California Midstate Fair

What California Midstate Fair does

The California Midstate Fair is an annual 12-day regional event held at the end of July at the Paso Robles Event Center in San Luis Obispo County, California, drawing more than 420,000 attendees. The Fair is owned and operated by the 16th District Agricultural Association, a California state governmental entity, and has run continuously since 1946, with the 2026 edition marking its 80th anniversary under the "Back to the 80s" theme. Its core product is a multi-venue festival spanning the Chumash Grandstand Arena (ticketed headline concerts under the Michelob Ultra Concert Series), the 805 Beer Country Rodeo Finals, the CMSF Tractor Pull, livestock and horse show competitions, a full carnival operated by Helm & Sons Amusements, free outdoor stages (Frontier, Mission Square, Island, La Cantina), and themed days such as Kids Day, Seniors Day, Armed Forces Day, and Cattlemen & Farmers Day. Adjacent programs include the Central Coast Wine Competition (24th year, 450+ entries in 2026), California Craft Spirits Competition (11th year), Home Brewing, Home Winemaking, and Central Coast Olive Oil competitions, plus still exhibits (arts, crafts, photography, floriculture).

The underlying technology stack is intentionally lightweight: a content/transactional website (midstatefair.com), a Ticketmaster integration for concert and special event ticketing, and Cognito Forms for vendor, volunteer, and job applications. The organization maintains active social media presences across Facebook, Instagram, X, TikTok, Spotify, LinkedIn, Pinterest, YouTube, and Snapchat, and an email newsletter with a "Local Fan of the Fair" early-access program. There is no public API, mobile app, or disclosed AI/ML capability. The infrastructure footprint is a 40-acre campus with over 75,000 square feet of indoor space including Adelaida Hall, Estrella Hall, Frontier Pavilion, Ponderosa Pavilion, The Silo, and multiple barns, allowing the Paso Robles Event Center to operate year-round as a multi-purpose venue.

The business model combines five revenue streams: (1) ticket sales through the website, box office, Ticketmaster, and Farm Supply retail partners including daily admission, concert/show tickets ($50-$125 historical range), carnival wristbands, season passes, and special events (rodeo, tractor pull, mixology tasting); (2) commercial competition entry fees across wine, spirits, olive oil, brewing, and winemaking competitions; (3) vendor and Mission Market Place fees from food, beverage, shopping, and artisan applicants; (4) sponsorship revenue from a diversified presenting-and-supporting sponsor base spanning beverage, financial services, media, and local business categories; and (5) year-round venue rental income from the Paso Robles Event Center. Customer segments span general public/families, the agricultural community (4-H/FFA), the Central Coast wine/spirits/craft beverage industry, and local businesses/vendors. Leadership is CEO Colleen Bojorquez (permanent from March 2022, Interim since 2020), with a small core team of 11-50 employees supplemented by extensive seasonal staffing, the Junior Fairboard (ages 16-24), and Friends of the Fair volunteers (ages 5-95, established 1995).

Name

California Midstate Fair

Legal name

California Mid-State Fair

Website

https://midstatefair.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The California Midstate Fair is a state-government-operated 12-day annual regional fair and multi-competition program held in Paso Robles, CA, drawing 420,000+ attendees to concerts, rodeo, livestock, and wine/spirits competitions across a 40-acre, 75,000+ sq ft venue.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fair and Event Entertainment Services

NAICS

All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries (71399), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Local Community & Multi-Category Fairs (MPAGAFAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fairgrounds & Expo Parks (THAHAAAH), Equestrian & Rodeo Facilities (MPAKAEAM)

Keywords

• Annual fair events
• Live concert entertainment
• Livestock competitions
• Agricultural exhibitions
• Event venue rentals

Headquarters

HQ city

Paso Robles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Ticket Sales: Revenue generated from daily admission tickets, season passes, carnival wristbands, and concert/show tickets sold through the box office and Ticketmaster. The Fair also offers special events like Country Rodeo Finals and Tractor Pull with separate ticketing.
2. Venue Rentals: The Paso Robles Event Center operates year-round as an event venue, generating revenue through rental of event spaces including Adelaida Hall, Estrella Hall, Frontier Pavilion, Ponderosa Pavilion, and The Silo.
3. Vendor Fees: Revenue from vendor programs including food vendors, shopping vendors, Mission Market Place artisans, and commercial sponsors. The Fair accepts applications for vendor participation at the annual event.
4. Sponsorship: Commercial sponsorship program offering brand exposure to thousands of annual attendees. Sponsors include beverage brands, financial institutions, media partners, and local businesses.
5. Competition Entry Fees: Revenue from entry fees for competitive exhibitions including Central Coast Wine Competition, California Craft Spirits Competition, Central Coast Olive Oil Competition, Home Brewing Competition, Home Winemaking Competition, and various livestock, horse show, and still exhibits competitions.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The California Mid-State Fair operates an annual 12-day fair at the Paso Robles Event Center featuring ticketed concerts at the Chumash Grandstand Arena, carnival rides, rodeo and tractor pull events, livestock and horse show competitions, commercial beverage competitions (wine, spirits, olive oil, brewing), still exhibits, and free stage entertainment. The associated Paso Robles Event Center operates year-round as a 75,000+ sq ft multi-purpose event venue hosting conferences, exhibitions, and private rentals beyond the annual fair.

Product overview

California Midstate Fair is an annual 12-day fair event held at the Paso Robles Event Center featuring a diverse portfolio of core offerings including ticketed concerts at the Chumash Grandstand Arena (Michelob Ultra Concert Series), carnival attractions with rides and games, 805 Beer Country Rodeo Finals with rodeo competitions, tractor pull events, livestock and horse show competitions, commercial competitions (wine, spirits, brewing, winemaking, olive oil), still exhibits (arts, crafts, photography, floriculture), special themed events and days, free stage entertainment across multiple venues (Frontier Stage, Mission Square, Island Stage, La Cantina), and food/drink vendor marketplaces. The associated Paso Robles Event Center operates year-round as a 75,000+ sq ft multi-purpose venue for conferences, exhibitions, and private event rentals. Additional programs include the Miss CMSF Scholarship Pageant, Junior Fairboard volunteer program, and Friends of the Fair volunteer organization.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• California Mid-State Fair Annual Event
• Chumash Grandstand Arena Concerts
• Carnival and Rides
• 805 Beer Country Rodeo Finals
• CMSF Tractor Pull
• Livestock and Horse Show Competitions
• Commercial Beverage Competitions
• Still Exhibits Program
• Paso Robles Event Center Venue Rentals
• Ladies Open Breakaway
• Walk This Way Ranch Riding and Trail Challenge

Quantifiable outcome

• 420,000+ annual attendees
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• All About EventscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the 24th Annual Central Coast Wine Competition. All About Events provides sponsorship support for this prestigious blind-judged wine competition held annually at the California Mid-State Fair, which draws over 450 wine entries from Central Coast wineries.
• KRUSH 92.5 FMcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Radio partner and presenting sponsor of the Central Coast Wine Competition. KRUSH 92.5 FM provides media sponsorship and promotional support for the annual wine and spirits competitions, helping drive awareness among Central Coast listeners.
• Visit AtascaderosupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the 11th Annual California Craft Spirits Competition. Visit Atascadero partners with the Fair to promote the craft spirits competition, supporting regional tourism and beverage industry recognition.
• CustomizablesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the Packaging & Design Competition for wine and spirits. Customizable provides sponsorship for this category that judges entries on innovation, creativity, and visual impact.
• 805 BeercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the Country Rodeo Finals. 805 Beer is the title sponsor for one of the Fair's most popular annual traditions featuring top rodeo talent competing for championship titles in the Chumash Grandstand Arena.
• SlimesupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Presenting sponsor of the CMSF Tractor Pull event. Slime partners with the Fair for the annual tractor pull competition featuring powerful machines competing for distance and bragging rights.
• HearstcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting sponsor of the Wrangler Country Rodeo. Hearst provides sponsorship for the annual country rodeo event, supporting one of the Fair's signature western sports traditions.
• Bank of the SierracoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting sponsor of the Central Coast Wine Competition (22nd-24th Annual). Bank of the Sierra provides financial sponsorship for this major regional wine competition that recognizes excellence among Central Coast wineries.
• Casey PrintingsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting sponsor of the Frontier Stage entertainment. Casey Printing sponsors the free outdoor concert stage that features local and regional musical acts throughout the Fair.
• CoastHills Credit UnionsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Sponsorship partner for La Cantina entertainment venue. CoastHills Credit Union sponsors the dance area and evening entertainment space in Frontier Town.
• Michelob UltracoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Concert series sponsor for Chumash Grandstand Arena shows. Michelob Ultra sponsors major concert headliners including performances by country music artists at the Fair.
• Helm & Sons AmusementscoreOthers · 1 January 2025Carnival provider for the annual Fair. Helm & Sons Amusements of Colton, California provides carnival rides, games, and attractions. The partnership includes free carnival rides on opening day and carnival wristband programs.
• Mechanics BanksupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Presenting sponsor of the Special Stars Division (Myra Wilde Special Stars Division) exhibition program. Mechanics Bank supports inclusion programs for fair participants.
• Central Coast Wine Competition (CentralCoastWineComp.com)coreOthers · 1 January 2025The California Mid-State Fair organizes and manages the Central Coast Wine Competition and California Craft Spirits Competition. The competition website is hosted at centralcoastwinecomp.com for entries, results, and information.
• Five Cities Water SystemssupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Presenting sponsor of the 805 Beer Frontier Stage. Five Cities Water Systems provides sponsorship support for outdoor stage entertainment at the annual Fair.
• Doc's CellarsupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Presenting sponsor of the Home Brewing Competition. Doc's Cellar, a local beer and wine supply store, sponsors the annual home brewing competition held during the Fair.
• The Tire StoresupportingGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024Presenting sponsor of the Mission Square Stage. The Tire Store provides sponsorship for the free entertainment stage that features local acts every night of the Fair.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Santa Barbara County Fair: Closest geographic peer to California Mid-State Fair — both serve the Central Coast with multi-day fairs featuring livestock, concerts, and competitive exhibitions. Direct regional competitor for Central Coast attendees and sponsors.

Direct peers

• San Diego County Fair: One of the largest annual fairs in California, operated by the 22nd District Agricultural Association, featuring concerts, livestock, and themed programming. Closely comparable in district-association governance and product mix.
• Alameda County Fair: Bay Area district agricultural association fair with horse racing, livestock, concerts, and carnival — directly comparable in governance structure (district agricultural association) and entertainment programming.
• Ventura County Fair: Southern California coastal regional fair with similar livestock, concert, and competition programming. Comparable scale and overlapping Central Coast agricultural community.
• Orange County Fair: Annual California district agricultural association fair with a 23-day run, headline concerts, livestock, and a strong carnival/midway offering. Highly comparable operating model and competitive set for entertainment-driven California fairgoers.
• Sonoma County Fair: A Northern California wine country regional fair operating on a similar model — ticketed concerts, livestock, wine competitions, and carnival — with overlapping Central Coast/Northern California attendee base and wine industry sponsorship ecosystem.
• LA County Fair: California's largest annual county fair, also operated by a district agricultural association, with multi-day run, headline concerts, livestock competitions, and carnival programming. Directly comparable in structure, operating model, and revenue mix to California Mid-State Fair, just at meaningfully larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• National Western Stock Show: Long-running Denver-based livestock exhibition with rodeo events, horse shows, and competitive programs. Comparable as a livestock/horse show anchor with strong sponsor ecosystem, though operates as a broader regional institution.
• State Fair of Texas: Massive 24-day state fair with concerts, livestock, auto shows, and an exposition-style food and vendor marketplace. Comparable as a multi-format regional fair at meaningfully larger scale.
• Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo: Largest livestock show and rodeo in the world, combining a multi-week run, A-list concert series, livestock auctions, and competitive exhibitions. Much larger scale, but directly comparable in rodeo/livestock competition format and concert-driven entertainment model.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/CaMidStateFair
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCJ-z37jURgeLyQE7_UNMiLw
• Facebookfacebook.com/californiamidstatefair
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/california-mid-state-fair
• Instagraminstagram.com/californiamidstatefair
• TikToktiktok.com/@californiamidstatefair
• Pinterestpinterest.com/camidstatefair

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about California Midstate Fair