SACRAMENTO – The 2024 California State Fair wrapped up its 170th year over the weekend exceeding expectations of fairgoers and organizers alike. 

With an estimated attendance increase of more than 10%, the State Fair closed out the 17-days of fun on a strong note, officials shared in a post event media release. During the opening weekend, it was announced by Time Out, a global media and hospitality company, that the California State Fair was recognized as the best state fair in the United State. Visitors from Massachusetts, Montana, Pennsylvania, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Ohio, Florida, Illinois, and Arizona enjoyed the CA State Fair this year.

This success was achieved despite 11 days of triple-digit heat, showcasing the resilience and dedication of both attendees and organizers. To beat the heat, there were 13 air-conditioned buildings, along with the Michelob Ultra Grandstand, the Save Mart Wine Garden, and the Bonney Cooling Stations.

The 2024 California State Fair also made history as the first state fair to host a cannabis consumption area. Managed by Embarc, this groundbreaking innovation highlighted the fair’s progressive spirit and commitment to embracing emerging industries. The Third Annual Cannabis Exhibit and Competition showcased the finest cannabis products from across the state, judged on various criteria including quality, innovation, and sustainability. By incorporating this new and dynamic segment, the California State Fair demonstrated its dedication to inclusivity and its forward-thinking approach to evolving cultural and economic trends.

Food and beverage sales grossed more than $10. million, a level that has not been previously realized.  The carnival experienced a robust closing weekend with a single-day record of $634,000.  The economic engine that is the state fair continues to have an impact on the local economy, especially in travel and hotel stays in the greater Sacramento region.

“This year’s California State Fair has truly been historic,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of California State Fair & Cal Expo. “We are thrilled to have achieved such remarkable numbers especially in with food and beverage sales, surpassing recent records and setting new benchmarks for future fairs. The overwhelming response from the public is a testament to the perseverance and dedication of everyone involved in making this event a success. I look forward to the continued growth and modernization of the California State Fair and its 170-year tradition.”

The Youth Mariachi Competition returned for the first time since 2019, followed by the Viva El Mariachi featuring Pablo Montero, Mariachi Oro, Mariachi Los Camperos fueled by Chevron. The winning team from San Diego, performed on stage with the renowned Mariachi Los Camperos, creating an unforgettable experience for both the participants and the audience.

FAIR ANIMALS
The new Sea Lion Splash Show was a big draw for fairgoers this year. The audience was squealing with laughter as the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs darted to the finish line. Wild Things Adventures educated nearly 100,000 visitors about the rehabilitation and conservation of unique animals like reindeer, capybaras, and bald eagles. Entries in the livestock competitions were up in some species including pygmy goats, open sheep, open llama, and open dairy cattle. Exhibitors came from across the state to compete for the title of “Best Of” within their species while representing their county. 

FAIR FOOD COMPETITION
The reigning Best of Show champion, Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls was knocked out of its position by California Ice Company’s Apple Pie Sundae. Balance Me Out won first and third place in the drinks category with its Kings Lemonade and Mazapan Latte. Of the more unique food items, Pepe’s won third place in the Cold Sweets category for its Sandia Pop: a watermelon wedge wrapped in fruit-rollup, dipped in chamoy, sprinkled with Tajin, and drizzled with lime juice. New this year was also the California State Fair BBQ Competition. Dozens of fairgoers were able to taste the mouthwatering, fall-off-the-bone ribs. Oden’s Kitchen took first place as they faced off with Smokin Rose (2nd place) and Prescribed Burn (3rd place).

SOCIAL MEDIA/TRADITIONAL MEDIA
The State Fair has been highly recognized as a leader in social media. 

“We doubled down on our efforts and outreach. More than 55-million impressions of families sharing memories on social media platforms were highlighted on the State Fair social screens located throughout the fairgrounds. A mention from Jimmy Kimmel about the new cannabis lounge at the CA State Fair went viral. It gained national and international attention, leading to widespread media coverage. In total, the combined impressions from both social and traditional media surpassed one billion,” officials shared. 

FREE CONCERTS 
All concerts of the Toyota Concert Series on the Golden 1 Stage are included in the price of admission the Fair. However, reserved seats were available for purchase. Out of the 17 concerts, 7 completely sold out. From Vanilla Ice to Zapp and Flo Rida, the free concerts provided an entertainment experience for all in attendance. The top 3 attended concerts were Bush, The Beach Boys and Cole Swindell. On the final night, Lupillo Rivera performed to a standing crowd.

OTHER NOTABLE STATS 

  • More than 3,500 free admissions were provided to honor our Military, Veterans, and First Responders for Appreciation Day
  • 900+ beers entered into the Commercial Beer Competition
  • 1,776 wines entered into the Commercial Wine Competition
  • At the Butler Amusement Midway, Fairgoers rode on the rides over 1 million times in total. The King XXL ride was ridden over 60,000 times. The White-Water ride was ridden over 65,000 times
  • Butler Amusement sold over 100,000 fast passes
  • One of the more popular exhibits was the Wild Things Adventure. Nearly 100,000 people moved through the exhibit
  • 28,000 total corn dogs consumed
  • Nearly 3,500 livestock animals entered into the various competitions
  • 13,000 Turkey legs sold
  • 14,400 Funnel cakes sold
  • Over 28,000 corndogs sold
  • 10,000 deep fried Oreos served
  • Over 40,000 lemons used for lemonade

For more information about the California State fair, please visit the fair’s website at www.CalExpoStateFair.com.