Photo by Matias J. Ocner
mocner@miamiherald.com
The 2026 Youth Fair returned for its 74th year and will run from Thursday, March 12, through Sunday, April 5, in Miami-Dade. This year’s theme is “Wild About The Fair.”
The event, which runs for 21 days, excluding March 16-17 and March 30-31, offers a family-friendly experience filled with carnival food, shows, rides, petting zoos and exhibits.
In addition to its usual rides and attractions, this year’s Youth Fair will feature a variety of special events aimed at families and visitors of all ages. Organizers said the annual fair has remained one of South Florida’s most anticipated community events, offering something for everyone to enjoy. Take a look at some of the best moments captured by Miami Herald photographer Matias J. Ocner:
Janielia Nembhard, an event staff member, reacts as she and a member of The Fritters mascots wait for doors to open during the first day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Mery Sanchez reacts as she arrives for the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Landon Rogers, 13, surrounded by mascots, rings a bell to celebrate the start of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Landon Rogers, 13, surrounded by mascots, rings a bell to celebrate the start of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Eliette Navarro, 70, takes a photo with Tadpole as she attends the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Ginette Lester, 79, dances with Howdy as she celebrates the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Star Child and Rich Dalton, members of the Stilt Circus, greet guests as they attend the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Curtis Shepard reacts as he rides down the Euro Slide attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Abigail Sculley, center, and Rakale McCormick react as they ride a swing attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride the Crazy Mouse attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
From left to right: Natyia Jimenez, Jahzel Jimenez, Jasaan Jimenez, 9, and Jose Jimenez attend the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride the Bullet Train attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests watch a circus act during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
A circus performer does an act during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
A circus performer does an act during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
A circus performer does an act during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Circus performers do an act during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guest leave the circus tent after watching a performance during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Luis Genovez, left, shares a colada during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Wild Adventures on Ice performs for guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Wild Adventures on Ice performs for guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Wild Adventures on Ice performs for guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Wild Adventures on Ice performs for guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Wild Adventures on Ice performs for guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Goats wait for snacks and pets during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Isabella Torres, 6, feeds goats during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
A goats approaches Leia, 2, for a snack and a pet during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Isabella Torres, 6, reacts as she feeds goats during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Michelle Bonton-Walkins reacts as she rides a camel during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Michelle Bonton-Walkins reacts as she rides a camel during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests make their way through the fairgrounds during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Mina On-Sang, 6, and her brother, Leo On-Sang, 4, ride the Speedway attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Jamal Mair, 2, right, and his brother, Jay Mair, 10-months-old, react as bubbles float overhead during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride a zip line during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride a zip line during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Bailey Williams, 4, bites into a candy apple during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
The North Miami Middle School Marching Tigers Band performs during a parade on the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Katie drives a flamingo themed vehicle as she hands festive beads to guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Tadpole throws festive beads toward guests during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Star Child and Rich Dalton, members of the Stilt Circus, greet guests as they march in a parade during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
An elephant ear with caramel and powdered sugar is prepared for guests attending the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Jazsmin Taylor takes a photo with her Buni’s Bakery cinnamon roll sundae during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
A Buni’s Bakery pecan caramel cinnamon roll is ready for guests attending the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Gabriel Delgado bites into a corn on the cob during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guest ride on a swing attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Melanie, left, and Alyai react as they ride an attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Samson Lee, left, and Anthony Acevedo, ride the Cliff Hanger attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests make their way through the fairgrounds during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride the Super Miami attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride the Star Dancer attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com 
Guests ride a ferris wheel attraction during the opening day of the 74th annual Miami-Dade County Youth Fair on Thursday, March 12, 2026, in Miami, Fla. Photo by Matias J. Ocner mocner@miamiherald.com