Carnival & Fair News

A super-secret silent disco? Fresh watermelon cocktail served in half a watermelon? Frozen margaritas from vendor Gold Rush Rita? Canning and baking trivia contests? A Low Rider Culture exhibit? Yes, all this and more made the California State Fair special this year, drawing increased attendance to the fair that ran July 11-27 at Cal Expo in Sacramento.

This year, fair spokesmen say over 700,000 fairgoers showed up, making an increase of 8% over last year. Some cooler, almost autumnal – for California – weather, brought even more guests to Cal Expo, including the largest single-day attendance of 90,000 fairgoers on Saturday, July 26th.

The fair ran for 17 days, with regular daily admission priced at $16 for adults, $10 for kids ages 5-12, and $12 for seniors over 62. A state fair season pass that allowed admission throughout the fair was priced at $39.99; and a $49.99 Blue Ribbon season pass allowed unlimited monorail rides across the grounds.



Carnival ride wristbands were priced at $45 Monday-Thursday and $50 Friday-Sunday. Along with the fair's own monorail, there were plenty of rides to enjoy, including those located on the major ride Magical Midway for thrillers like Turbo Force, Vertigo, Super Shot Drop Tower, Mega Flip, and Freak Out. The main midway was also home to family favorites such as the Giant Wheel and the Grand Carousel. The carnival purveyor was Butler Amusements, which also debuted a new ride this year, The Invader, a re-themed KMG Move-It.  

The Invader, a KMG Move-It made its debut at the California State Fair.  Photo by Steve Hinz.

On the separate kiddie midway, Kid Land entertainment for the little ones such as Frog Hopper, Puppy Roll, and Firehouse Funhouse were popular, too. 

The monorail is a fixture on the fairgrounds, and not part of the carnival. Separately priced monorail ride tickets were $5 for those over 5 years of age.

Savings were available fair-wide: on Mondays between 4-6 p.m., fair admission was priced at just $2; carnival rides were only $2 per ride on Tuesdays. Wednesdays offered special carnival ride packages costing $10 less than on other days. On Fridays, seniors paid just $10 for admission; and on SMUD Giving Friday, guests donating five nonperishable food items could receive a free ticket to the fair. A cooler or ice chest attached to a wagon was allowed into the fair, so that guests could, if they desired, forego the fair food fun, and bring in their own items including sealed plastic water bottles. Kids could also get two free carnival rides and a monorail ticket through the fair's Read to Ride Program if they read two books, provided a written summary of them, and completed a Guest Services form.  

Concert events offered free general seating – accommodating up to 700 – for all fair attendees, with ticketed seating available as well, starting at $40. National performing acts included Air Supply, Ludacris, O.A.R., Joe Nichols, and En Vogue, among others. Acts performed on the Sky River Casino Stage.

In addition, DJ Diesel, otherwise known as NBA great Shaquille O'Neal, performed at the fair's Heart Health Park opening night. 

Tom Martinez, CEO of Cal Expo and the state fair, relates "As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with momentum and gratitude…The goal of the California State Fair has always been to offer a place where families can gather, create new memories, and build traditions that last a lifetime.” 

The theme this year was “Times Like These,” with a focus on celebrating both nostalgia and the fair's future. 

New weekday hours were established this year, running 4-10 p.m.; with clear-bag policies and minor accompaniment policies both in place as they have been for the last four years. 

Darla Givens, Cal Expo's media director reports that the Cal Expo lagoon was filled with water for the first time in ten years and was used to display flags representing the Native American tribes of California. And all 58 California counties were a part of the fair this year, each adding their own unique spin on the event's exhibitions and attractions.

The “CaLOWfornia Love” Lowrider Cultural Exhibit was one of the most popular exhibits on the fairgrounds, Givens notes, bringing in more than 150,000 guests, while the RAM Truck Test Track provided 10,500 rides. Also well-attended was the POPnology exhibit with its elements of sci fi and tech innovation. Both were new exhibits this year. There was a popular interactive science exhibit as well.

The Budweiser Clydesdales brought in excited viewers when they appeared July 11-13 and 17-20 at the Michelob Ultra Racetrack. A film festival featuring short narrative and animated subjects was also a part of the fair, as was the more traditional fair favorites, truck and tractor pull events and a Monster Truck rally. 

Other returning events this year included a BBQ competition, performances by the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, and the Sea Lion Splash; and returning for the second year in an expanded space was the California Cannabis exhibition. For those seeking a cooling adult beverage there was the Save Mart Wine Garden replete with wine slushies; selfie-addicts could get their fix at the Candy Maze or at a petting zoo. 

Of course there were plenty of other livestock exhibits as well, from hogs to llamas to cattle and sheep.

Then there was the food.  Milo's Corndog Eating Contest served up 279-plus corn dogs devoured by hungry participants in 12 minutes.

While there was no contest involved, the traditional favorite Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls stand estimated one roll sold every 20 seconds. Other fair faves included Boba King's boba and spam fries, tacos from Chando's, Dubai Chocolate Cups, and Island Fin Poke. Ingredients sourced from within California were served up on Woodfired Flatbreads; there were state-centric favorites such as fire roasted artichokes with dipping sauces, the “best of the wurst” from Northern California's Silva Sausages, and a Celebration of Sourdough with dipping sauces.

In all, the fair had over 150 food vendors offering a wide range of items from gyros to funnel cakes with multiple topping choices. If all the food vendors weren't enough, there was a HERO Act Chili Cookoff for firefighters.

And to help fairgoers quaff their treats, there were three different flavors of refreshing agua fresca from Vasqueros Taqueria, as well as lemonades, milkshakes, and more.

Martinez asserts that “The California State Fair is more than just an event, it's a tradition, a destination, and a reflection of who we are as a state. We're proud of what we accomplished this year, and we're already working to make next year even better.”