Pima County Fairgrounds

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Last Updated: December 5, 2025

The Pima County Fairgrounds is an event and exhibition space located in Tucson, Arizona.


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Summary

It hosts a variety of events throughout the year, including the Pima County Fair, concerts, festivals, and trade shows. The fairgrounds are spread across 640 acres and boast multiple exhibit halls, livestock barns, a grandstand arena, and a carnival midway.

Some of the top reasons to visit the Pima County Fairgrounds include attending the annual Pima County Fair, which typically takes place in April, and experiencing the wide range of events hosted throughout the year. Visitors can also enjoy the carnival rides and games, check out the livestock shows, and explore the many vendors selling food, crafts, and other goods.

Points of interest to see at the fairgrounds include the historic 1938 WPA Grandstand Arena, which has hosted concerts by big-name acts like Willie Nelson and the Beach Boys. The fairgrounds also feature a petting zoo, a butterfly exhibit, and a variety of agricultural displays.

Interesting facts about the fairgrounds include that it was originally established in 1918 and was used as a POW camp during World War II. The fairgrounds have also been the site of several notable events throughout the years, such as the filming of scenes from the movie "The Quick and the Dead."

The best time of year to visit the Pima County Fairgrounds is during the annual Pima County Fair, which typically takes place in April. However, visitors can also enjoy a variety of events and activities throughout the year at the fairgrounds.

       

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Park & Land Designation Reference

National Park
Large protected natural areas managed by the federal government to preserve significant landscapes, ecosystems, and cultural resources; recreation is allowed but conservation is the priority.
State Park
Public natural or recreational areas managed by a state government, typically smaller than national parks and focused on regional natural features, recreation, and education.
Local Park
Community-level parks managed by cities or counties, emphasizing recreation, playgrounds, sports, and green space close to populated areas.
Wilderness Area
The highest level of land protection in the U.S.; designated areas where nature is left essentially untouched, with no roads, structures, or motorized access permitted.
National Recreation Area
Areas set aside primarily for outdoor recreation (boating, hiking, fishing), often around reservoirs, rivers, or scenic landscapes; may allow more development.
National Conservation Area (BLM)
BLM-managed areas with special ecological, cultural, or scientific value; more protection than typical BLM land but less strict than Wilderness Areas.
State Forest
State-managed forests focused on habitat, watershed, recreation, and sustainable timber harvest.
National Forest
Federally managed lands focused on multiple use—recreation, wildlife habitat, watershed protection, and resource extraction (like timber)—unlike the stricter protections of national parks.
Wilderness
A protected area set aside to conserve specific resources—such as wildlife, habitats, or scientific features—with regulations varying widely depending on the managing agency and purpose.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Land
Vast federal lands managed for mixed use—recreation, grazing, mining, conservation—with fewer restrictions than national parks or forests.
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