Popular lineup of concerts helping California Mid-State Fair attract big crowds nightly

PASO ROBLES, Calif. -- After more than a week since the gates first opened for the 2022 California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles, it's clear the fair has had a very successful run so far, especially when it comes to its grandstand entertainment.

Starting on opening night last Wednesday with Journey, the fair has attracted large crowds to the Chumash Grandstand Arena. Over the course of the first eight years, more than 60,000 people have attended concerts in the large open-air venue.

"Full. It's been really full," said Colleen Bojorquez, California Mid-State Fair CEO. "Last night, we did Los Tigres del Norte and they were at 7,200 tickets sold. We've had Santana was at 11,000, almost 12,000 tickets sold, so we've had some really good ticket sales, so I hope we've helped people who really want to come and see live entertainment back and they're coming."

Over the course of the past eight days, many of the biggest names in music have also taken the stage, including Santana, Darius Rucker, Old Dominion, Dan + Shay, Skid Row, Warrant, Quiet Riot, Colt Ford and Los Tigres del Norte.

"We've sold a ton of tickets to multiple shows," said Tom Keffury, Mid-State Fair spokesperson. "We know from the past the community likes classic rock. Our community likes country obviously, and so the lineup was booked specifically with that in mind and to have the lineup that we have and to have people come and show up the way they did, last night with Los Tigres was an unbelievable show. It feels good. We're happy. I think people are happy. They're getting back together with crowds. They're getting back together with friends and they're seeing some world class entertainment right here in Paso Robles."

Tonight, country music superstar Kane Brown will headline the Chumash Grandstand Arena, which is sold out for the show.

"Obviously, we're the biggest venue in the area," said Keffury. "We seat 15,000 people and to have our community respond in selling 15,000 seats for this show is unbelievable. We're so happy that we're back. We're so happy the community bought tickets and we're so happy about tonight's show. It's going to be a big, big show."

The success of this year's fair signals a remarkable turnaround. In 2020, after the fair was cancelled, it's survival and future were unclear.

"We did receive some grant funding and that was able to kick start it, but really what it came down to was we were able to keep our core staff and they know how to put on a fair and how to do it well," said Bojorquez. "That's what got us going again because a lot of fairs had to lay off all of their people and I don't know how they're going to come from that."

Music legend John Fogerty will close out the concert series at the fair with a performance tomorrow night.

The final two nights will feature a rodeo performance and a tractor pull and motocross show.

Tonight on News Channel 3-12, find out how the fair has been able to attract some of the biggest names in the music business, especially after difficult economic times following the cancellation of the 2020 fair.

For more information about the California Mid-State Fair, click here.