SACRAMENTO, Calif — It'll be another round of fun, funnel cakes and carnival rides at the 2023 California State Fair on opening day, July 14.
In traditional fashion, the state fair is kicking off and will be running through the end of the month. For this year's run, the fair is bringing in some big names for their annual concert series, which includes Boyz II Men, Ashanti, LeAnn Rimes, Kool & the Gang and more.
If you're already set on going and just need a beeline to the ticket information page for the fair, you can click HERE.
For everyone else, here's a schedule for what's happening Friday.
Hours of operation: 10 a.m. – 10 p.m.
Carnival hours: Opens at 2 p.m.
Kids Park Hours: 1 – 11 p.m.
Save at the fair
O'Reilly Auto Parts Savings
Monday through Friday guests can buy one regular-priced adult general admission ticket and get a second ticket for free. People can visit a nearby O'Reilly Auto Parts store and scan the QR code on the California State Fair table tent for the deal.
For more information, click HERE.
Help with the heat
- Personal misters are allowed.
- Sealed plastic water bottles are allowed. That means no glass or metal water bottles.
- There are four cooling centers.
- Medical professionals will be stationed around the fair.
- Coolers need to be attached to a wagon.
Rules to know
- Bags need to be clear and not larger than a cubic foot. Here's the bag policy. Lockers are at the main, blue, and green gates.
- Wagons are allowed.
- People under the age of 18 need to be accompanied by someone over the age of 21. Here are all the rules for unaccompanied minors.
- Here's the fair's code of conduct.
Fair food
Food vendors are open daily, click here for the full list.
- The California State Fair and Food Festival has a pass that gives out four tickets for $34 that can be redeemed at vendors who are part of the food festival. Look for the purple flags to find participating vendors.
- 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. - CA Fresh Cooking Demonstration: Vegetable Literacy: Tomatoes!
Fun for the Family
- 7 p.m. - Big O Tires Monster Truck Mayhem. For more information, click HERE.
- 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. - Bear Cup Esports! This gaming hub will have workshops, Esports Jr. and free play gaming. It's open every day of the fair.
- 10:00 a.m. - Cavalcade of Horses at the Kids Play Center
- 11 a.m. - California Produce Trivia
- 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. // 8 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. - Tanzanite African Acrobats
- 7 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. // 9 p.m. - 9:45 p.m. - Master Hypnotist Tina Marie
- 6 p.m. - 7 p.m. -Cavalcade of Horses - Sacramento Sheriffs Posse Drill Team
- 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. - Cavalcade of Horses - Mane Event: A Night at the Movies
Concerts
- 8 p.m. - Fitz and the Tantrums on the Golden 1 Stage, general admission: $25.
- 3 p.m. - 4 p.m. - D.J.J. on the Sky River Promenade Stage
- 3:30 p.m. - 3:40 p.m. -Lulahh on the PG&E Center Stage
- 4:00 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. - Michael Brondstetter on the Coors Light Blues & Brews Stage
- 5 p.m. - 7 p.m. - ZZ TUSH on the Sky River Casino Promenade Stage
- 8:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. - Todd Morgan and the Emblems on the Sky River Promenade Stage
- 7:30 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. - Optimiztiq on the sky River Casino Promenade Stage
- 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. - The Zola Moon on the Coors Lights Blues & Brews Stage
- 4 p.m. - 7 p.m. - Dave Badilla - One Man Band on the Lagunitas Craft Beer Stage
- 6 p.m. - 9 p.m. - Smokehouse Reunion at the Jack Daniel's Honky Tonk Saloon
Live Traffic
For real-time traffic updates, view the Waze map below.
