules for being at the fairgrounds. Most of them exist to keep animals calm, children safe, and the place standing.
The campground has its own set of rules, and events run by other organisations set their own on top of these.
Rules that apply everywhere
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Smoking and vaping
Not permitted anywhere on the fairgrounds except in designated areas. This applies to visitors, vendors, exhibitors, and staff.
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Alcohol
[REPLACE: ALCOHOL_POLICY - where alcohol may be served and by whom, whether visitors may bring their own, and what applies at events run by others. This is the highest priority policy on the page.]
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Dogs and pets
[REPLACE: PET_POLICY - the policy for the grounds during events. The one pet per site rule is a CAMPGROUND rule and must not be presented as a grounds wide policy. Service animals are covered separately on the accessibility page.]
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Firearms
[REPLACE: FIREARMS_POLICY - whatever the Association's position is, write it down and post it.]
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Fires and open flame
[REPLACE: FIRE_POLICY - fires are already prohibited in the campground. State what applies to the rest of the grounds, including barbecues and generators.]
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Drones
[REPLACE: DRONE_POLICY - worth deciding before someone flies one over a livestock arena.]
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Driving on the grounds
[REPLACE: VEHICLE_POLICY - speed limits and where vehicles may go during events. The campground has a 5 mph limit.]
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Coolers, food and drink
[REPLACE: COOLER_POLICY - whether visitors may bring their own food and drink in.]
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Bicycles, scooters and skateboards
[REPLACE: WHEELED_POLICY - common at fairs and worth a line either way.]
Several of these are still being written down and adopted by the Fair Board. If a rule matters to your plans, call the Fair Office at (530) 628-5223 and ask rather than assuming. Board meetings are open, and policies are adopted in public. Meeting dates and agendas
Around the barns and arenas
During the Fair there are livestock on the grounds, most of them being handled by young people. A calm barn is a safe barn.
[REPLACE: BARN_CONDUCT - the practical rules around livestock areas: whether the public may touch animals, keeping noise down, not feeding animals, staying out of pens and the ring, and where children need to be supervised. The Junior Livestock Committee will know what actually matters here.]
The carnival has its own rules
Amusement rides are operated by an outside company. Ride heights, safety rules, and ride tickets are theirs, not the Association's, and the Fair Office cannot answer questions about them.
Service animals
Service animals are welcome. If you would like to know which areas to avoid with a working dog, or where there is somewhere quieter, ask. Accessibility information
Rules for particular things
Some parts of the fairgrounds have their own rules, which sit on top of the ones above.
The campground
Twenty six rules cover check in, site occupancy, pets, rubbish, quiet hours, fires, and what happens during Fair week. Every camper agrees to them at registration.
Renting a building or the grounds
Facility rentals are governed by the signed rental agreement, which covers insurance, deposits, cleaning, cancellation, and what you are responsible for.
Exhibiting and showing
Entry rules, class rules, and livestock requirements are in the Exhibitor's Handbook, which is the authority for anything to do with competing.
Vending
Vendors and concessions operate under a vendor agreement, with additional requirements for anyone serving food.
If something goes wrong
In an emergency, call 911.
For anything else during an event, find a member of Fair staff or a volunteer, or come to the Fair Office.
[REPLACE: INCIDENT_INFORMATION - where first aid is located during the Fair, what to do if you are separated from a child, where lost property is held, and who to speak to about a problem with another visitor. None of this is documented and all of it matters on the day.]
Who decides these
Policies are adopted by the Fair Association board at public meetings and recorded in the minutes. If you think a rule should change, or that one is missing, you can say so at a meeting.
Related
Signed agreements and the printed Exhibitor's Handbook take priority over this website.
Last updated: August 31, 2026