5 fair highlights from the 2026 LA County Fair

The 2026 LA County Fair ended with five standout attractions and a few crowd favorites.

The 2026 LA County Fair closed on May 31, and this wrap-up pulls together the five moments that drew the most attention, from a new rescue dog show to a surprise snack hit that kept people talking.

1. The new dog show

The biggest crowd-pleaser this year was The Cutest Dog Show on Earth, a new addition that featured more than 20 rescue dogs. According to Renee Hernandez, the fair’s director of communications, guests loved the show and stayed after to meet the dogs and ask questions.

That mix of performance and face time gave the event a warm, local feel. It also fit the fair’s family-first tone, since the dogs were not just doing tricks, they were also helping people connect with rescue animals in a setting that felt easy and welcoming.

• New for 2026
• More than 20 rescue dogs
• Post-show meet-and-greet with guests

2. The food surprise

The fair always brings fried snacks and sweet treats, but this year one item broke through the noise: chocolate-covered frozen grapes. Hernandez said they were the unexpected food hit of the season, which says a lot at an event known for over-the-top eating.

That kind of surprise matters because it shows fairgoers were open to something lighter and a little different. If you want the short version of the food story, it was not just about indulgence. It was also about a simple snack getting a lot of attention in a place packed with options.

• Chocolate-covered frozen grapes
• Named the unexpected food favorite
• Stood out among classic fair foods

3. The rides and midway

Even as the fair added new attractions, the rides remained a core part of the final weekend. Photos from Saturday showed fairgoers on the carousel, slides, and other midway attractions as the season wound down.

The closing days had the familiar rhythm people expect from a county fair: lights, motion, music, and families moving from one ride to the next. For many visitors, that is the part that makes the fair feel like summer has officially started.

carousel | slides | midway rides | evening lights

4. The live entertainment

Another standout was the Bob Baker Marionette Theater, whose puppeteer performed for fairgoers during the final weekend. That kind of act gives the fair a different pace from the rides and food booths, and it adds a more old-school kind of charm.

Live entertainment like this helps the fair appeal to more than one type of visitor. Some people come for the thrill rides, while others want something theatrical, playful, and easy to watch with kids. The marionette show fit neatly into that second group.

• Bob Baker Marionette Theater appearance
• Final-weekend performance
• Family-friendly live show

5. The season-ending mood

By Sunday, the fair had officially closed and the midway lights dimmed until next season. The final weekend carried the feeling of a last lap, with families taking one more ride, one more photo, and one more pass through the grounds before heading out.

Fair organizers are already looking ahead. Next year’s theme announcement is expected early this month, and preparation for the 2027 fair will begin soon. For now, though, this year’s wrap-up is about the mix of new ideas and familiar traditions that made the season memorable.

How to decide what matters most

If you care most about fresh programming, the dog show was the headline attraction. If you want the clearest sign of what people actually loved, the frozen grapes are the food story to remember. And if your ideal fair day is more about classic fun, the rides and live entertainment covered that base well.

For families, the best answer may be all of the above: one show, one snack, one ride, and one final walk through the fair before the gates closed for the year.