Santa Cruz County Arizona Fairgrounds Events

Santa Cruz County is one of the smallest counties in Arizona. Its fairgrounds are not in Nogales, the county seat, but about 40 miles north in the grassland ranch country of Sonoita. Most people know the place as the Sonoita Fairgrounds. It hosts the Santa Cruz County Fair and a rodeo and horse calendar that fills the whole fall.

This guide covers where the grounds are, who runs them, what is coming up, and how to take part as a visitor, vendor, exhibitor or 4-H and FFA family. Where something is not published or has changed over time, I say so and send you to the association.

Overview of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

Location and address

The fairgrounds are at 3142 South Highway 83, Sonoita, Arizona 85637. They sit about a quarter mile south of the crossroads where Highway 82 meets Highway 83, which is the center of Sonoita. Some listings print the address as “West Highway 83.” Use “South” in your GPS.

The mailing address is P.O. Box 85, Sonoita, AZ 85637.

Who runs the grounds

The Santa Cruz County Fair & Rodeo Association runs the grounds and produces the fair and most of the major events. It is a local nonprofit, and the grounds are not run by county government. Its stated mission centers on hosting youth agriculture activities, 4-H exhibitions, livestock shows and ranch horse competitions. The grounds also hold a western heritage museum and archive collection, the Bowman & Stradling History Center.

Size and layout

The property covers about 36.5 acres. Reported features include:

• A covered grandstand seating about 2,200
• About 180 horse stalls
• A half-mile race track
• A lighted main rodeo arena
• A west arena for smaller events, including the cutting horse association
• A clubhouse with a kitchen
• Exhibition halls, including Pioneer Hall and the Hedgcock Building
• Parking for roughly 2,000 vehicles

Why it matters to the county

Sonoita and Elgin grew up around cattle. Rail lines once carried thousands of head of cattle out of the Sonoita Creek valley, and several local families have worked the same ranch land for five generations. The fairgrounds are the community’s central gathering place. The county’s ranching, horse and 4-H traditions converge here, and the nearby vineyards and wineries join in during big weekends.

Visitors exploring Santa Cruz County Arizona Fairgrounds Events can also discover regional celebrations through Pinal County Arizona Fairgrounds Events. Exploring both locations allows visitors to learn about community traditions, discover seasonal gatherings, and enjoy activities that showcase the variety of local experiences available throughout Arizona.

Upcoming Events at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

Where things stand in October 2026

The 2026 fair and rodeo season has mostly wrapped up. The Sonoita Quarter Horse Show ran October 9-11, and an Arizona 4-H Dog Clinic and Show is scheduled for October 16-18. Earlier this year the grounds hosted the Arizona Junior High School Rodeo Finals and Arizona High School Rodeo in May. Other events included barrel races, a spring SABRA event, a SAILA event in August, and a summer livestock show series called Friday Nights Under the Lights.

The association had not posted its full 2027 calendar when I wrote this. Past years suggest the pattern below.

Seasonal pattern

• Spring: high school rodeo, barrel racing, roping and horse association events
• Summer: livestock show series and 4-H activities
• September: the busiest month, with the Labor Day Rodeo, Ranch Rodeo and county fair
• October: the Sonoita Quarter Horse Show and 4-H events
• Winter: smaller events, plus community events such as Sonoita Small Town Christmas

Other recurring events around the community include 4-H bingo night, Santa Cruz County Livestock Day, summer barbecues and pancake breakfasts.

Finding the current schedule

The association’s official website is the best source. It keeps an events calendar, a fair page and an online ticket page. The association also posts on its Facebook page, and the office number is 520-455-5553.

Renting the grounds

The grounds are available to outside groups. The rental contract mentions the main arena, the grandstand and three major buildings, plus an announcer platform, basic sound equipment, restrooms, showers and dressing rooms. Pioneer Hall has a kitchen area. Rental rates I could find were from 2016 and are probably out of date, so ask for current pricing. Horse and rodeo events that need stalls, camping or pens book those through the association’s camping and stall page.

The Santa Cruz County Fair

Dates

The fair is held in September. The 2026 fair ran September 18-20, a Friday through Sunday, with gates opening at 9 a.m. In 2025 it ran September 12-14. The 2027 dates were not yet announced. Expect mid-to-late September, and watch for the announcement on the association’s site. The 2026 edition was billed as the 111th. Some third-party listings call it the 95th, which looks like an outdated count. Use the association’s numbering.

Competitions

The fair includes livestock shows, home arts exhibits, a perishable foods contest, vintage tractors, and a pee wee livestock show for younger kids. 4-H and FFA project exhibits are in the Hedgcock Building. The livestock show schedule runs a small stock show first, then a market and breeding show for goats, beef, sheep and swine in that order. One listing credits the fair with several hundred open division exhibits and premium and sweepstakes awards.

Midway, food and entertainment

The fair has a carnival. Food comes from food trucks and local vendors. The 4-H members and leaders host a barbecue lunch on Sunday, just before the auction. Entertainment has included live music and ranch rodeo, barrel racing and team roping, plus the Sonoita Smash demolition derby, which debuted at the 2025 fair. The 2025 theme was “Let the Good Times Grow.” Local wineries from Sonoita and Elgin have also held a tasting tent on fair weekend. I did not find a published ride count or wristband price.

Admission and parking

A fair directory listing puts 2026 admission at roughly $5 to $15, and tickets are sold online with processing fees. I could not confirm children’s, senior or parking rates, so ask the association. The fair is also a small event by Arizona standards, drawing a few thousand people in total. Plan on a relaxed pace rather than huge crowds.

Facilities and Grounds

Buildings and barns

Besides Pioneer Hall and the Hedgcock Building, the grounds include a clubhouse, restrooms, shower and dressing rooms, and the history center. Stalls cost money per day, and the association handles reservations. For a horse event, reserve stalls early. The stalls and pens fill up fast for large shows.

Grandstand and arenas

The covered grandstand seats about 2,200. It faces the rodeo and performance arenas. The main arena is lighted, so evening performances are possible.

Camping and RV

The grounds offer dry camping and RV hookups for water and electricity. The only published rates I found, from 2016, were $10 for dry camp and $20 for water and electric, with weekly and monthly rates. Confirm current prices. A traveler review describes the grounds as big and open with mountain views, with room for big rigs. Camping for events is reserved through the association.

Accessibility and amenities

I did not find published details about ADA parking, paved paths or a first aid station. Since the grounds are a mix of gravel, dirt and arena footing, call ahead if you need an accessible route. The association can also tell you whether ATMs will be on site.

Vendor and Exhibitor Information

Vendors

Commercial and food vendors usually apply months in advance. A fair directory listing showed an August 1 deadline for art, craft, music and food applicants for the 2026 fair. Expect a similar timeframe for 2027. Contact the association for the application and requirements for food permits.

Exhibitors

Youth exhibitors enter through their 4-H club or FFA chapter, which helps with the paperwork. Open class exhibitors should contact the association about the fair premium book and entry deadlines for home arts and produce. Specific deadlines were not posted for 2027.

Contact

• Phone: 520-455-5553
• Email: [email protected]
• Mail: P.O. Box 85, Sonoita, AZ 85637

Getting to Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

Directions

Sonoita is where Highway 82 and Highway 83 cross. The grounds are a short distance south on Highway 83, on the left if you are heading south. From Tucson, the usual route is Interstate 10 east, then south on Highway 83 through the grasslands. It is roughly an hour. From Nogales, take Highway 82 northeast through Patagonia to Sonoita, which is roughly 45 minutes. From Sierra Vista, Highway 82 leads west. Check the drive time before you go, since distances vary by route.

Transit and rideshare

I found no public transit or fair shuttle. Sonoita is a small town, and rideshare availability is unreliable here, so drive if you can. Parking is on the grounds.

4-H and FFA at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

The extension office

The University of Arizona Cooperative Extension runs 4-H in Santa Cruz County. For fair entry rules, contact the extension office or your club leader. I could not confirm the number of active 4-H clubs, so I am not giving a figure. The Elgin school district ties itself closely to the fair and the 4-H community. The grounds also host a dual-county 4-H horse show and the Arizona 4-H dog events.

The junior livestock auction

The 4-H/FFA livestock sale is the main event of fair Sunday. The 2025 schedule had a buyers’ barbecue at 11 a.m. by the sale ring and the sale at 1 p.m. Buyers register and bid on market animals, and the money goes to the youth exhibitors. The association also hosts a 4-H buyer appreciation dinner. Exact times for 2027 will be published with the fair schedule.

Special Events Beyond the Annual Fair

• Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo: billed as the Best Little Rodeo in Arizona. The 111th ran September 5-7, 2026, with a junior rodeo and a First Responder Day. The 2027 rodeo will most likely land on the Labor Day weekend, which falls September 4-6.
• Sonoita Ranch Rodeo: September 12-13, 2026.
• Sonoita Quarter Horse Show: held each fall. A local source calls it one of the oldest in the nation.
• Horse races: the Sonoita horse races are a long-running tradition on the half-mile track.
• High school rodeo: the Arizona Junior High and High School Rodeo events.
• Other events: roping, barrel racing, Sonoita Small Town Christmas, benefit dances, and Cowboy Church fundraisers.

I did not find gun shows, swap meets or motocross listed at the grounds.

History of Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds

The numbering of the Labor Day Rodeo and county fair, both at 111th in 2026, points back to the mid-1910s. That timeline is an inference from the numbering, so confirm it with the association. The Sonoita Quarter Horse Show is well known in the Southwest. I did not find reliable records on attendance records, famous visitors, cancellations or major changes to the grounds. The association’s history center on the grounds may have answers.

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the Santa Cruz County Fair in 2027?

The 2027 dates were not announced as of October 2026. The 2026 fair was September 18-20, and the 2025 fair was September 12-14.

What time does the Santa Cruz County Fair open?

In 2026, gates opened at 9 a.m. each day of the fair. Check the schedule for 2027.

Is there camping at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds?

Yes. The grounds offer dry camping and RV sites with water and electric hookups. Rates were last published in 2016, so confirm current prices.

How do I enter livestock in the Santa Cruz County Fair?

Youth exhibitors go through their 4-H club or FFA chapter. For open class entries, contact the association and ask for the premium book.

Are dogs allowed at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds?

I did not find a published pet policy. The grounds host 4-H dog events, but fair days are different, so ask the association first.

Where do I park at Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds?

Parking is on the grounds at 3142 S. Highway 83 in Sonoita, with space for about 2,000 vehicles.

Who do I contact to rent Santa Cruz County Fairgrounds?

Call 520-455-5553 or email [email protected].

How much does it cost to get into the Santa Cruz County Fair?

A 2026 directory listing shows about $5 to $15. Confirm the 2027 prices on the association’s ticket page.

Is the Sonoita Labor Day Rodeo part of the county fair?

No. They are separate events run by the same association. The rodeo is held on Labor Day weekend, and the fair comes a couple of weeks later.