INDIO, CA — TheRiverside County Fair & National Date Festival presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino returns February 12–March 1, 2026, with a refreshed look, new immersive spaces, and a full lineup of entertainment celebrating tradition, community, and fun.
Celebrating the Fair & Date Fest’s 78th year with the theme “Return to the Oasis,” organizers are refreshing the event’s 1001 Nights legacy and blending in a mid-century style inspired by Greater Palm Springs’ iconic architecture. Fan-favorite attractions return alongside new experiences designed to invite guests to explore, relax, and rediscover the awe and wonder of our shared desert fantasy.
The Fair & Date Fest arena schedule delivers high-energy entertainment throughout the run, including Monster Trucks on February 12 and 13, the Monster X Demo Derby on February 14, Gran Jaripeo-Traded featuring Roberto Tapia and more on February 21, and PRCA Rodeo performances on February 28 and March 1. Special ticketed experiences also include Love on the Wheel, a Valentine’s-themed sunset Ferris Wheel dating event; Bingo, Honey!, a comedy bingo show; and Shaken Midway, an interactive cocktail workshop.
Saturday, February 14 also marks Out at the Fair, an LGBTQ-inclusive day featuring live music, dance-fitness programming, and a high-energy drag show with performers from One Eleven Bar, celebrating visibility, joy, and community.
Animal encounters are a key part of the Fair & Date Fest experience, grounding the excitement of the midway in the event’s agricultural roots. Guests can enjoy playful and educational moments at the petting farm, livestock exhibits, and family-friendly animal attractions that highlight care, connection, and the role animals continue to play in Fair tradition.
Daily entertainment is included with Fair & Date Fest admission and spans stages, midways, and strolling zones. Highlights include the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show, the Globe of Death motorcycle stunt show, Magic of Rafael, Science Wizard, Sea Lion
Splash, the Petting Farm, and a variety of family-friendly roaming performers throughout the grounds…