The Alameda County Fairgrounds is a 270 acres (109.3 ha) facility located in Pleasanton, California

Pleasanton, California

Pleasanton is a city in Alameda County, California, incorporated in 1894. It is a suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area located about east of Oakland, and west of Livermore. The population was 70,285 at the 2010 census. In 2005 and 2007, Pleasanton was ranked the wealthiest middle-sized city in...

. It is home to the annual Alameda County Fair as well as numerous trade shows and community events. Its racetrack was built in 1858, making it the oldest one-mile (1.6 km) horse racing track in America. There is a 3,000 seat amphitheater, as well as a 9-hole golf course located within the track's infield.

The Alameda County Central Railroad Society has maintained a model train exhibit at the fairgrounds since 1959, which has grown to two 15 foot by 100 foot layouts in O scale

O scale

O scale is a scale commonly used for toy trains and model railroading. Originally introduced by German toy manufacturer Märklin around 1900, by the 1930s three-rail alternating current O gauge was the most common model railroad scale in the United States and remained so until the early 1960s...

 and HO scale

HO scale

HO or H0 is the most popular scale of model railway in the world.According to the NMRA standard S-1.2 predominantly used in North America, in HO scale, represents 1 real foot ; this ratio works out to about 1:87.1. According to the MOROP standard NEM 010 predominantly used in Europe, the scale is...

.

Notable events

Besides the annual fair, events regularly held at the fairgrounds include:

• The Scottish Highland Gathering and Games, which dates back to the 1860s and is reported to be the largest two-day Scottish gathering
  Highland games
  Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
  
   in North America
• The Pirates Of Emerson Haunted House
• Several annual automobile shows managed by the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association
  Goodguys Rod & Custom Association
  The Goodguys Rod & Custom Association is America's largest association catering to street rods, custom cars and show cars. The Goodguys Association has over 70,000 active members worldwide. as well as vintage drag races....
  
  

External links