Youth fairgoers take a lunch break on a shady hill at the Sacramento County Fair. Photo courtesy of the California State Fair

SACRAMENTO REGION, CA (MPG) – Featuring more than 50 carnival rides, a range of performances and competitions within various industries, and of course food, the California State Fair kicked off on July 11 at Cal Expo, lasting through July 27.

The fair is open from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays and from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays through Sundays with ticket prices ranging from free for children under the age of 4 to $16 for the “Advanced Adult” tickets, according to calstatefair.com/admissions. Various ticket packages can be found at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/14615/california-state-fair.

With the purchase of a California State Fair admission ticket, attendees receive free access to the Toyota Concert Series, taking place at the Sky River Casino Stage. Free seating is limited and available to the first 700 guests, who can start lining up behind the stage venue at 5 p.m. for first-come, first-served seating. Seats can be reserved for the concert series, starting at $40, according to the fair’s website. Concert ticket purchases do not permit fair admission.

The Toyota Concert Series features 17 performers, including the rap artist Ludacris, who headed the fair’s performances on July 11. Blank Space: The Unofficial Taylor Swift Tribute will perform on July 14 and no concert tickets will be required, only state fair admission is required. Queen Nation, a Queen tribute band, will also perform with no extra tickets necessary on July 19 in addition to Journey Revisited, a Journey tribute band, on July 21.

According to the state fair website, fairgoer’s safety is its number one priority and all youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian to be admitted to the state fair. Photo courtesy of the California State Fair

Tickets for the band, Tesla, are sold out, according to Etix, the fair’s online ticket provider.

According to the state fair’s website at castatefair.com, fair and concert tickets are only sold by the California State Fair through Etix and verification of tickets purchased from third party sellers cannot be guaranteed.

Other notable performers from the Toyota Concert Series include Bret Michaels, Dirty Heads, Cypress Hill and Tower of Power. En Vogue will wrap up the fair and concert series on July 27 with concert tickets costing $45.

More than 100 community stage acts are scheduled to take place across the fair’s eight different stages.

Eighteen different grounds performers will be seen throughout the fair, ranging from Amazing Aydar to Frank Zumo. Aydar juggles and rides around on cycles throughout the fairgrounds. Zumo, of the band Sum 41, is a deejay playing sets directly after mainstage concerts, according to the fair’s website.

A range of classes will be available to fairgoers, with experts teaching them about wine, olive oil, mushrooms, cider, pastas, floral arrangements, food decorations and tea.

Competing for medals, trophies, cash prizes, accolades and bragging rights, the state fair’s 170-year-old tradition showcasing the Best of California brings together high-quality producers in industries such as wine, beer, cannabis, cheese, livestock, canning and baking together to leave a lasting impression on the judges and spectators.

According to a press release from calcannabisawards.com, “The California State Fair is proud to be the only state fair in America to feature an onsite educational exhibit and cannabis competition alongside sales and consumption,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of the California State Fair. “This groundbreaking initiative recognizes the tremendous role of cannabis in our state’s agricultural sector and positions California as the undisputed leader in responsible cannabis integration, setting the standard that other fairs follow for years to come.” 

Fairgoers participate in the petting zoo at this year’s Sacramento County Fair. Photo courtesy of the California State Fair

The fair features a range of exhibits beyond cannabis, including disco, popnology, a candy maze, a low rider car show, adventure and arts. The majority of exhibits are scheduled to take place in Expo Buildings one through eight.

In addition to agricultural exhibits, there is also a free petting zoo, featuring goats, llamas, chickens and wallabies. The petting zoo is open daily until 8:30 p.m. and is located near the Tractor Supply Co. Big Barn, according to the fair’s website.

Fairgoers will have the opportunity to lighten their wallets with both indoor and outdoor shopping vendors. Located in buildings C and D, participants can experience product demonstrations as well as arts and crafts. The air-conditioned is home to the latest fashion and gadgets. Outdoor vendors can be found between the carnival and fountain, featuring a “global market,” according to the state fair’s website.

A list of carnival rides and their corresponding “Thrill Level” can be found at castatefaircom/carnival-rides, informing fairgoers about height and ticketing requirements. There is also a picture and short description of each ride.

According to the state fair website, fairgoer’s safety is its number one priority and all youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult parent or guardian to be admitted to the state fair. A telephone number must be provided of the minor’s accompanying adult and minors who misbehave will be held and released to their chaperone.