Fairgrounds in California With Floor Plans

California fairgrounds are some of the most flexible event venues in the state: exhibit halls, pavilions and open grounds that host craft fairs, markets, festivals, consumer shows and regional expos outside fair season. Below are 13 fairgrounds and fair and event centers in California that already have ready-made floor plans in Map D's Venue Library, grouped by region and linked to their venue pages so you can open a building plan and start laying out vendor spaces. After the list you will find how fairground rental in California usually works, what to check in a fairgrounds building and how to turn a plan into a vendor map.

Dimensions in this article come from the plans drawn in Map D's Venue Library, not from official venue specifications, so confirm every measurement, column, door and utility location with the venue before you sell a single booth.

How to Use This List of California Fairgrounds

This list is not a ranking and does not include every fairgrounds in California. It covers fairgrounds and event centers with plans drawn in Map D's library, so you can see the approximate size of a building and test a vendor layout before you visit. Fairgrounds often have several buildings, and some venues have more than one plan in the library, so open each venue page to see what is available.

Each venue page in the Map D venue directory shows the drawn floor plans for that building with their dimensions in feet and a preview of each plan. Choose a hall, select Use This Floor Plan Free, create a free account, and the plan opens in the editor as your starting canvas, ready for booths, aisles, labels and sponsor areas. The pages describe the plans as a starting point for your layout and advise confirming dimensions and building details with the venue, and that advice matters: halls get renovated, airwalls move and service corridors change.

Bay Area and Northern California Fairgrounds

Northern California options range from an arena and event center in Daly City to fairgrounds in Pleasanton, San Mateo, Santa Rosa, Cloverdale and Butte County. Many are close to population centers, which helps consumer shows and markets.

• [Cow Palace Arena & Event Center](/venues/cow-palace-arena-and-event-center-daly-city/), Daly City: the drawn plan measures about 1009 x 335 feet.
• [Alameda County Fairgrounds](/venues/alameda-county-fairgrounds-pleasanton/), Pleasanton: the drawn plan measures about 266 x 201 feet.
• [San Mateo Event Center](/venues/san-mateo-event-center-san-mateo/), San Mateo: the drawn plan measures about 217 x 357 feet.
• [Sonoma County Fairgrounds](/venues/sonoma-county-fairgrounds-santa-rosa/), Santa Rosa: the drawn plan titled "Hall of Flowers" measures about 216 x 152 feet.
• [Cloverdale Citrus Fair](/venues/cloverdale-citrus-fair-cloverdale/), Cloverdale: the drawn plan measures about 109 x 153 feet.
• [Silver Dollar Fairgrounds - Commercial Building](/venues/silver-dollar-fairgrounds-commercial-building-butte-county/), Butte County: the drawn plan measures about 160 x 158 feet.

Central Valley Fairgrounds

Central Valley fairgrounds have large indoor buildings and plenty of outdoor space, which suits ag expos, farm equipment shows, home shows and big community markets.

• [The Big Fresno Fairgrounds](/venues/big-fresno-fairgrounds-fresno/), Fresno: the drawn plan measures about 294 x 318 feet.
• [Kern County Fair and Event Center](/venues/kern-county-fair-and-event-center-bakersfield/), Bakersfield: the drawn plan titled "Indoor Buildings" measures about 297 x 189 feet.

Southern California Fairgrounds and Event Centers

Southern California includes fairgrounds in Costa Mesa and Del Mar, a fair and event center in Lancaster, and an event center in San Diego that is not a fairgrounds but often comes up when organizers compare expo halls in the region.

• [OC Fair & Events Center](/venues/oc-fair-and-events-center-costa-mesa/), Costa Mesa: the drawn plan measures about 364 x 259 feet.
• [Orange County Fair & Event Center - Costa Mesa Building](/venues/orange-county-fair-and-event-center-costa-mesa-building-costa-mesa/), Costa Mesa: the drawn plan measures about 330 x 176 feet.
• [Exhibit Hall at the Del Mar Fairgrounds](/venues/exhibit-hall-at-del-mar-fairgrounds-del-mar/), Del Mar: the drawn plan measures about 326 x 135 feet.
• [AV Fair & Event Center](/venues/av-fair-and-event-center-lancaster/), Lancaster: the drawn plan measures about 298 x 359 feet.
• [Scottish Rite Event Center](/venues/scottish-rite-event-center-san-diego/), San Diego: the drawn plan measures about 398 x 170 feet.

How Fairground Rental in California Usually Works

Each fairgrounds sets its own rules, but the process tends to follow the same pattern. Treat these as typical steps, and confirm the details with the venue's rental or events office.

1. Check dates first. The annual fair and its setup and teardown block much of the calendar, and popular weekends book early.
2. Pick buildings and grounds. Decide which halls, pavilions, lawns or parking areas you need, including space for load-in and vendor parking.
3. Review the rental agreement. Look for deposits, cancellation terms, required insurance and naming the venue as additional insured.
4. Confirm exclusives. Many fairgrounds have exclusive food and beverage, alcohol, security, parking or electrical providers.
5. Submit your layout. Expect the venue and the local fire authority to review your floor plan, especially for indoor booths, tents and cooking.
6. Plan permits. Food vendors usually need temporary food facility permits from the county; sellers may need a seller's permit.

What to Check in a Fairgrounds Building

Fairgrounds halls are built for flexible use, but each building is different. Walk it with a tape measure and these questions.

• Doors and load-in: Size and number of roll-up doors, whether vendors can drive to their space, and where trailers wait.
• Posts and floor: Interior columns or posts, floor drains, slopes and any floor weight limits.
• Power: Outlet locations, circuit capacity per vendor and generator rules for outdoor areas.
• Climate and light: Heating or cooling, natural light and whether the building is usable in summer heat or winter rain.
• Restrooms and ADA access: Count and location, accessible routes from parking to each building.
• Neighboring events: Other rentals on the grounds the same day, which affect parking and noise.

Planning a Fair, Festival, Market or Expo on Fairgrounds

Size the Vendor Hall

Common vendor spaces at markets and craft fairs are 10 x 10 feet, with 8 x 10 or table-only spaces for smaller sellers. Leave aisles wide enough for strollers and wheelchairs and for the fire authority's requirements. Our guides to trade show aisle width and fire marshal floor plan requirements explain how to plan clearances.

Plan Food and Outdoor Areas

Put food vendors where power and water are available and where lines will not block building entrances. Our guide on how to place food vendors at a festival covers spacing, generators and seating. For a full county fair, see how to plan a county fair.

Use the Right Venue Questions

Bring our list of questions to ask an event venue to the site visit so you do not miss costs such as cleaning, security or after-hours staffing.

From Building Plan to Vendor Map

1. Open the fairgrounds in the Map D venue directory and choose the building plan you will rent.
2. Check it against the venue's current plan and add doors, posts and power locations.
3. Block out entrances, info booth, food court, stage and emergency routes.
4. Add vendor spaces in standard sizes and number them by row.
5. Set prices by size, corner or power, and mark sponsor spaces.
6. Send the layout to the fairgrounds and fire authority for review before you sell spaces.

Planning in another state? See the companion lists of convention centers in Texas and convention centers in Florida.

Common Mistakes With Fairgrounds Venues

• Picking dates that clash with fair setup, another rental or a local event that takes the parking.
• Assuming every building has heat, cooling or enough power for vendors.
• Forgetting temporary food facility permits and the venue's exclusive caterer rules.
• Not planning signage and walking routes between buildings.
• Selling spaces before the venue and fire authority approve the layout.

Where Map D Fits

Map D is event floor plan software that organizers use for fairs, markets and expos. Starting from a fairgrounds building plan means you do not have to trace it yourself: open the plan, then add vendor spaces, food areas, aisles and labels. Paid plans let you publish an interactive map, share it with vendors and sell spaces online, and vendor fair software explains the vendor side in more detail. Map D does not book fairgrounds or replace the venue's official plan.