The California State Fair returns to Cal Expo in Sacramento from Friday, September 17 through Sunday, October 3, 2027. The 17-day run is produced by California Exposition & State Fair at the fairgrounds on Exposition Boulevard, and it packs agriculture, competitions, exhibits, shopping, food, carnival rides and live entertainment into one fairground.
Dates and hours
Gates open at 4 PM Monday through Thursday and at 10 AM Friday through Sunday. Gates and buildings close at 10 PM on regular days. Opening day, Friday, September 17, starts at 10 AM.
Closing day runs on its own schedule. On Sunday, October 3, the fair closes at 8 PM. Handstamps stop at 6 PM, and re-entry, the parking gates and the box office all close at 7 PM. Check the official site for last-minute changes.
What's on the program
The fair has confirmed that carnival rides, live concerts in the Toyota Concert Series and performing acts will return for 2027. Applications for competitive exhibits, food vendors and performers open soon, so the full 2027 lineup of concerts, vendors and exhibits has not been published yet.
The competitions are a big part of the draw. The fair runs livestock and agricultural shows alongside wine and cheese competitions and a long list of craft and student categories. Recent editions have also included a Student Showcase and the California State Fair Film Festival.
Cannabis at the fair
Since 2022, the fair has run the California Cannabis competition, open to all licensed California cannabis cultivators and manufacturers. Winners are recognized with California Cannabis Awards, and results for 2022 through 2025 are archived on the fair's site. The fair has also hosted a 50,000-square-foot CA Cannabis Experience. The 2027 California Cannabis guide is marked coming soon.
Tickets
2027 tickets are not on sale yet. The fair's admissions page says tickets are on sale soon and that 2027 pricing is coming.
Getting there and entry
Cal Expo sits at 1600 Exposition Boulevard in Sacramento, north of the American River. Fairgoers enter through the Main Gate, Green Gate or Blue Gate. Parking is paid, and the fair's maps and directions page shows lots and accessible parking.
All bags must follow the clear-bag policy: clear plastic, vinyl or PVC, no larger than 12 x 12 x 2 inches. Outside food is allowed, as are sealed plastic water bottles, while glass containers and outside alcohol are not. Wheelchairs, scooters, strollers and wagons can be rented near the Main Gate. Smoking is limited to designated areas.
History
The first California State Fair opened on October 4, 1854, in San Francisco. It moved between cities for a few years before settling in Sacramento in 1859, then relocated to its current Cal Expo home in 1968. The 2027 edition continues that run at Cal Expo.
More around Sacramento and California
Cal Expo is also home to Hall of Flowers Sacramento, the cannabis trade show that takes over the Cal Expo Pavilion in November 2026. Earlier in 2027, BottleRock Napa Valley and California Roots share Memorial Day weekend in Napa and Monterey.