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    Monterey County Fairgrounds

    3.7 (53 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 12:00 pm, 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM
    Updated 1 month ago

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    Alina N.

    First time at Monterey Fairgrounds. Thought it'd be much bigger than it was but I liked that it was smaller. Parking is easy and easy to get in/out. Lines were also easy to get into the venue, bearable lines for food and no lines for restrooms! Wish all places were this seamless. It does look more old school and run down; I wish it was a nicer venue to enjoy but it was very easy to navigate all day without my feet hurting from walking too much. The Ferris wheel was fun but everyone complained about paying $10 for the mirror fun house.food selection was plentiful and good. The acts were amazing - Lauv, Tiesto and Chainsmokers. I'm surprised they picked this venue tbh because they seem too big to be doing such a small venue but it worked out for me because it was easy enough to get to the front stage. Overall, great experience. I may come back if there's a great artist.

    Always grumpy. I
    Xuan C.

    Over due post. Don't mind the picture, as it's from awhile back. This is the first year I've been getting into state fairs, and not the first time I've been to the fairgrounds. Lots of places to park, but there was a bit of a dead zone where no cell service came through.

    Sand art
    Evangelene G.

    This is a really nice fair! I haven't had a bad experience here and enjoy visiting when we're in the area. Staff is nice! Food: There's fried artichokes, beer garden, cinnamon rolls that rank high on my list. If you're looking for big name artists, you'll need to go to a larger Fair. The Fair offers cover bands that feature rock and country artists (i.e., Garth, Carrie, Journey). It's all good. We like parking at the golf course (we found it by accident). It supports the Veterans and there's a shuttle (i.e., golf cart) that takes you to the fairgrounds.

    David D.

    So much fun, so many things to do and see. I decorated the AG building for many n years with my balloon creations. And I used to enter my homemade breads and decorated cakes. There are such a variety o things here. They have great entertainers every year. And so many great food booths. And some of the kiddie rides used to be at Michael Jacksons Neverland Rsnch There are tons of art displays. And so much more. A truly first class event.

    Open area next to gate 6
    Melody Anne V.

    I can honestly say I have NEVER had a bad time at the fair grounds! Everything from the Jazz festival, to the fair, Cali roots, kids day... it's all been amazing. I'd like to claim this place as one of my "stomping grounds" since I've been coming for the past 20 something years lol. The layout of the fairgrounds is really easy to navigate and they have bathrooms in all the right places. Like a ton of bathrooms which is amazing to me! They have an attendant in their on stand by during events. So you know you're not going to walk into anything yucky! The food court is one of my favorite spots! It's such a serene little courtyard with big trees and picnic areas as well as table seating. Price for events here always varies. So I can't really help there lol. Parking seems to be an issue for some people. I just park off Casanova Ave and just walk down. A quarter mile walk for free of charge :) and beautiful scenery!

    C. A.

    pop up drive in at monterey county fairgrounds was awesome and a lot of fun! the snack bar had a huge variety while having the food reasonably priced!

    Cinnamon sugar apple funnel cake...yummy!!
    Jennifer W.

    Had a great time at the fair grounds!! We live in seaside so we know the parking is very limited even if we come a little early. So we parked in the CVS parking lot for $15....Nothing new. Food was good...had a tri tip sandwich, garlic fries, fresh squeezed lemonade so good my daughter loved it. Oh and the cinnamon sugar Apple funnel cake was amazing!! My daughter loved petting, looking at the animals and the pony ride was a plus. Just looking at my daughter's face so excited enjoying the rides and games was priceless. Will go again next year for sure!!

    Renee S.

    We enjoyed our 4 night stay here. We've been on the road for 5 weeks traveling with 2 rigs, we were very happy to be assigned an area where there was so much room. The manager told us to set up how ever we wanted. We had full hook ups and lots of room to run the dogs and not have to worry about being to loud.. the camp host and manager were very friendly! I would recommend this park and look forward to returning someday.

    Susan D.

    We arrived on a Wednesday afternoon. The host tried to send us into a area that was nothing but dirt with a chain link fence around it. So horrible that we went back to the office. The camp host told us that he couldn't move us to the the paved spots because they were full. More than half the place was empty. I wouldn't take no for an answer so he gave us a paved spot. This place stayed half empty through Sunday. Not sure way he lied to us. If you like the smell of horses, being right next to the airport & weeds then this is a place you would enjoy.

    Cute lil happy goat at the Monterey County Fair 2013

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    9 months ago

    Drove around for over an hour and no parking whatsoever that wasn't at least $30-$40. And no ticket refunds on top of all that.

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    6 years ago

    Stopped by here because we needed water. I asked for information and offered to pay. The manager was a real butthead!!! Rude rude rude!

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    7 years ago

    Our Conference every year is held here and the campground is pretty nice. Have t had any issues. Only issues are typically from the campers.

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    Review Highlights - Monterey County Fairgrounds

    Wonderful venue for the Artichoke Festival and all the other activities that are held here.

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    The Barns at Cooper Molera - Wedding Day | 1985Luke Photography

    The Barns at Cooper Molera

    (37 reviews)

    We are incredibly happy that we chose to do our wedding at the Barns at Cooper Molera, and we…read morerelive our beautiful memories every day. We truly got to enjoy every minute of our wedding day with no stress, because we knew that Makenna, Chef David, Amanda, and the whole team were on top of every detail. Our wedding was 240 people with a morning ceremony/lunch, a full space flip, and an evening cocktail/reception. The Barns team seamlessly pulled off two layouts in the same space in one day, with different meals, bar offerings, decor, and rentals for each. Beyond the amazing team - the venue itself is truly stunning; it's so beautiful that we only had to minimally decorate to create a warm and elegant atmosphere. The space is the perfect balance of rustic and modern, and the barn is deceptively large; we were able to fit everyone on the dance floor! The attached garden is perfect for photographs and a quieter space for guests. We were even able to do an Indian Baraat, due to the unique downtown layout with street access. The Barns are walkable to multiple downtown hotels, so if you do a hotel block or ancillary events, guests can easily move between the spaces without worrying about late-night transportation. From the start, working with our sales manager Amanda was a joy. She coordinated a pre-booking tasting for us and showed us many different layouts for the space, to help us feel confident that the Barns would be the right fit for our wedding. Amanda helped us with flexibility throughout our planning process - helping us contract reasonable spend minimums well ahead of having a firm guest count. Our event manager Makenna went above and beyond to enable our vision. She accommodated a remarkable number of requests, questions, and add-ons with grace and professionalism. Makenna kept us organized, and her meticulous notes ensured no detail was forgotten. She liaised with our photographer, DJ, florist, and rental contact to ensure everyone was working off of the same schedule. She took the time to understand the context behind each of the cultural aspects of our wedding ceremony and event flow, and ensured that the spirit and the intent was carried through. Finally - Makenna was a constant source of creative ideas; she knows every detail of the Barns in and out, and has thought through every possible configuration, down to the height of plants that might block views and where the sun might fall at different times of the day. We were so lucky to have had Makenna's expertise, dedication, and creativity throughout the process. Chef David and the culinary team at the Barns were truly exceptional. The team learned how to make multiple Indian dishes for our wedding, and managed two large multi-cuisine meals in one day. We're still hearing rave reviews of the food 6 months later. Throughout the whole process, the team was open to feedback and refining flavors and sizing to match our vision. Finally, we appreciated the level of attention given to dietary restrictions, including willingness to label tray-passed items, which we had never seen before. We highly recommend getting married at the Barns at Cooper Molera. The team at the Barns worked with us for 18 months to bring our vision to reality, answering countless calls, texts, and emails to ensure every detail was perfect. Thank you to the Barns team for making our dream wedding come to life!

    Choosing The Barns at Cooper Molera was one of the easiest and best decisions we made during our…read morewedding planning process. This venue is not only a stunning canvas for a beautiful event, but it offers a seamless, all-inclusive package that made planning a breeze, covering food, beverage, and equipment rentals in one convenient deal. The team here was incredible. Our sales rep Amanda was awesome - we immediately had good vibes as she was so responsive via email and phone. She met with us multiple times, including a detailed walkthrough onsite before we signed--which helped us feel confident and informed. We really appreciated how transparent they were about pricing, clearly laying out the packages so there were zero surprises. Our event manager, Makenna, was equally helpful and easy to work once we signed and kicked off the planning process. The venue itself is stunning and so flexible. We loved having so many layout options for the ceremony and reception, letting us customize everything. The location itself was unbeatable. It's right in the heart of downtown Monterey, with numerous hotels in walking distance. Despite it being so central, he venue still feels tucked away and private, and there was tons of space for everyone to spread out during the reception. Have to give a HUGE shoutout to the kitchen staff as the food was absolutely insane. We went with the "stations" buffet-style dinner, and our guests are still raving that it was the best wedding food they've ever had (the variety and quality were incredible). The staff was so on top of it. I've never seen a buffet line move so fast. Plus, having multiple bars meant getting a drink was never a hassle. They were also super great about handling all the dietary restrictions, which everyone appreciated. The staff's attention to detail was spot-on. They were so calm and professional, you barely noticed they were there, but everything ran perfectly. The Barns gave us everything we wanted and more--a stress-free day, beautiful location, and the best food that left a lasting impression. If you're looking for a venue, stop scrolling and book the Barns!!

    Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa - Courtyard Facing Room, 2nd Floor

    Monterey Plaza Hotel & Spa

    (1.2k reviews)

    $$$

    This is our second visit in an ocean view room, and the experience was just as stellar as the…read morefirst. The views are magical, the room is perfect and the beds and pillows are like clouds. We enjoyed their rooftop spa overlooking the bay- next level. The entrance to the hotel opens up to a beautiful first floor with ocean view, large fireplace, sofas and seating areas, and a small bar. The hotel offers a nightly happy hour and musical performances. During our visit we had the pleasure to discover a highly talented artist by the name of Adrea, who has the most incredible voice and presence. We were so impressed by her and were very fortunate that she performed both nights of our visit. It was a performance we would have gladly paid to see, she is a rising talent for sure. I can't state how exceptional our experience was to enjoy the music in such an elevated atmosphere, relaxing by the fire, enjoying the outstanding craft cocktails by their highly talented mixologist. Schooners is not to be missed, the food is as outstanding as the ocean view! A special mention to the superior customer care provided by Pracha, a guest service manager at the hotel, who is an absolute star. And yes, the long review is a love letter to the Monterey Plaza Hotel, until next time!

    The room charges are astronomical . We've stayed here…read moreseveral times and now it has become ridiculous . Prices quoted do not include taxes fees etc. Make sure you get total charges on your stay or you will be disappointed. Our total charges were 20% more than room rates.

    Club Del Monte at Monterey Naval Postgraduate School - Check in/out desk.

    Club Del Monte at Monterey Naval Postgraduate School

    (16 reviews)

    We usually stay at the Naval Post Graduate school in Monterrey when we go down to the area. You…read moreneed to have some form of a military ID to stay and can reserve rooms by calling or online. The rooms have a fantastic price compared to the local area and are rally nice compared to other Navy lodges. It is located just off the freeway and has easy access to downtown, Fisherman's ward, and the aquarium (via car bike or walk). The walk (70 minutes or so) will take you a bit but if you have time and are up for the exercise, we enjoy it! The Trident room is in the basement and parking is available on the grounds restricted during the week to certain lots as parking is needed for students and faculty.

    This venue is absolutely stunning and gorgeous. The architecture and romantic feel of the Barbara…read moreMcNitt ballroom on top of the military pricing is what absolutely sold this place to me. My two star dock is for the service while planning, and the lack of attention to detail on the food on my wedding day which I will elaborate the pros and cons below. PROS - They are super nice - No tax - Deposit goes toward final bill! Yay! It's not just a holding deposit - Absolutely beautiful architecture with white demask ceilings, black chandeliers, and phenomenal tile work - The price is a steal for getting married in Monterey - You take their menu and can customize it into your own. My husband and I are Filipino and they were able to incorporate that into the food. - Cordon Bleu trained chefs - Big, gigantic space. You definitely don't have to worry about having enough room here - Newly renovated Hotel rooms in main building that are super nice and military priced CONS - They forgot I was coming on the day of my tasting, and I had to come back a second day - Lack of attention to detail on food garnishes on my wedding day. They forgot the lemon wedges for the pancit noodles, and had a bottle of sauce out for my roasted pig that everyone had to shake out in the buffet line. This should have been in a sauce dish with a spoon - Base access list for your guests is time consuming - I requested Perros Colombianos for my midnight snack, and they delivered me a hotdog bar instead. Not the same thing! - When serving cakes to my guests, they did not distribute forks/spoons and my guests had to hunt someone down to ask for them Overall we had a successful wedding, however if you are having a wedding here, don't assume they will automatically take care of the small things. Be very firm with how you want things (even condiments) presented.

    Monterey County Fairgrounds - venues - Updated May 2026

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