Taking your kids to the California State Fair? What to know about rules, fun and more

Angela Rodriguez
·3 min read

The California State Fair has returned for its annual visit to Sacramento. Along with it, returns fried foods, carnival games and amusement rides.

This year’s fair will bring more fun for kids, as they are a main focus for the new CEO Tom Martinez.

“The number one investment that you will probably see is ... in children. Children are the next generation of fairgoers,” Martinez said.

Fairgoers and their kids must be prepared to follow certain rules.

If you’re a parent planning to visit the fair with your child, here’s what you can expect for fun and safety:

What rules might affect parents?

As part of the unaccompanied minors policy, children under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older in order to enter, according to the fair’s website.

This policy states, “Any person entering may be asked to show a valid ID to prove their age. Each adult can only chaperone five minors at a time. Groups larger than that require additional chaperones for every five minors.”

Once inside, Cal Expo Chief of Police Craig Walton said it is okay for parents and children to separate from each other once inside.

“The parents just have to be on the grounds,” Walton said. “The idea here is that if the parents are here, then we can contact them if something happens. We want to be able to get a hold of them.”

Another rule enforced at the fair will be a clear bag policy. This rule is aimed to make entry into the fairgrounds faster, according to the fair’s website.

However, parents with younger children will not be turned away for this reason.

“Parental needs bags or diaper bags are acceptable, but they are going to be hand searched,” Walton said.

What should you do if you lose your child?

Walton said parents who have lost their younger children can go up to any safety officer on the fairgrounds and ask them for help.

“You can also go to guest services or the police department and ask for help,” Walton said. “Then, they broadcast it to all the security guards and police officers.”

However, Walton said that they hardly ever have situations where parents come up to officers asking for help. Lost children are more commonly the ones to seek help first.

What can you do with kids at the California State Fair?

Besides enjoying a yummy treat at the fair, children can enjoy many amusement rides. Carnival tickets are $1 each. The unlimited rides wristband ranges from $37 to $42, before sales tax, according to the fair’s website.

Some amusement rides include:

  • Alien Invasion: 4 tickets

  • The Crown Merry Go Round: 4 tickets

  • Tilt-A-Whirl: 4 tickets

The height requirements, size restrictions and ride descriptions for each ride are listed on the fair’s website.

For those with children who do not meet the height requirements for amusement rides, there will be other things for you to do at the fair.

Some other activities include:

  • Petting zoo

  • Gaming in the Bear Cup Esports Tournament exhibit

  • Carnival Games

What do you want to know about life in Sacramento? Email servicejournalists@sacbee.com with your top-of-mind questions.