The California State Fair begins Friday. Here’s a sneak preview of the new food, attractions

Angela Rodriguez, Grace Scullion
·4 min read

The State Fair is back: Corn dogs, concerts, cannabis and amusement rides will be making their way back to Cal Expo beginning Friday for 17 days of thrills under the summer sun.

The Sacramento Bee sent its summer reporting interns to the California State Fair’s media day to see what fairgoers should expect.

This fair marks Tom Martinez’s first as CEO. Although he’s new to the leadership role, Martinez has been working at the fair for nearly a decade. He said that those who attend can expect all their regular favorites and more.

“I’m not taking away any of the staples,” Martinez said. “The rides, the food, bacon and whatever you think are going to remain.”

Cannabis, video games and dragons, oh my!

The fair staples will be accompanied by some newer alternative fair attractions.

A cannabis exhibit returns for the second year. Visitors 21 and older can slurp a CBD-infused slushie, learn about the science behind marijuana and speak with award-winning California cannabis farmers.

One thing missing from the exhibit? Cannabis products, for which sale and consumption will again be prohibited on the fairgrounds (except for the CBD slushie).

At the Bear Cup Esports Tournament exhibit next door, high school and middle school teams will compete in video game competitions for thousands of dollars in prizes.

All fairgoers can stop in to play popular games like:

  • Minecraft

  • Super Smash Bros.

  • Roblox

  • Mario Kart

Arcade enthusiasts can get in on the action with retro video games like “Pac-Man,” “Galaga” and “Centipede.”

And, a new Lost World of Dragons exhibit features virtual reality experiences and immersive displays on the fantasy and lore of dragons.

How will extreme heat affect the fair?

Opening weekend is going to be a scorcher, with weather forecasts calling for multiple triple-digit days. Cal Expo officials made it clear that the show will still go on, with the help of cooling stations and air conditioning.

Visitors looking to cool off can find four white tents throughout the fairgrounds. The tents, set up by Bonney Plumbing, are cooling stations with seating, misters and fans.

“We want to make sure that all fairgoers have a space where they can get some reprieve from the heat,” said Michelle McCauley, a spokeswoman for Bonney.

Aside from the Bonney tents, fairgoers can keep cool in the air-conditioned large buildings that house vendors and exhibits spread across the expo grounds.

Although most fair activities will continue in spite of the blistering heat, the California Horse Racing Board announced that they canceled the opening weekend’s horse races, and will continue to adjust their plans with safety for the horses and spectators in mind.

An official cooling station awaits fairgoers at the California State Fair Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Sacramento. The fair opens Friday, and high temperatures are expected.
An official cooling station awaits fairgoers at the California State Fair Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Sacramento. The fair opens Friday, and high temperatures are expected.

‘The safest one square mile in Sacramento’

The “minor rule” introduced last year remains in place. This means all fairgoers under 18 must be accompanied by an adult over 21. Chief of California Expo and State Fair Police Craig Walton said anyone who looks under 25 should be prepared to produce identification to be admitted.

Other safety measures include:

  • Metal detectors

  • Clear bag policy

  • Security guards and police officers at each entrance

  • 30 to 70 police officers patrolling the fairgrounds

“I do feel that this will be, with enhanced security and policies, the safest one square mile in Sacramento,” Walton said.

What’s the new food?

“If you didn’t have bacon-wrapped-somethin’ during the fair, you didn’t come here,” Martinez said.

Indeed, visitors can find bacon atop hot dogs, burgers, fries, tater tots and more. But bacon is just the beginning of the offerings supplied by the vendors.

Darla Givens, a spokeswoman for Cal Expo, said 11 new vendors are joining the fair this year:

Mely’s Churros: Fresh churros stuffed with a variety of fillings, which contain a secret family ingredient and are vegan.

Lil’ Hotties: Hot mini-donuts topped with Gunther’s Ice Cream, as well as fries loaded with steak, fried chicken and shrimp.

High Level Coffee: CBD-infused slushies and coffee in the fair’s cannabis exhibit.

“It’s always been a dream of ours to be part of the State Fair,” said Lilia Gonzalez of Mely’s Churros.

Sacramento Bee intern Angela Rodriguez orders a churro from Mely’s Churros during media day at the California State Fair Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Sacramento.
Sacramento Bee intern Angela Rodriguez orders a churro from Mely’s Churros during media day at the California State Fair Wednesday, July 12, 2023, in Sacramento.

What does it cost to attend?

Here’s what you can expect to spend:

  • General admission for adults is $14 ahead of time, or $16 at the gate.

  • Kids four and under are free, five to 12 years old are $8 ahead of time and $10 at the gate.

  • Seniors get in for $10 with advance purchase online or $12 at the door.

  • Parking is $15.

  • Unlimited ride wristbands vary in price from $35 to $42 depending on the day of the week.

On July 17 and July 24, visitors who bring five non-perishable food items for donation get free entry 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. courtesy of Sacramento Municipal Utilities District, according to the fair’s website.

The Sacramento Bee’s Shaanth Kodialam, Ellie Lin, Kevin Neri, Hannah Shields, Sonora Slater and Samson Zhang and The Modesto Bee’s Hamera Shabbir contributed to this story.