The Abridged version:
- The California State Fair is a smorgasbord of food and entertainment options, catering to a deeply diverse audience.
- Thousands of visitors are expected to be on the Sacramento fairgrounds starting Friday. The state fair runs through Aug. 2.
- At its root, the State Fair is an agriculture celebration. But in modern years, the event has spilled far beyond to include the classic carnival, concerts, exhibits on varied subjects, a cannabis lounge and more.
Should they want to, a California State fairgoer in 2026 could, in one visit, light up in the cannabis lounge, slurp a nonalcoholic dirty soda, climb with the Tree Circus, learn about state (and Egyptian) history, then watch a hog, goat or steer be deemed best in the barn.
The list of options goes on from there.
Thousands of visitors are expected to wander through the Sacramento fairgrounds starting Friday.
And for the next 17 days, the ways they can spend their time at the annual event are as varied as they are plentiful.
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State fairs are, at their root, an exhibition of agriculture, one of the Golden State’s top industries. The fair of today, though, is less definable, a smorgasbord aiming to cater to anyone under the California sun.
“There’s several, several things that happen within the fair,” said Alex Alcantar, director of marketing and business development at California Exposition & State Fair.
Wish you were here
The 173rd California State Fair, themed “Wish You Were Here,” is a blend of nostalgia and newness.
Classic elements are still present, though some have been squished to make way for the swell of novelties.
Mainstays like The Farm and staples like the USPS station with specialty stamps still stand. In the Save Mart California’s Kitchen Exhibit, what was once a walk-through, county-by-county showcase is now a table-sized display.
The southeast corner of the grounds houses the barns of sheep, cattle, goats, pigs, rabbits and more livestock.
‘Supposed to be California for all’
Among a plethora of exhibitions — including the return of the popular CaLOWfornia Love low riders feature — the California First Peoples Art Showcase is new to this year’s lineup.
“The touchpoints that indigenous communities have at the California State Fair is very limited,” said Heather Bernikoff, a Cal Expo board member and member of the Yaqui Tribal Community.
“It’s supposed to be California for all,” Bernikoff added. “The state fair should be representing everyone.”
The exhibit includes regalia, baskets, artwork and more pieces from tribes all across the state.
For the first three days of the fair, the First Peoples showcase will share space with a Disneyland Resort kids activity space.
King Tut reproductions
Next door, a collection of reproduced items from King Tutankhamun’s tomb sits on display.
One of the most distinctively non-California-related pieces of the fair, the King Tut Experience was provided by Stage 9 Exhibits, based in West Sacramento.
Asked what the motivation was for having an Egyptian ruler history lesson at the California State Fair, Darla Givens, Cal Expo media director, said, “I have no idea.”
Givens said Stage 9 hosts an exhibit each year, choosing a different subject each time. In 2025, it was “POPnology,” a showcase of robots, virtual reality and other technology.
More drink options
Indulgent food and drink are carnival classics. And there are still copious sweet treat, fried food and hard beverage options on this year’s midway.
But vendors are also expanding the menu to satiate more tastes and preferences.
That includes the new stand pouring the increasingly trendy dirty soda.
Despite what the name might suggest, these drinks are nonalcoholic. Popularized by the Mormon community in which coffee and alcohol are traditionally no-gos, the beverages combine soft drinks with cream and flavored syrup.
They’re a hit with those under 21, said Corey Brandt, district manager for Oak View Group, Cal Expo’s regular food and beverage vendor.
But also, Brandt said, “you’re seeing more and more people drinking NA.”
Along with dirty sodas, Brandt said they have fruit smoothies, mocktails, nonalcoholic beer and more.
Savannah Kuchar is a reporter covering education. She came to Sacramento to be a part of the Abridged by PBS KVIE team and contribute to a crucial local news source.