Attended my first rodeo this past weekend, and the entertainment value was high, well trained bulls…read moreand horses keeping the crowd engaged... along with the humans running the show of course. Parking and event entry was quick and easy (though it cost $20 at Cow Palace). And there were several concession stands available serving typical snacks and treats like hot dogs, nachos, and even frozen beverages. The show started at 7:30pm, and various acts occurred for a little over two hours (before the main attraction). This included award presentations, an opportunity for moms from the crowd to enter the arena and race for a prize wearing only one shoe, corny jokes by the rodeo clown, saddle bronc riding (wild bucking horse trying to throw off the rider... similar to bull riding), horse barrel racing (female riders getting their horses to zoom around 3 barrels in the arena at the highest speed), and tie-down roping (cowboys wielding a lasso on the bull, competing for quickest time). I liked how the announcer explained the rules and animal ethics to the audience as some participants were disqualified during the roping challenge. The bull riding started around 9:45pm, and those spinning, twisting bulls were crazy! This 15-minute highlight of the event, with about 5 different bulls/riders, was followed by a bull jumper/stuntman performing acrobatics, dodging and doing flips in the air while being charged by a bull. The show ultimately ended around 10:15pm, and quickly turned into a country concert, opening up the arena to all, for live music entertainment. I enjoyed the event overall, and felt that Section 19 offered an ideal view of all the different acts. I do recommend coming a little early if sitting in the dress circle though, since it's "first come, first served" stadium seating and was pretty crowded. Cool and unique experience, and I will definitely return!

Never in my life have I had the desire to go to a rodeo! Then I got married and my husband loves…read moreit. Eye roll...as a gift I got tickets for us to attend. There's a ton of people who enjoy this sort of thing, so we parked far and walked. As we entered we were greeted at the door and thrown into the chaos. It's an adult circus complete with clowns, rings and lights. The animals do most of the performing. We wakes the whole arena. Saw the horses in the back on the dirt ground, looked at the food options and viewed the merch that was being sold. We found our seats and listened to the dj intro, watched all the events and left. Not my favorite but glad I experienced it once.

World's fastest rodeo!?! Not sure what that means... but the lines went fast, the tickets went…read morefast, and those bulls and horses were certainly speedy. Both the event and pre-paid parking sold out in advance. And after attending the show this past Sunday, I can understand why it's so popular. The 2-day event takes place annually at Livermore Valley Stadium and seems to be very well organized. I loved that they actually tell you which seats are shaded based on time of day, so you can make an informed decision about where to sit when purchasing tickets. I certainly appreciated and found this helpful in avoiding the blazing heat, and got awesome seats in section E (the middle section), what I consider the best view in the stadium. The entertainment was nonstop, never a dull moment, and the main show lasted about 2 and a half hours, though doors opened about 4 hours earlier in the day for other activities. Lots of competitions and racing to cheer on the contestants (both the humans and the animals), including bareback and saddle bronc riding, tie down and team roping, barrel racing by them cowgirls and their horses, and of course the finale, the bull riding! Always a pleasure to watch this awesome and crazy sport from the stands. And the announcer and rodeo clown did a good job keeping the crowd engaged, along with classic tunes (mainly oldies, country, and rock) playing through the speakers. Not my first rodeo, I knew what to expect this time around. Compared to the Cow Palace event which I attended last year, I liked this one slightly better. A true festival environment, and far more vendors at the Livermore show, offering rodeo themed clothing, customizable trucker caps, cowboy hats galore (in various colors and designs), cowboy boots, other miscellaneous merchandise, and at least 15 different food and drink stands selling tacos, bbq, carne asada fries, italian bites, mini donuts, ice cream, beer and alcohol, and more. We enjoyed some cold lemonade and a sweet and tasty chocolate milkshake from one of the dessert tents. A great way to top off an already amazing experience.

It had been several years since going to the annual Livermore rodeo and a first for my husband. I…read morelove how patriotic it feels that being there with the whole atmosphere filled with "Americana". They were celebrating Patriot Day and we really respected and appreciated that. The food was decent but would like a bigger variety. We ordered the chicken skewers and what seemed a bit pricey at first ended up being worth it with a giant skewer of 3-4 large chicken thighs and they were tasty. Water could be more accessible for sure especially being it was hot out. If you're sitting in the middle of a section in the stands it's tough to get in and out to get drinks or use restroom. Having vendors come more frequently with drinks would be ideal. Loved the show , loved the atmosphere, seeing bucking broncs, trick riders, team roping, bull riding and more. Will go back again for sure. PS would be even better if the parking lot was a little more coordinated when leaving event. Thanks Livermore Rodeo. We appreciate you and the tradition. Wow 107 years running.

This is the third rodeo I've attended. I still think the Livermore Rodeo's the best (of those that…read moretake place in the bay area), but we enjoyed our time at Rowell Ranch this past weekend, watching and cheering on the competitors (both humans and animals) as they engaged in team roping, saddle bronc riding, calf tie-down roping, cowgirl barrel racing, and of course, the bull riding (which happens during the final half hour). There was also a bit of entertainment in between events, like a lip sync contest and a pee wee stampede for the kids. The sound system wasn't the greatest, it cut out a couple times, but it wasn't terrible. And views were great from anywhere in the arena. The bleacher seats were nasty though, dirtiest on the shady side, not just dusty, but sticky and slimy, dead insects, just ewww. Concessions, mainly offered by Hayward Rotary, were limited compared to similar events elsewhere. They sold the typical hot dogs, nachos, kettle corn, and cotton candy, along with snow cones and ice cream. Besides soda, few beverage options were available, just one kind of beer, red/white wine, and whiskey lemonade which came in two choices of flavors. We chose peach over apple, and it was tasty and refreshing with very little alcohol content. There were also several merchandise vendors, including plenty of hat tents, though I didn't find a cowgirl hat I liked. We enjoyed our time at this multiday event, and though we just came for the pro rodeo main show, they also offered a cowboy style tri tip dinner & live music for guests on Saturday evening. But that cost extra, almost twice as much as the rodeo admission price. Also the parking lot was full/closed early, and people just parked anywhere they could fit their cars, along the road, on the curbs, in the dirt, etc.

Excellent rodeo experience in the Bay Area - smaller than the Livermore rodeo but equally…read moreenjoyable. We went in late May and had a blast seeing the cowboys and cowgirls show off their skills calf roping, steer roping, bronco riding and bull riding. We took turns sitting in the grandstands which were in the sun and those that were in the shade - the latter was much more comfortable though the view wasn't as great. Parking wasn't easy so get there early if you can. Lots of affordable food and drinks. Bathrooms were serviceable and people were friendly. We will be back!

Thanks to the Salina s Valley Fairgrounds fir supporting Farm Day…read more This is an amazing facility with two large performance barns and grounds are well kept up. This review pertains to the use the faculty.

At The 5th. Annual Rotary Flea Market In The City Of KING..! Got Myself A Nice Cactus...!!read more

Great spot for a classic rodeo experience with lots of history. The atmosphere is fun and family…read morefriendly with exciting events and skilled riders. It can get crowded during big events but overall it is a lively and memorable place to visit.

Hmmm what to say about this? Both the other reviews are dead on. Here's my take. If you don't…read morehave small children, or a relative participating in the parade, stay away, far away. You'll be bored to tears. If on the other hand, you have a small child who likes horses, you won't find another parade where you can get closer to them than this one. You will probably still be bored to tears, but your kid will be thrilled. I can't decide if I'm going to tell my kids about it this year or not.... I give it 2 stars, only cause of the kids.

This is such a fun event for bike enthusiasts. Whether you decide to compete or just be a spectator…read moreit's a great place to be. I was amazed at the number of booths selling such a huge array of bike gear. From socks to shirts and everything between. And the prices were unbeatable. Watching the many types of events was fun to. From riding downhill to long distance racers. It's an incredible event

Went Friday 10.8.21…read more Tickets the night before were $15 or $25 at the door When I went back online Friday morning, they were now $25 online. My wristband said $20 Friday so their pricing structure needs to be worked on. This show is not worth $25. I don't go to watch the races or anything. Mainly for the vendors. Couldn't find Cliff Bar. Wanted to buy a bunch of different flavors. Also wanted to stop by the Giant booth to test ride their ebikes. Asked the volunteer where Pad 2 and Pad 9 were, but she had never heard of Pads and they weren't on the map. Walked the entire area and didn't find them. Ended up going to REI to get my Clif Bars. New stuff: From 3 years ago, there are more ebikes, a lot more ebikes. There are also tents that fit on top of a car or truck bed, and the industry now seems to have settled on 29ers for wheel size and 1x drivetrains. No more 650B or 27.5" wheels as far as I could tell. I expect this to persist for many years. Cool stuff: Park Tool booth has a ton of tools you would want to buy. No discounts or specials though. Specialized had a rental/demo area A titanium bong for $150 Escapod for $43k Scott's 3 left hand levers, 1 for seat dropper, 1 for locking out fork, 1 for locking out shock. A great idea. Odd no one else does this. Scott also has housed the rear shock inside the frame. This looks cool, but not sure if performance and servicing will be worth this redesign, but at least someone is thinking up new features and designs. Disappointing: Didn't see Rock Shox, Sram, Trek, Giant, Clif Bar, Power Bars, no Specialized Vado 2022 models, $25 entrance fee. Not worth the money. No one was wearing a mask or socially distancing since Monterey County and Sea Otters Covid policy https://www.seaotterclassic.com/safety_protocol/ didn't require vaccinations, masks, or social distancing. If you are in the market to buy a new mountain bike from Fuji, Diamond Back, or Specialized, and want to test ride different sizes and models, then the $25 is a bargain. If you need to try on different brand and size helmets, gloves, knee pads etc, then this show would be a good idea. If not, I'd save your time and money and pass on this show. Note: Unless you are racing or in another event, don't bring your mountain bike since it's a hassle to navigate it around the show. They do have a bike valet though so that's an option. Plan on walking about 3 miles to see the all the vendors. The bike buying frenzy appears to be over after a few visits to local bike shops.

Awesome little fair! Concerts are always fun. A lot of fair food. Great atmosphere…read more *wish they had a quicker way through for prepaid tickets*

I'm fairly new to Paso Robles (a year), and it was my first time going to the famous Mid-State…read moreFair. Last year, it was 106+ degrees all-week, and I was like, no way. This year (or last night), was in the 80's and it cooled off nicely in the evening. So, I went. Well, I have lukewarm feelings about it. I like the small town and rural feel of it, a little bit cowboy. But I feel it is 90% overpriced crappy food vendors. Kinda what you want and expect from a fair, but still. My gal and I got in at 615pm, and perhaps the highlight would be the barnyard animals...and all that we saw were rabbits. Ugh. We didn't go for the music, as most people do, but on this night were the 60's band, Herman's Hermits. They did a few of their hits, and covers of others from that era. Good performers, but not my cup of tea. All in all, 2.5 hours and we had enough. Best part: parked at Lowes, and took a bus to/from. A beautiful clean bus at that.

First City Festival definitely deserves to be an annual event…read more As everyone pointed out in their detailed reviews - the First City Festival was just as breezy and easy as beautiful Monterey. The crowd was laid back and well behaved (I didn't encounter one jerk throughout my whole time at the festival). The location was ideal. Not only are the Monterey Fair Grounds - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monterey_Pop_Festival musically inspiring and historical, but they were extremely engaging for everyone. If you weren't feeling the music at any point - you could take advantage of the plethora of carnival rides and games. And though there was no in and outs - being able to drive back to your hotel or airbnb - along the inspiring Californian coastline was unbelievable unique. The music was solid. Father John Misty, Purity Ring, Neko Case, and Washed Out brought it. Though I would have appreciated a little bit more diversity in the line-up - it was on point and all of the performers were extremely gracious on stage, and they put their all into the shows. Though I would have liked more fresher healthier options as far as food - there was a decent array of food choices and you didn't have to wait too long for any of them. I also really enjoyed browsing through the clothing vendors - though I regret not grabbing any of their cards - since there's no list of them anywhere on the First City Music Festival site. Though the line to get into the festival was rather long and it would have been nice to bring in some homemade food - First City Music Festival was a mellow and hoop-worthy escape from the city. I'm hoping they put it on next year and I will be buying a ticket. Trust.

Wow, the organizers for this event did a great job!!! If this first year is any indication, this…read morefestival is going to be the go to festival for indie music lovers for many years to come. My only regret would be that I couldn't go on Saturday as well. Music: Capital Cities probably gave the most crowd pleasing and energetic performance; Generationals were great and my newest discovery; Modest Mouse were the main headliner and did a good job at ending the show with a bang and "Ocean Breathes Salty" had us all on our feet; and Purity Ring had the most visually interesting set with their improvised instruments. Cost: Aside from transportation and food costs, the price of the festival was otherwise dirt cheap. We paid just $36 for each ticket through livingsocial in addition to adding an online code. Parking was $20 with a fancy shuttle bus taking passengers back every 5 minutes ($10 with carpool discount). $15 for online unlimited ride wristbands ($25 day of show). Food: Not allowed to bring in any outside food or drinks but there were many bay area food trucks within the fair grounds. Pizza, Korean burrito truck, fast frozen dipped ice cream, were among the many options being sold. Tips: Search online for discounts, I was surprised at how many discounts were being offered online vs the actual first city website. There are charging stations everywhere so bring a portable charger for your phone. Bring in an empty bottle for water refills. Fun: I'm pretty sure we rode the ferris wheel behind one of the members of Capital Cities (it was at night and he was dressed incognito in an Oakland As hat with a media wristband) but we didn't want to bother him. LOL. A big plane flew over the fairgrounds every 10 minutes or so.

Always the best! Concerts so fun! Clean and safe! You can spend the whole day exploring. They have…read moreeverything from food, to animals, to stunt bikes to drones and much much more.

Waste of time and money, one of the worst festivals ever. Charge $15 to park, $25 to get in, jump…read morehouses for kids additional charge per jump house, nothing else for kids. Food vendors ok but not enough for the crowd, merch vendors mixed - some very cheap, some ok, a few excellent quality. Set up for eating was awful - picnic tables spread across open asphalt pavement - no umbrellas and not enough seating for the crowd. Hot!!! Families were sitting on the sides of dirty concrete planters or dirtu steps trying to eat. Everyone was trying to find a little shade. Inside the buildings where merch vendors booths were located the AC was either non-existent or not keeping up. Never will I take my poor mom to this again. The organizers should be fired.