California State Fair

Livestock, ice cream, beer, poultry, hot tubs, music, more beer, sunshine, body odor, screaming kids, offensive graphic t-​shirts, fanny packs, California dreams, indigestion.

First time to Cal Expo. We specifically went for Global Winter Wonderland. So disappointed. This is the Christmas season and not one thing is Christmas… outside of a machine that blows fake snow in one small little area. High prices on the food. So not worth the money or the time.
P. S. On the way out we found a VERY small area with Christmas blow ups. Otherwise, it looked more like fall and summer with all the pumpkin and sea life blow-​ups. View my pics. Do you see anything Christmas here?

I’m glad I can experience it every year if I want to as a Sacramento resident. I have great childhood memories of going to the fair with my uncle, cousins, and brother. The only pet I ever owned was a gold fish and that was because my brother won it at the fair. We always rode the monorail and I loved the roller coaster that ended with a splash. At the end of the night, we would always watch the fireworks and have funnel cake.
As I’m older, the fair isn’t as magical as it used to be. Now, it’s all about spending $$$- $ 10 to park, $ 12 entrance, $ for rides/​food, etc. The main attraction for me at the State Fair now is the food. There’s always something new they come up with (deep-​fried Oreo, Krispy Kreme burger, etc.). I didn’t get to try as much as I wanted to though, which is a good thing in some ways.

(Better late than never! This one was sitting unnoticed in my queue. Guess I forgot to publish it… oh well!)
Loved the fair this year! I only got to spend a few hours here on a midweek trip to the but it’s one of those annual events that you either love to go to or you hate going to. For me I love going to the fair and seeing all the animals, getting the fried zucchini, and getting lost in all the exhibits.
This year I made a point of going because Theory of a Deadman was playing and I love them. I didn’t get tickets but a woman gave me some wristbands for me and my companions to go up front. The show was great, they performed to a small crowd of people, and they sounded pretty good. But the very best part of the whole event is, of course, the baby animals.
BABY ANIMALS!
Two day old baby cows (squeel!), one day old baby goats (eeee! So cutee!!), and the tiny horses (not really a baby animal but so miniature it grants the same ‘AWW’ response).
Thank you for letting me love those babies for the couple hours that I could. Worth the cost of tickets, parking, and the throng of people on a hot day. I probably wont see you next year unless there is another concert to catch my eye but I will be back. Love the fair!

The California State Fair is one of those special Sacramento institutions. Located near the giant traffic nightmare known as Arden/​Expo/​80/​River/​Costco, the State Fair has been running for a long time with no signs of stopping. Plentiful parking is usually available, but it can be a long walk and very expensive. Neighborhood parking is available sometimes at a fee, but Regional Transit has bus service for the State Fair and other events.
Your experience at the State Fair is mainly dependent on your tolerance of heat and fried foods. There is always a lot happening each day at the fair with something for everyone. Do you want to see the livestock and agricultural heart of California? Done. How about eating junk food and sipping good wine? Done. Ready for some midway rides and concerts? Done.
Most people try and do the fair in one day. If you are single and it’s a cool day, this is possible. Families and others may prefer to linger over several days. You could easily spend three days here — one night for food and rides, one day for exhibits and demonstrations, and another night for a concert and some people watching.
Some tips — wine is the cheapest way to catch a buzz at the fair; start at the top of the exhibits and walk downhill; watching the concerts on the east side is closer to the beer and restrooms; fill up your cups and bottles at the drinking fountains with lots of water; purchase tickets ahead of time, including unlimited rides; deep fried is always the best option!
The heat can be intense. Sacramento summers are often unpredictable with heat and smoke, both of which can make the outdoor events tough. The crowds attract people from all demographics, so you may see people who have a different take on music, fashion, and politics. This is part of California and part of the fair. Enjoy the craziness!

I’m fan but i wouldn’t recommend going on the last day.
In my opinion, there is nothing much to say, it’s the state fair filled with cool animal exhibits, rides, games, and fried food (e.g. Twinkies, butter, icecream, etc.). There was a theme this year but i forgot – probably about technology and innovation. Other than that, nothing really shocking, but that bacon wrapped station was AMAZING!!!
WARNING: The state fair can get extremely «ghetto» when visiting near the end date. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like a particular group of kids (e.g. middle school & high school) enjoys attention through fighting and screaming out ‘World Star’. Why would I make that claim? By observation, i’ve witnessed a number of kids prepping their phones before fights or just documenting anything that is meaningless. I was somewhat surprised of their demeanor too and i guess you can say «kids are being kids» but this was at a whole different level.
I would like to point out that security is generally revamped in the last 2 – 3 days before wrapping up the fair (i.e. a lot more horse back police, bike police, and undercover units), and i even witnessed a few specialized units labeled as «gang police task force». If i was a father and bringing my kid (s) to a state fair i would be extremely apprehensive and on edge.
I REPEAT IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO GO THE THE STATE FAIR NEXT YEAR DO NOT GO ON THE LAST DAY.
Exhibit A: After taking a few landscape photos of the fair, i was surprised to even get a shot of a fight that was 20ft away from me. I have to admit I was embarrassed and ashamed, i guess they were fighting over the funnel cakes.

Funnel cake with vanilla ice cream and strawberries was AMAZING ($ 8)!!! BBQ pork ribs (sauce on the side) and hot sausage links were BOMB too!!! All of these are between the beer garden/​exhibit entrance and the bungee jump ride! Other than that… the fair is EXACTLY the same as last year but MORE EXPENSIVE! ($ 20 for a bacon wrapped turkey leg, $ 10 for half a pineapple filled with fruit juice, $ 6 for a deep fried Twinkie!!!) Have someone wait in line for food while the other person finds a place to sit! Food lines do get extremely LONG (especially for the funnel cake with the red velvet and ice cream options, BBQ/​Turkey leg, bacon, and, wine slushy stands) There aren’t enough picnic benches to accommodate everyone so expect communal seating!
Same animal exhibits/​petting zoo stations… although I feel as if there are less and less animals as the fair progresses into its final days. They had special days for certain animals (i.e. bunnies, pigs, etc.) so when visiting the feathers and fur exhibit there were literally only 10 – 15 bunnies while the rest of the showroom was filled with roosters, chickens, and exotic birds. There are several art exhibits and the usual shopping halls with «As seen on TV» type merchandise. The hypnotist show was entertaining but remains the same year to year. There was, however, a new Chinese acrobat performance that was quite enjoyable! There were a lot of nail biting stunts combined with gymnastic-​style tumbling – worth checking out!
Games this year were also pretty expensive and nearly impossible to win! One of the workers even admitted the basketball hoops were oval shaped so the only way to win would be performing granny-​style shots in hopes of achieving that perfect «swoosh.» (Three shots were $ 5)
Parking was $ 10 CASH ONLY if you chose to park inside Cal Expo (not recommended since traffic was HORRENDOUS entering and exiting!) or there was FREE street parking near Kaiser, Arden Fair Mall, and any of the surrounding areas. General admission was $ 12 for adults with free in and out privileges before 10PM with a valid hand stamp. The midway closes at 11PM and unlimited wrist bands are $ 30… but waiting in line can be a struggle!
Overall, the fair was similar to last year but with INFLATED prices!!! I went for the food and gained five pounds! The funnel cake was so good I went back again to have it one last time! :)

Being a Sacramento native, I’ve been to the fair too many times. I remember when parking was a mere $ 5-​$ 6 and when the fair was open from the end of July and ran throughout the month of August. Things have sure changed, but one thing hasn’t: the consistently increasing prices.
This year, I spent $ 30 on lobster fries, which were less than decent, wine slushies, which were tasty, and a red velvet funnel cake, which was not worth it at all. I left feeling sick since I didn’t eat a full meal lol. The fair is definitely the place to try different foods, but do so with your wallet in mind. In my opinion, the $ 5 coupon book is not worth it! I didn’t see anything in there that I would use.
The fair is definitely something every person in Sacramento, and its surrounding area, should attend once. Be prepared to spend some $$$$. Until next year, CSF!

3 words!!! California State Fair! Fun for all… Families, friends, and couples! Been a tradition for me since I was a kid! The atmosphere makes great memories… From the FOOD, exhibits, shopping, rides, live shows, concerts, and did I say FOOD???
Everyone goes for different reasons… But if you never attended, it’s a must! It’s the way to celebrate summer!
Food is one of my favorites: from deep fried artichokes, to deep fried mushrooms, to deep fried catfish, to deep fried pork chop, to deep fried Oreos!!! Get the point? Everything is almost deep fried!!! What else Deep fried did I try??? Reece’s, zucchini, pop tarts, and turkey leg!
I love the shopping… They have 4 buildings full of shopping when vendors try and make their sales! From vita-​mix, to shoe cleaner, to cleaning house supplies, to cel phones, to wallets and belts, to nail supplies, to cooking! Everything! It’s awesome!
Exhibits is for everyone to see the wonderful work done by individuals who enter there work in for everyone to see and admire!
Live shows are always fun! In the main stage area! From acrobats, to singers, to drummers, to my favorite… Hypnotist!!! I have been hypnotized twice and it’s a ball!!!
If you stay until 10pm, u will see the fireworks but like myself, I like to leave earlier and beat the traffics out!
One star taken away: Food is really pricey And some vendors strictly take CASH only… So make sure u bring enough cash! But back to my point, I ordered the deep fried artichokes but it was $ 8 for a little portion!!! Water bottles are $ 2.50 and up… My lobster fries was $ 10 for the regular size… But it’s the fair!
Tip: bring your own water BUT it’s always good to have a soda, lemonade, icee or even beer or wine!
Also, sometimes the weather can play a factor! 100 plus can be very miserable especially if you are outside walking… And when everyone is inside, it starts to smell like Sweat!
Lastly, there were some late night situations in the past where peeps make bad decisions and things get out of hand! We want to keep the fair family friendly and CLEAN!

Food, rides, animals, games, people, exhibits and did I mention food? Everything and then some, you’ll find it at the California State Fair.
It hot, yes. But it’s also summertime in Sacramento, what do you expect? The exhibit halls offer refuge from the heat. Plenty to shop for. Everything from vacation packages to beds, hot tubs and jewelry!
Livestock & petting zoo are always a favorite! Carnival games and plenty of rides available. So much food to choose from. We enjoyed a pulled pork sandwich meal together. The prices are a little steep, but seems to be the norm.
I noticed quite a few «hand washing» stations located thought the Fair. Especially important after touching the animals and before eating.
So much to look at and enjoy. We did a lot of walking, got around to most everything we wanted to see. The $ 5 monorail ride was a great way to see the lay out too!
The staff were friendly and helpful! Especially David. At the end of our long day of walking, we went to the wrong parking lot. David was kind enough to give us a lift on his golf cart right to my car! What a guy! That saved us!
Looking forward to many more years of enjoyment and memories at the State Fair!

It’s fun, it’s interactive, it’s sweltering, it’s expensive, but it’s awesome. I don’t go every year because I like to give county fairs a try every now and then. This was my first year visiting since my senior year of college, and I had a blast!
Do you like weird fried food? Well look no further. Whatever weird fried thing that you want to try can be found here. My friend and I found ourselves some glorious cheese curds this year. Previous years have seen me trying such nonsense as fried coke, fried peanut butter and banana sammie (I don’t know. In memory of the King.), and fried chicken between two donut halves. Sure, they were all disgusting, but it’s a fun thing to do with your friends. Where else are you going to? I thought so.
Other favorites tried this past Saturday included the fresh squeezed lemonade (look for it. Don’t go for the fakey fakes, go for the good stuff), root beer floats, bacon cheddar fries, and the GLORIOUS CINNAMON BUNS that you can find in the California County exhibit hall. Insanely good. I don’t even LIKE cinnamon buns.
I’m also all about: yummy dip samples in the food booth exhibit hall, alpacas (or I guess what I saw was a llama, after consulting the Resident Unilocal Alpaca Expert), birds of prey, NOT the flying stingy insect house (*shudder*), walking through forest of trees native to California, science and craft exhibits, saying hello to the various cows and goats, petting a sturgeon, sniffing daisies even though they don’t really smell like anything, and the fact that there were a few types of cider on tap.
The only things that obviously suck are the price tag, the nearly unavoidable heat, the astronomical food prices (What is this? AT&T Park? How about better garlic fries then?) and the need for more stinkin’ maps around the place. The only reason I knew where I was going was my Fair Tour Guide friend.
All in all it’s an awesome place to go be social, rock out to Weird Al, pet alpacas, try funky foods and be proud of the state in which we live.

If you tell me you don’t like the fair you’re guaranteed to get a very strange look from me… cause I’m not buying it.
I am definitely buying a season pass next year. went tonight for like 5 hours and barely scratched the surface!
Food. Corndog is a must. They don’t taste like this anywhere else. Lobster fries. Thanks to Alex T. I went on the hunt and found them. And now I want a tshirt that says «I Lobster fries» because they are the best thing I’ve ever eaten at the fair. This year we tried the deep fried twix too. Yum!
Animals. The animal areas shut down around 8pm so get there early. Did get to see a baby goat bum rush a pot belly pig in the petting zoo so all was not lost.
Exhibits. Pet a Burmese python, saw an alien bride, watched the biggest erector set mouse trap on auto pilot, and got blown away by artwork done by teenagers. Lots to see.
Heard some live music while getting a 25c foot massage and partaking in some excellent people watching. Rode the monorail to take it all in. Got hollered at on carnie row. Watched the hypnotist work her magic on stage and saw some acrobatics on horseback. An eventful evening to say the least.
I plan to be back for the rest of the exhibits, wine tasting, horse racing, beer gardens, more animals, shopping and yes, another round of lobster fries.

The fair is full of all of life’s wonders. This year we had the pleasure of going during the evening.
We were very fortunate to be able to see that the band «WAR» was playing that night and we were able to stay for the show! They actually put on an amazing high energy show and seemed to have a very special connection with the audience. We caught a few of the smaller bands that were playing on the little stages too and they were also pretty awesome.
We visited the wild life exhibit and watched the bold eagle. We also got the pleasure of seeing the two little otters that were on exhibit this year. Their names were drop and drop. They were the cutest little guys and at times they appeared to be showing off for the audience. They are just so adorable.
We got a chance to sample the curly fries this year! I highly recommend getting them with half cheese and half garlic. The taste in the in the fries are just explosive! The fresh squeezed lemonade went very well with them. The curly fries were actually so big that we could split them between 3 adults.
The best part of being at the fair at night is that all of the rides were lit up. It gives the whole place a magical feel that just makes everything feel special.
The cooking exhibits and the shopping was pretty awesome too. There was a guy selling home made spreads for crackers and pretzels. I highly recommend stopping by his booth and sampling the spreads. They are delicious.
There was a rife where the children could walk on water. Watching them walk around in the little bubble that they put the children in reminded me of the movie bubble boy. I just wondered how long they could actually stay in those bubbles before the air supply runs out. It was pure entertainment to watch them bumping into each other and fall down inside of the bubbles. The kids were having a blast!
I plan on coming back a few times this year. Every time I go I always find new and interesting things!

What an amazing experience! From the food, the animals, the exhibits and the games it was all a lot of fun.
Here are some tips and food reviews:
Costco-​Two weeks leading up to the fair every year, Costco at Cal Expo (1600 Expo Pkwy, Sacramento, CA 95 815) has a package deal for State Fair tickets. This is the best deal around. You get 2 — general admission tickets, 2 — $ 5.00 food vouchers and a one day parking pass. You get all of this for $ 29.99 (a savings of $ 14.00) It’s a great savings deal!
Lemonade-​I know, I know. You must be asking why I would mention something so simple as Lemonade. Well let me tell you, the stuff we got was GOOD. I regret I don’t know the name of the Lemonade stand but it’s right next to Cardinali’s Pizza and Fry King. This place has four different types of lemonade but my favorite was the Strawberry Lemonade. The reason I mention this place is because once you buy a cup you can get a refill for only $ 3.00! This is a huge bargain considering drinks are so expensive! The best deal is the 44oz cup for $ 7.00. After that it’s only $ 3.00 for a refill! What a deal!
Lobster Fries-​Freaking AMAZING! I’ve seen reviews for them as well as have seen them featured on Food Network. They are made at Fry King. For $ 10.00 you can get a basket of fries with real lobster. It was incredible. There was so much lobster on top and the aioli sauce is to die for.
Corn Dogs-​I purchased from the famous Super Corn Dog stand. It was so good! The breading was delicious. It was sweet but not overly so. Pair it with mustard and you’re all set! It was $ 5.00 for a Jumbo Corn Dog or $ 6.50 for a food long!
Cheese Skirt Burger-​This was my food highlight. If you are from out of the area you HAVE to try a Squeeze Inn burger. These are a Sacramento staple. They’ve even been featured on Diners, Drive-​Ins and Dives. They make their burgers with a HUGE cheddar cheese skirt that covers the entire burger and then some. It’s just out of this world delicious. It comes with all the toppings (lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles, ketchup, mustard, mayo). For $ 9.50 it was pricey but 100% worth every cent. You can find the Squeeze Inn stand right across from the Baby Barn.
Fried Everything-​You really can’t go to the State Fair without getting something fried. We visited Sweet Cheeks for our fried goodness. We bought the fried Oreo’s and friend Snickers. Ugh it was so good. The Fried Snickers were my favorite. It was gooey, warm and crunchy all at the same time. So delicious. I believe it was $ 6-​$ 8 per fried item.
Water-​Like fellow Unilocaler Alex T said, BRING WATER. It will save your life. The cheapest I could find was a Cal State Stand selling Dasani for $ 2.00 a bottle near the Golden One Stage. We brought a Camelbak and 5 bottles of water for 2 of us and went through each bottle. When it’s hot it’s really easy to get dehydrated so bring A LOT of water. Seriously.
Merlino’s-Another Sacramento Staple. It’s like ice cream and shaved ice all at the same time. It’s so creamy and smooth. You usually can find them at the Sacramento River Cat’s game but for a lucky few weeks in July every year, you can find them at the Fair. It’s absolutely divine! The best way to end your day at the fair. Priced between $ 6-​$ 9 depending on size. Located in the barn area near the pony rides at the end of the large white tent.
Overall what a fun experience! If your bringing children I recommend coming earlier in the day. It’s more child friendly. Tuesdays kids are free and rides are half off! Evening hours bring out the younger crowd and they get pretty rowdy and drunk.

Four stars for a fun time. I’m not the first to line up for county or state fairs but I actually had a fun time yesterday! There are the standard fair food (which seem a tad bit expensive, even considering fair food tends to be expensive) and rides, booths and other items. We were lucky enough to go during a work day, so the crowd wasn’t too big. I would think on a weekend it would be insane; we stayed until 8 p.m. and the crowd increased just after dinner time. The animals looked tired but they’re always fun. The natural exhibits are the best feature: go and learn about California flora and fauna and we were able to pick up a free tree sprout at the tree exhibit. I would definitely go back during a work-​day next year.
My pro-​tip for being super-​cheap is to pregame (food and drink) as much as legally possible, since the food and drinks are so expensive. (I can’t imagine how much it would cost for a family with kids!) Also, go on an off-​time (like a weekday). This might not be possible for all but it gives you a better chance to see more and have fun!
Thanks!

Look forward to this every year. Food, rides, drinks, cool little finds and all the extra stuff…
Yes everything at the fair is pricy but then again its the STATE FAIR and you only go to it once a year…
I love funnel cakes and beed jerky and i usually only eat it when i go to the fair…
Today I found a cool purse, got to see some cool animals, take pictures, look at aome nice cars saw thw horse race and a little bit of everything. … you definitely do get what you pay for if you kniw how to do it right… lots to do and lots to see… look forward to next years fair…
Few things I wish was that they have better shows and thats pretty much it… i didnt really see any other room for improvement. Parking was cool we got parking near the entrance. Their staff where friendly, the fair grounds where kept clean. Bathrooms where surprisingly very clean plenty of food choices average rides. Alot of different vendors and wide variety of life stock. If someone has kids they have ALOT for them to do and see so yeah 4 stars :-)

Great Exhibits, Fuzzy Animals, But Food Is Dam Expensive!
SITREP
California State Fair remains an iconic event in Sacramento in the summer, and you can expect fun times to be had. However, mostly price-​gouging when it comes to food vendors.
THE SETUP
Like a dutiful Californian, I visit the State Fair to participate in the feeling of community in our great State.
* GENERAL ADMISSION SEASON PASS — Still Best Deal. I bought my General Admission Season Pass for $ 30 (Note: only available ONLINE) and as of this writing been to Fair three (3) times already. Considering Gen Adm tickets are $ 12 for Adults, I’ve paid for the pass — and that’s not including 2 – 3 more times I plan on going.
* SHOWS & EXHIBITS — these are always fun. Whether to see the hypnotist in the center plaza, Air Supply or Led ZepAgain on different nights playing on the Golden 1 Stage, or exhibits in Buildings No. 1 — 7, so much to see.
* ANIMAL EXHIBITS — always fun! Got to hang with the Turkeys in fact:
But seriously, baby goats, bunnies & even Bessie the Cheese Cow put big smies on my face (especially if where «heavy petting» is involved) ;)
* TECH OF THE FUTURE! — favorite exhibit of the fair this year. So much fun because of interactive exhibits:
= Former Governator is there:
:D
= My buddy THOR is actually managing this exhibit and it was fun having him show me and friends around:
= Virtual Reality (VR) Exhibit is fun to experience — like you are floating in space as the control panel takes you through a series of different environments, including Ancient Egypt:
For me, Exhibits are best part of Fair! So now we come to NOT-​so-​great part of Fair…
FOOD PRICES ARE A RIP-​OFF
Prices charged for food are BEYOND mind-​boggling. $ 8 for Onion Rings? $ 12 for a Hot Link? $ 6 for a Lemonade? To be blunt, it’s ridiculous to see a 25−30% jump in sandwiches & combo deal prices from just ONE YEAR ago: Items that were $ 9.99 in 2014 are now $ 13.99. Can you say «greedy»?
Take a look at this one food stand (it’s the fish stand, but it is very representative of all the burger stands, Gyro stands, Philly Cheesteak stands as well) — it serves as a classic example of how foods stand really take advantage & overcharge the patrons — at a most OBSCENE level:
So if I wanted the $ 18 combo here, and paid the $ 6 for my lemonade (MORE if I went to the Beer Garden or Wine Garden) — and dare I even think about one of those deep-​fried oreos — I’d be looking at $ 25-​$ 30 just for a «quick bite to eat.» So tread carefully on how much you bleed your wallet.
=PRO-​TIP: If you didn’t eat a big meal before going to the State Fair, but only need something light to tide you over, hit Hot-​Dog-​On-​A-​Stick stand where you can get the Corn Dog or the Corn Cheese Stick for $ 4.50. [They also have a new «Cream Cheese On-​A-​Stick» for $ 4.] I also first stop here and get their large Souvenir cup of Lemonade for $ 6, but can use this same cup for $ 3 refills, and not just on this visit — I keep this cup in my bag, and the security lets me in with it each time I come back, and wa-​la, *PRESTO!*, I can still avail myself of $ 3 lemonade refills from Hot Dog On-​A-​Stick.
TRAVEL TO & FROM AND PARKING
It’s Crazy Train. Expect traffic jams from every direction. Expect (if you are a cheap ass like me, in general) to walk half a mile from Olive Garden and the mall lot there if you don’t want to pay the $ 10 Parking Fee at the State Fair Lots.
=PRO-​TIP: Use the Bus Routes 67 & 68 and catch the ride that will drop you right off at the FRONT GATE of the State Fair! You can’t beat that convenience, and you MISS the backed-​up traffic (or parking lot as it is at the commute hour) on BUSINESS 80, and you AVOID having to pay the $ 10 parking fee to have your cat sit in the lot (and the time it takes you to FIND a space at the front end, and the time it takes your to LEAVE the lot).
THE LOWDOWN
Great exhibits to see & enjoy, but plan ahead on what you will need to eat when at the State Fair and understand if you are staying a couple/​few hours, your need to eat is not so great, and you can hold off from eating most things, and just pop for a treat.
However, if you are there for the long-​haul (like 5 hours or more), plan ahead with enough money to cover your «food and hydration-​needs» expenses. [Easily $ 20 to $ 40 per person.]

The California State Fair is an essential element of any Sacramento Summer. A blistering hot day that leads into a perfect summer night spent stuffing your face with special corn dogs, spinning until your head is dizzy on the rides, and exploring the exhibits to escape the heat.
Despite my usually over proclaimed hate of Sacramento as a teenager, one thing I can say I was always very proud of is the fair. Upon moving to Southern California people started taking me to the Orange County Fair, or other local ones — but ours definitely takes the cake on the fair scene.
It’s been a tradition since I was a kid to take our family to the fair every summer. As we’ve grown that hasn’t always been possible with our schedules, but the tradition evolved as we entered our teenager years and had a place to run around with big groups of friends. Then now as young adults that can go to the beer tents. And hopefully one day as a family again. The point being, although we grow older the fair has held to be a tradition every year, as it really has options for everyone.
Exhibits: The exhibits held in various buildings in the middle of Cal Expo offer an awesome air conditioned escape from the summer heat. From displays representing every county in California to art competitions for all ages to the various cultural exhibits, there is definitely something to explore for everyone. There is also the big huge trade show to check out tons of cool products that you’ll probably get trapped into buying — I think my household has a nail kit, an iron, and a blender from that place.
Rides/​Games: At the actual Carnival part of the park, you get to ride rides and attempt to win giant stuffed animals. It’s that classic fair atmosphere that makes me feel like I’m living in that one part of the Sandlot. My all time favorite ride is the Starship, where you spin so fast you stick to the wall.
Concerts/​Performances: They happen all day, but I really appreciate being able to see some much local talent amid headlining artists. They have dance competitions, acrobat shows, hypnotist, and music of all styles.
Food: CORN DOGS. AND CORN ON THE COB.
Basically, I love the fair. I’ll always love the fair. Half way through the Summer we gather a group of friends and go wander the grounds of Cal Expo, running into familiar faces, just having a blast. It’s an awesome places to make any summer, a Summer.

More like 3.5 but yeah. I’ve never been to the California State Fair until just this year so I was pretty stoked upon going.
Pros:
— LOADS of food vendors located throughout the entire area. Many types of cuisine apart from the typical carnival foods.
— Best excuse to consume artery clogging foods (all that fried good good). There’s also beer and wine, yass.
— Rides and carnival games scattered around.
— Lots of fun and interactive activities, such as small museums, shows, farm animals, the Monorail, etc.
— Shopping stores and vendors are available as well.
— Family-​friendly, expect to see a lot of kiddies running about.
— Parking lot is available for parking.
Cons:
— Everything is extreme expensive. Holy crap, paying for a water bottle here is like paying for a couple of burgers at McDonald’s.
— Extremely crowded, especially early in the day.
— Paying for rides is ridiculous. Who wants to pay $ 5 to ride the ferris wheel?
— Parking lot isn’t big enough to accommodate everyone that comes in.
— Bathrooms are horribly gross.
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t seem to be so amused with rides in any kind of amusement park/​carnival anymore. I only opt for the ferris wheel because you always get a good view of the whole venue itself on that ride. I opted for a lot of food, which sadly ate at my wallet, but some of them were pretty good for its price, while others were just mehhh. Definitely worth taking your family to at least once in their lives.

July is upon us and the temperature is arising. It’s time for the 160^th year of the California State Fair. The fair is located at 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, California. It runs from July 10^th through July 26^th 2015.
Born and raised in Sacramento, California I remembered my parents taking us to the old state fairgrounds which was located back then near Broadway and Stockton Blvd. I recalled buying a little green live turtle and a little rubber grey mouse that had a very fine thread attached to it where the mouse looks as if it was moving by pulling on the string. Funny how something that simple will put a smile on a kid’s face. In order to draw an larger attendance, the old fairgrounds was closed and the new California State Fair was built.
In past years my family usually came early on the very first day for the grand opening ceremony. Parking was not a problem that early in the morning. Doors opened at 10: am.
Today we decided to go a little later around 5 pm. The band that we wanted to hear started at 7 pm and the weather was perfect. As we approached the entrance of the fair, we found ourselves gridlocked bumper to bumper in traffic. Slowly we made our way to the entrance and paid our parking fee with a free parking pass that my wife had bought in a State Fair package at Costco that included 2 admission tickets, a parking pass, and a 10 dollar food voucher for only 30 dollars.
I have never seen the parking lots so packed. We were directed to park in lot E which was clear on the other side of the front entrance. Luckily for us there was a school bus shuttle that drove us to one of the side entrances. Lesson learned here is come on a weekday if possible and to come early!
There must be something in the air when you go to the fair because all of a sudden you get a craving for a foot long corn dog or a teriyaki bowl. Yum– Yum! The exhibits don’t change too much from year to year. The vendors inside the building are usually trying to entice you to purchase their products such as pots and pans, jewelry, sleep mattress or a miracle bracelet that promises to cure all of your ailments! The entertainment is very enjoyable to watch such as the hypnotist who puts everyone in a deep sleep and makes them do ridiculously funny things. The fair is here only for a short time so bring your appetite and your appetite and your appetite! Sorry did I say appetite three times? They also have a beer garden to quench your thirst, food to satisfy any appetite and music to get you grooving! What else do you need? Fireworks on Friday and Saturday night!
A perfect place to meet with family, friends or that special someone. But most of all «ENJOY» & be «SAFE»