The Santa Cruz County Fair wrapped up Sunday at the close of its five-day, 2025 season.
“We had an excellent fair,” said Ron Haedicke, marketing director. “ It was a great run with no issues. Attendance was down 10 percent from last year, but we still felt good about where we ended up.”
Haedicke pointed out that the fair’s two eco-friendly programs both showed growing numbers from the following year. The first being a carpool offering where any vehicle with five or more people parked for free; the second being free METRO bus rides to the fair from Watsonville. Those rides also give fairgoers discounted entrance tickets.
“As of 1pm Monday the livestock auction edged up to $670,000 in bids, which is up from last year,” Haedicke said. “From violins to mariachis, giant pumpkins, amazing dahlias, the tractor parade, bonsai trees, the Slime Lab, piggies and piglets, camel and fair rides, live music and incredible food, we’re really impressed with what we saw. All the volunteers and all the families enjoying themselves — it was a great time.”
One big showing this year, for the first time in many years, Haedicke said, was the Watsonville Community Band. “They marched the full length of the fair—back and forth, twice. People simply loved it.”
