When it comes to entertainment, the California Mid-State Fair is the envy of many.
The 2019 fair brought a bevy of big-name performers to Paso Robles, including rapper Cardi B and country stars Blake Shelton and Miranda Lambert. Motown legend Smokey Robinson perfoms Friday night as part of the fair’s popular Evening of Music & Wine event.
Compare that star-studded lineup to the low-key offerings at the California State Fair in Sacramento, which drew The Plain White T’s, Sean Kingston and Martina McBride, and you’ll see why the Paso fair brands itself “America’s Favorite Fair.”
Here are photos and video from some of our favorite Mid-State Fair shows.
Miranda Lambert
Country star Miranda Lambert performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Wednesday, July 17, 2019. Brittany App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Billy Idol
Punk rocker Billy Idol performed at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Friday, July 19, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Cardi B
Rapper Cardi B made her fair debut with a sold-out show at the Paso Robles Event Center. She performed at the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the California Mid-State Fair on Saturday, July 20, 2019. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Rapper Cardi B made her fair debut with a sold-out show at the Paso Robles Event Center. She performed at the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Mid-State Fair, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of the California Mid-State Fair
Rapper Cardi B made her fair debut with a sold-out show at the Paso Robles Event Center. She performed at the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Mid-State Fair, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of the California Mid-State Fair
Rapper Cardi B is making her fair debut with a sold-out show at the Paso Robles Event Center. She performs on the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Mid-State Fair, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Rapper Cardi B is making her fair debut with a sold-out show at the Paso Robles Event Center. She performs on the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Mid-State Fair, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Rapper Cardi B made her fair debut with a sold-out show at the Paso Robles Event Center. She performed at the Chumash Grandstand Arena at the Mid-State Fair, Saturday, July 20, 2019. Laura Dickinson ldickinson@thetribunenews.com
Blake Shelton
Country star Blake Shelton performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Sunday, July 21, 2019. Brittany App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Why Don’t We
Boy band Why Don’t We performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on July 22, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Country rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Brittany App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Country rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. Brittany App Courtesy of the California MId-State Fair
Zac Brown Band
Country band Zac Brown Band performed at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Wednesday, July 24, 2019. Brittany App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Old Dominion
Country star Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Thursday, July 25, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Country star Matthew Ramsey of Old Dominion performs at the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles on Thursday, July 25, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
Smokey Robinson
Motown legend Smokey Robinson performs at the California Mid-Sate Fair in Paso Robles on Friday, July 26, 2019. Brittany Anzel App Courtesy of California Mid-State Fair
The California Mid-State Fair runs through Sunday at the Paso Robles Event Center, 2198 Riverside Ave. For more information, call 805-238-3565 or visit www.midstatefair.com.
This story was originally published July 26, 2019 at 12:31 PM.
Sarah Linn is an editor and reporter on the West Service Journalism Team, working with journalists in Sacramento, Modesto, Fresno, Merced and San Luis Obispo in California and Bellingham, Olympia and Tri-Cities in Washington, as well as Boise, Idaho. She previously served as the Local/Entertainment Editor of The Tribune in San Luis Obispo, working there for nearly two decades. A graduate of Oregon State University, she has earned multiple California journalism awards.
