Funnel cakes, Ferris wheels, fireworks and more return to Sacramento’s Cal Expo this Friday, July 14, for the 156th annual California State Fair and Food Festival. Last year’s fair drew over 650,000 people when it resumed after an early-pandemic hiatus.
This year’s fair will run until July 30 and boasts a genre-spanning concert lineup that features the Isley Brothers, Third Eye Blind, Leann Rimes, Genuwine and Scotty McCreery, among others.
And if music, fair cuisine or carnival rides aren’t your thing, the two-week fair and festival will also house several other events, including the Best of California Brewfest, Monster Truck Mayhem and a cooking contest in the style of Food Network’s “Chopped” for USPS employees.
Here’s what to expect if you plan to stop by.
How much will tickets cost?
Jeanne Cunningham and her daughter, Scarlet, 2, of Roseville, Calif, feed animals at the petting zoo at the state fair, Wednesday, July 20, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
For anyone 13 and up, advance single-day tickets, bought before July 14, are $14. After that, the same tickets are $16. (That’s a couple bucks more expensive than last year’s fair, when tickets bought during the fair’s operation cost the same as this year’s advance tickets.)
For kids between 5 and 12, advance single-day tickets are $8. After that, tickets cost $10. Anyone 4 and under gets free admission to the fair.
Seniors — anyone “age 62 or better” — pay $10 for advance single-day tickets and $12 after.
You can purchase tickets on the State Fair’s website. Or, if you plan to be a repeat visitor, a State Fair season pass costs $35.99.
Aside from the advance discount, are there other ways to get a discount on admission?
You can get free admission on July 17 and 24 if you bring 5 non-perishable, non-opened food items to the fair gates before 3 p.m., courtesy of SMUD’s Giving Monday at the Fair. All food will be donated to the Elk Grove Food Bank.
And on July 18 and 25, kids 12 and under enter free.
On July 14, 21 and 28, senior tickets cost $10.
First responders and military members, including veterans, enter free on Thursday, July 27.
For a BOGO deal, you can also visit an O’Reilly Auto Parts location between Mondays and Fridays and scan the QR code at the California State Fair table. The deal is only valid for 2 regular priced, adult general admission tickets.
What does my ticket to the fair get me?
You’ll get admission to enter eating contests, visit the California State Farm and more. The full program of events and exhibits is available on the fair’s website.
Your ticket also gets you free admission to any of the concerts, all of which happen on the Golden 1 Stage. Reserved seating, starting at $25, is available for the concerts for fans of the artists who’d like a more up-close experience.
You’ll have to pay extra if you’d like to ride any of the carnival rides or the monorail.
The Wave Swinger ride at the California State Fair on Wednesday, July 20, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadioFor discounted rides, time your visit for July 18 or 25 — all rides are $2 for all on both Tuesdays. The fair also has a “Read to Ride” program for K-8th graders: If they read two books and fill out a form with a summary of each, then bring that to California State Fair Guest Services, they’ll get two free ride tickets and a monorail ticket.
Forms come in English, Ukrainian, Chinese, Russian and Korean, with a Spanish form coming soon. Only one report per child a day will be accepted.
The fair offers a “Fun Pack” package deal for $49.99, which includes 4 single-day general admission tickets, 4 ride tickets good for one ride in the carnival or on the monorail and 1 parking pass.
Getting that package is the only way you can purchase ride tickets in advance of the fair: Otherwise, all carnival ride tickets and fast passes — which allow you to jump the line at rides — must be purchased in-person at the event. Tickets cost $1 each, and fast passes range from $10 to $15.
You can also purchase an unlimited ride wristband before July 14 online for $35. After that, the unlimited ride wristband ranges from $37 to $42.
For special events, with the exception of Lucha Xtreme, you’ll need to purchase tickets separately:
And for discounted access to special Food Festival eats, you can save $14 and purchase a $34 Food Festival Pass, which gives you four tickets for eligible food and beverages.
Jose Flores at the Chillin' and Grillin' food stand at the Calif. State Fair Wednesday, July 20, 2022.Andrew Nixon / CapRadio
How much is parking?
Daily parking is $15.
Repeat fair visitors can also save by purchasing a package of three daily parking passes for $30.
What’s the fair’s bag policy?
No bags can be larger than 12 inches by 12 inches by 2 inches. All bags must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC, with some exceptions: A small clutch with a wrist strap and a clutch with shoulder strap no larger than 5 inches by 8 inches are both allowed, as is a one-gallon Ziploc plastic bag.
For visual examples of bags that are and aren’t allowed, the fair has a graphic in its Code of Conduct.
If I have access needs, how is the fair prepared to meet those?
Accessible parking spots are available closest to each of the four admission gates, which can be viewed on a map of the fairgrounds.
Strollers ($12), wagons ($15), wheelchairs ($25) and scooters ($65) are all available to rent across the monorail site and near the fair’s Main Gate.
You can make a scooter reservation in advance by calling 877-588-4782 or visiting the fair’s online reservation page.
To help with the heat, the fair also has air conditioning in several buildings (California Buildings A, B, C & D, Expo Center Buildings 1-8, the Tractor Supply Co. Big Barn, the Satellite Wagering Center, the Grandstand and Guest Services).
It also has misters, seating and shade in the Cool Zone near the Kids Park and at the Sky River Casino Promenade Stage.
For parents who need to breastfeed, there are two Mommy Lounges with air conditioning and seating, in Tent D and Expo Center Building 1.
The fair prohibits attendees from bringing any emotional support animals unless they are certified service animals.
Can I bring food and water to the fair?
Yes to both! If you bring water, it must be in a sealed plastic container — no Hydroflasks, outside alcohol, metal water bottles, glass or aluminum cans allowed.
You can also bring a cooler, but it must be attached to a wagon and is subject to search during entry.
Correction: This story has been updated to reflect the correct number of non-perishable food items necessary to gain free admission to the fair on SMUD’s Giving Mondays.
