In 1935 the first Fair was held at the Monterey County Fairgrounds. Since then, not only has the Fair continued annually, but the Monterey County Fair & Event Center has become the site for an eclectic mix of public and private events including music festivals, community dinners, trade shows, and weddings. When the State of California eliminated funding for its fairgrounds in 2011, the Monterey County Fair Heritage Foundation was created to assist in supporting the Fair & Event Center.