At least 26 California fairgrounds have played host to recent scandals

The Times identified at least 26 fairs statewide where, in the last decade, employees or appointed officials have been accused of siphoning taxpayer money, pressuring businesses for bribes or committing egregious mismanagement.

- BY JESSICA GARRISON

Here is a rundown, with fairs shown in alphabetical order.Big Fresno Fair

A 2022 state audit found that employees used state gas to commute to and from work. The audit also found that the fair required vendors to pay an affiliated foundation, which then delivered tens of thousands of dollars in gift cards to fair employees.

Contra Costa County Fair

Nearly $90,000 in cash was reportedly stolen from a fair employee in 2024 as they were trying to deposit it at an ATM around 2 a.m. The president of the fair’s board later questioned why anyone would deposit money in a remote place at such an hour. The president was then removed from his post by the governor's office for speaking publicly about “an active investigation.” A 2025 audit also found that fair officials were not reviewing employees’ use of credit cards, which included a $545 for a “tuneup” for a personal vehicle.

Del Norte County Fair

A 2019 state audit found that fair officials improperly spent more than $1,200 on alcohol in violation of state rules, overspent on hotels and allowed a manager to employ a close family member. A 2025 state audit found additional violations of the state’s nepotism policy, along with $34,000 in credit card charges without receipts, including $11,000 spent on food without a clear business purpose.

Eastern Sierra Tri-County Fair

A 2023 state audit found numerous violations of state rules, along with more than $60,000 in “unsupported” credit card charges.

El Dorado County Fair

According to a 2019 El Dorado County grand jury report, the county was paying rent to a nonprofit to use property that was in fact owned by the county.

Humboldt County Fair

The fair’s former bookkeeper pleaded guilty last year to charges that she embezzled more than $400,000 from the fair.

Kern County Fair