MAIN Travel USA California California State Fair

The California State Fair, which is held annually in Sacramento, is an amazingly popular event that brings almost million people each year,

This year, watch for the fair to open in July scheduled from Friday, July 11 to Sunday, July 27, 2025.

All about the California State Fair

California State Fair admission prices usually run from $12 for general admission, $10 for seniors, and $8 for children.

Like many other state fairs, the first in California (in 1854) premiered when the state was looking to promote its farming and industry. For the next few years, the fair moved from city to city beginning in San Francisco and eventually settling in Sacramento in 1859 where it remains to this day.

Today, the fair is a truly massive event that brings in an estimated one hundred and fifty million dollars or more to the Sacramento area and the state of California.

To further attract visitors, and to take advantage of the annual peak summer vacation and travel periods, starting in 2010 the fair changed its regular mid-August dates to reschedule in mid-July.

2025 California State Fair concert lineup

In addition to the huge number of exhibitors, what would a state fair be without live music lineup?

This year, California State Fair concerts feature a schedule of star performers on concert nights throughout the fair's three-week run.

The 2025 concert lineup includes Ludacris, Brett Michaels, Air Supply and more.

July 11: Ludacris

July 12: Bret Michaels

July 13: Air Supply

July 14: Blank Space: Taylor Swift Tribute

July 15: Happy Together Tour (headlined by The Turtles)

July 16: Dirty Heads

July 17: Dustin Lynch

July 18: Tesla

July 19: Queen Nation

July 21: Journey Revisited

July 22: Cypress Hill

July 23: Joe Nichols

July 24: Tower of Power

July 25: O.A.R.

July 26: Brothers Osborne

July 27: En Vogue

Free concert seating is available on a first come first served basis, with exclusive reserved seating for those who purchase tickets available online at the California State Fair website. Concerts usually begin at 8PM every night.


What else to see and do at the California State Fair

The food, exhibits, carnival rides, and sports competitions are just part of fun at the annual California State Fair.

Some of the other entertainment that fair-goers are treated to includes food and livestock competitions, thoroughbred horse racing, and talent shows for adults and children. Visitors can also take in a variety of extreme sports competitions and demonstrations, including freestyle motocross.

For indoor browsing, there's a juried fine art show, crafts exhibitions, and -- for kids of all ages -- don't miss a visit to the Toytopia exhibition featuring retro coin op games, a giant interactive doll house, and lots, lots more.

Anyone looking to get out and enjoy a great state fair will find that the California State Fair is one of the biggest and best of them. With so much to do and see, it's end-of-summer excitement you won't want to miss.

DID YOU KNOW? California State Fair fun facts

• A major draw at the early fair was a real, live train crash -- staged annually to entertain audiences with an eyeful of twisted wreckage as two locomotives met head-on! The big bang ended several years later with the start of World War I.

• Revive yourself at the fair with an orange freeze at Merlino’s, a Sacramento tradition since 1946. Legend has it that EMT's were once called to the fairgrounds for a visitor suffering from the heat. He was given a Merlino's freeze and by the time medics arrived he was fine.

• While you're there, have a taste of the California grape. The state fair hosts the oldest wine competition in North America, with more than 2,800 entries each year.

• In addition to bacon-wrapped turkey legs and the 1/3 lb. Elvis hamburger, remember that this is the California State Fair where vegan, gluten-free and fresh salad and fruit dishes are always on prominent display.

• For a great overview of everything to see and do, ride the famous California State Fair monorail that was inspired by another famous California attraction, Disneyland.

More about the California State Fair around the Web:

California State Fair - The official site with information on admission and ticket prices, fair highlights including rides, concerts, entertainment, and attractions with directions, map, photos.

California State Fair on Flickr - Feast on some eye candy from the most recent fair.