Seasonal & Events · Quick Facts
- Distance
- Adjacent — walk from your site
- Signature event
- Nevada County Fair, each August
- Fall favorite
- Draft Horse Classic, September
- Holiday event
- Country Christmas Faire, late November
- Booking tip
- Reserve early for event weeks — sites sell out
Most RV resorts talk about what's 'nearby.' Ours has a county fairground on the other side of the fence. The Nevada County Fairgrounds — regularly called the most beautiful fairgrounds in California for its towering ponderosa pines — hosts more than a hundred event days a year, and guests at Grass Valley RV Resort simply walk over.
The headliner is the Nevada County Fair each August: five days of carnival rides, livestock shows, corn dogs, live music, and destruction derby under the pines. Staying next door transforms the experience — no parking lines, no designated driver debates, and a two-minute stroll home when the kids fade.
The rest of the calendar is just as good: September's Draft Horse Classic fills the arena with six-horse hitches and thundering hooves; the Country Christmas Faire kicks off the holidays; and concerts, rodeos, home shows, and swap meets fill the weekends between.
The Big Events
The Nevada County Fair (August) is one of the last great small-town fairs in California — big enough for national carnival midways and grandstand entertainment, small enough that 4-H kids still sleep beside their steers. The Draft Horse Classic (September) is a genuinely unique spectacle: one of the premier draft-horse shows in the West, with performances that sell out the arena and a harvest fair alongside.
In late November the Country Christmas Faire strings the pines with lights for a weekend of craft vendors, carolers, and hot cider — the unofficial start of the holiday season that continues with Cornish Christmas in Grass Valley and Victorian Christmas in Nevada City.
Staying Next Door
During event weeks, the resort effectively becomes the fair's front porch. You can walk to the gates in minutes, come back to your rig for lunch or a nap, and let the evening run as late as it likes. For exhibitors, vendors, and competitors, the convenience is unbeatable — full hookups and a heated pool a stone's throw from the barns.
One honest note: fair week is lively, with music and crowd noise drifting over the fence into the evening. Most guests consider it the best seat in the house; if you prefer maximum quiet, aim for a non-event week and enjoy the fairgrounds' walking paths instead. Either way, book early — event weekends sell out the resort months ahead.
From Our Front Desk
Insider Tips
- Book your site months ahead for Fair week and Draft Horse Classic weekend — they sell out first.
- Walk over at opening time on the fair's first day for short ride lines and cool morning air.
- Draft Horse Classic evening performances sell out — buy tickets in advance.
- Between events, the pine-shaded fairgrounds are open for quiet walks — bring your dog and a leash.
Good to Know
Fairgrounds Next Door FAQs
How close is Grass Valley RV Resort to the Nevada County Fairgrounds?
The resort is directly adjacent to the fairgrounds — guests walk to the Nevada County Fair, Draft Horse Classic, and other events in minutes without moving their vehicle.
When is the Nevada County Fair?
The fair runs five days each August. It's the resort's busiest week of the year, so reserve your site as far ahead as possible.
Are there fairgrounds events outside of summer?
Yes — the calendar runs year-round, including the Draft Horse Classic in September, the Country Christmas Faire in late November, and concerts, home shows, and swap meets most months.
Stay Minutes From It All
Make Grass Valley RV Resort your Gold Country base camp — 148 paved full-hookup sites, heated pool, and the fairgrounds next door.