Contestants in the 2026 Yuba-Sutter Fair Scholarship Competition gather for a group photo ahead of the Yuba-Sutter Fair. The competition includes Mini Miss Yuba-Sutter, Miss Teen Yuba-Sutter, Miss Yuba-Sutter and Yuba-Sutter Ambassador participants. Photo courtesy of the Yuba-Sutter Fair Scholarship Competition

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - A $35,000 Hispanic bull riding tournament, a hometown headline performance from ONOFF and the annual Yuba-Sutter Fair Scholarship Competition are among the highlights planned for the 2026 Yuba-Sutter Fair.

The fair returns Thursday, June 25, through Sunday, June 28, at the Yuba-Sutter Fairgrounds, bringing four days of grandstand events, carnival rides, livestock attractions, live entertainment and youth competitions.

One of this year's new attractions is the Hispanic Bull Riding & Music event, scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, June 28. The event is included with fair admission and is promoted as a bull riding tournament featuring $35,000 in prize money, with 15 bull ranches from across California and the western United States competing.

For fairgoers accustomed to American-style rodeo, Sunday's Hispanic Bull Riding & Music event will offer a different arena experience. Hispanic bull riding events, often connected to jaripeo-style traditions, focus primarily on bull riding paired with live music, ranch competition and a festival atmosphere. Live music from Banda Serro Mocho will also be part of the event.

The fair will close out Sunday night with two performances from local headliner ONOFF, an Irish rock band with strong ties to the Yuba-Sutter community. The trio includes drummer Stevie Bogan, who runs the Institute of Rock in Marysville; lead vocalist and guitarist Paulie Daly, who owns and operates Hooligans Bar and Bistro in Yuba City; and bassist David Hurrell. Together, the group has built a substantial local following, and the fair appearance marks one of the band's highest-profile hometown performances.

"We are working on some new songs and bringing back some golden oldies," said Bogan. "We've a new rehearsal space that we feel has given us a new, fun energy. So we are re-exploring our 20-plus-year catalogue."

According to Daly, the opportunity came after ONOFF played a large fundraiser for local fire services near the Sutter Buttes.

"The organizers for the fair were in attendance, so it was a no-brainer for them," said Daly.

The band is scheduled to perform on the main stage at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. June 28.

Another fair tradition returning to the stage is the Yuba-Sutter Fair Scholarship Competition, which includes Miss Yuba-Sutter, Miss Teen Yuba-Sutter, Mini Miss Yuba-Sutter and Yuba-Sutter Ambassador participants.

The Miss Teen, Miss Yuba-Sutter and Ambassador competitions are scheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, June 25. The Mini Miss Yuba-Sutter competition is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday, June 26.

The annual scholarship competition is a two-month program focused on stage performance, community service and leadership development. While fairgoers see contestants compete on stage in areas such as communication skills, talent and impromptu questions, the program also includes off-stage judging in areas such as interviews, scholastic achievement, community service and knowledge of the fair industry.

Selected representatives serve one-year terms attending community service events and representing the Yuba-Sutter Fair and the local community. The scholarship program awards more than $8,550 each year to local youth.

This year's talent lineup includes dance, gymnastics and music, with jazz solos among the most popular selections. However, several contestants are stepping outside those categories. Mini Miss Yuba-Sutter contestant Preslee Teagarden Vincent, a fourth-grade student at Franklin Elementary School, will perform a comedic monologue, while Emerson Morse, a fifth-grade student at Barry Elementary School, will showcase Magna-Tiles. Miss Teen Yuba-Sutter contestant Alexzia Zamarron, a 10th-grade student at Sutter Union High School, will present a basketball routine. Miss Yuba-Sutter contestant Guadalupe Sandoval, a 12th-grade student at River Valley High School, will perform a science experiment.

The 2026 Yuba-Sutter Fair runs from 4 p.m. to midnight Thursday, June 25, and Friday, June 26; 11 a.m. to midnight Saturday, June 27; and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sunday, June 28. This year's fair theme is "Barn in the USA," with daily entertainment attractions including Smash Golf, pony rides, Clown College, bungy jumping, Zany Zoe Magic, Steve's Fun Balloons, Juggling with Jeremiah and Circus Imagination.

Grandstand events begin Friday with the Malicious Monster Truck Tour at 7:30 p.m. Saturday features Extreme Truck Madness with Tuff Trucks and Mud Bog Races, also beginning at 7:30 p.m. The Junior Livestock Auction is scheduled for 9 a.m. Saturday.

Live music will be featured throughout the fair, including performances by Michelle Lambert, Miss Pooja, Harlan Band, Wayside Band, The Tiki Shack, Guilty as Charged, Salsa Steel Drum, Four Barrel Band, Gotcha Covered and Nathan Owens Band.

Special admission promotions are scheduled each day. Thursday kicks off with Thrifty Thursday, offering $5 admission for guests ages 5 and older, with children 4 and younger admitted free every day. Friday is Kids Day, with free admission for children ages 5 to 11. Saturday is Seniors Day, with free admission for seniors 65 and older. Sunday recognizes military members and first responders with free admission for eligible guests who present proper identification.

For more information or to purchase early-bird tickets and wristbands, visit http://ysfair.com.