The California State Fair celebrations date back to the 1850s. Hundreds of thousands of locals and visitors come together to enjoy the celebration. Gold panning, educational events, and pet farm animals really excite the kids. It's filled with great activities, top performances, amazing music, exhibitions, competitions, tastings, and so much more.
California State Fair Hours 2024
Guests can visit the fairgrounds Monday through Thursday from 11 am to 10 pm and Friday through Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm.
Activities and Entertainments
Check out the craft beer tastings and wine competitions. Tons of delicious food and cooking demos will satisfy the most demanding gourmet food lovers. Sports lovers will find lots of sporting events like motocross and soccer. Animal shows and competitions can also be found here.
Friday and Saturday nights feature amazing concerts and sparkling fireworks. The State Fair is the only time of year when people can ride the monorail. Each July, the California State Fair draws people to the Cal Expo in Sacramento for the spectacular and entertaining multi-week event.
Carnival Rides
As part of the California State Fair, Butler Amusements offers a variety of fun and entertainment for all ages. On Tuesdays of the Fair, guests of all ages pay only $2 per ride; on other days, tickets cost between $3 and $10. Spectacular attractions like Vertigo, Pole Position Coaster, Zipper, Super Shot Drop Tower, Ring of Fire, and Wave Swinger will be available for the visitors. They will make you nervous and thrill at the same time. Carnival rides are not available to children under 36 inches tall, and rides are only available to children 36-48 inches tall.
Fair Competitions
At the California State Fair, contestants from across the state compete in exciting competitions representing the best of California's traditions, culture, and cuisine. Some of the most popular and most visited contests are California Cannabis, which showcases the finest cannabis flower, craft cultivators, manufacturers, and brands; Homebrew, which celebrates the amateur home brewers; and Canning and Baking, which celebrates California's best adult and youth home bakers and canners, or Corn Dog Eating Contest.
At the festival, you can visit many competitions depending on your interests and preferences, such as Bear Cup Esports Tournament, Ag Mechanics, Junior Livestock, Open Livestock, and more.
Foods Events
Of course, one of the essential attributes of the California State Fair is the opportunity to try delicious food and drinks that will make you a true gourmet. Although the fair is full of activities and events that allow you to enjoy great food and drink, the Taste of the Fair is worth paying attention to. Event takes place on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 am to 4 pm, where just $4 gets you a bite-sized version of all your favorite Fair foods. This occasion is ideal for young children or anyone looking to enjoy a diverse selection of treats offered by their preferred fair vendors.
California State Fair Special Events
The public will also enjoy special events that are part of the fair and make its program richer and more diverse. Thoroughbred Horse Racing, Fair Fireworks, Appreciation Day, Multicultural Gospel Celebration, California Produce Trivia, Big O Tires Monster Truck Mayhem are some of the events that are definitely worth visiting.
