How to Plan a Date Night at the LA County Fair

Plan a fair date with wine tasting, food, classes, rides, and a late-night finale.

If you want a date night that feels lively, casual, and easy to customize, the Los Angeles County Fair gives you a full evening in one place. This guide shows you how to build a simple route through tasting rooms, shareable food, hands-on activities, and a romantic finish.

By following the steps below, you will have a fair-night plan that works from arrival to last ride. You will know what to book, where to go, what to share, and how to end the night without wasting time wandering.

Before you start

• LA County Fair admission tickets
• Optional class tickets for the tasting room
• A debit or credit card, since Fairplex is cashless
• Comfortable walking shoes
• A charged phone for maps, schedules, and online purchases
• Fair dates and hours: Thursday through Sunday plus Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
• Concert or activity reservation details if you plan to buy ahead

Step 1: Book your tasting-room start

Goal: lock in a relaxed first stop that sets the tone for the night. Start at the Tasting Room, where you can choose wine by the glass or build a flight from white, red, and sparkling options. If you want a guided experience, look at the wine-and-cheese or spirit classes, or choose olive oil and dairy classes for a lighter, less alcohol-centered start.

Use the fair website to check class schedules and buy tickets in advance. The article notes class prices starting at $15 for olive oil and dairy classes and $30 for wine and spirit classes.

You should see a confirmed class time or a tasting plan in your phone, plus enough time left in the evening to keep moving through the fair.

Step 2: Share a food crawl

Goal: turn dinner into a low-pressure tasting tour. After the tasting room, head into the fairgrounds and look for shareable portions that let both of you sample more than one style of food. The article highlights Kenyan food from Rafikiz Food near the grandstand, New Orleans-style favorites from Harold and Bells Shack by The Glade, and a lobster-baked potato from the Lobster Shack near The Glade.

Suggested route: Tasting Room → The Glade → grandstand area → back toward the entertainment zones

You should see at least one shared plate on the table and enough appetite left to enjoy dessert, a drink, or a second snack later.

Step 3: Add one shared activity

Goal: give the date a built-in memory beyond eating and walking. Choose one hands-on or playful stop so the night feels like more than a food run. The fair offers free roller skating in Expo Hall 7 with Skate-R-Kade, where skates and rink access are included with admission. If you want a throwback photo stop, Retro Row in Expo Hall 7 adds 80s and 90s nostalgia, including a mock video rental store.

If you want to make something together, head to Clay Play in the Millard Sheet Art Center. The drop-in pottery class runs during the fair and costs $10, with classes running from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

You should leave this step with either a finished pottery piece, a few skating laps, or a set of fun photos that prove the date had a clear highlight.

Step 4: Pick one evening finale

Goal: end the night with a moment that feels special instead of rushed. If you want music, check the last concerts of the fair, including acts such as Common Kings and ZAPP featuring Tuxedo. If you want something more classic, finish with a Ferris wheel ride for a slower, more romantic close.

For a more playful ending, head to the silent disco in The Glade. That option works well if you want to keep the energy up after dinner and activities.

You should see your date night shift into its final scene, whether that is a skyline view, a concert crowd, or a dance floor under headphones.

Step 5: Confirm timing and payment before you go

Goal: avoid the most common fair-night delays. Check the fair schedule before leaving home so you know which day you are attending and what is open. The fair runs through May 31, with operating days Thursday through Sunday and Memorial Day Monday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Because Fairplex is cashless, make sure your payment method works before you arrive. If you plan to buy concert tickets or class tickets online, save the confirmation in your phone so you can move quickly at the gate or box office.

You should arrive with a clear entry plan, a working card, and enough time to enjoy the evening instead of sorting out logistics onsite.

Common mistakes

• Arriving without a card. Fix: bring a debit or credit card because Fairplex is cashless, and some vendors may be cashless too.
• Skipping advance tickets. Fix: buy class or concert tickets online when possible so you do not lose time at the box office.
• Trying to do everything. Fix: choose one tasting stop, one food stop, one activity, and one finale so the date feels fun instead of exhausting.

What's next

If you want to turn this into a repeatable fair-night plan, look up the full LA County Fair schedule, compare concert nights with class availability, and decide whether your next visit should lean more toward food, music, or hands-on activities.