Long-running Sacramento tradition returns with concerts, carnival thrills, livestock shows, monster trucks and agricultural experiences through Memorial Day
CAL EXPO – The sounds of screaming carnival riders, revving monster trucks, live music and sizzling fair food are once again filling the grounds at Cal Expo as the Sacramento County Fair returns for another busy Memorial Day weekend celebration packed with entertainment, agriculture and family traditions.
Running through Memorial Day at Cal Expo, the annual fair is once again transforming the fairgrounds into a colorful mix of flashing midway lights, livestock barns, arena dirt, music stages and family attractions that continue to draw generations of Sacramento-area residents together each spring. Fair management expects large crowds throughout the holiday weekend as families from across the region make their annual pilgrimage to one of the area’s longest-standing traditions.
For many local families, the Sacramento County Fair is more than just carnival rides and cotton candy. It’s a rite of passage that stretches back decades, one that blends old-fashioned fair nostalgia with modern entertainment while continuing to spotlight the region’s deep agricultural roots.
This year’s event offers a little bit of everything, from adrenaline-pumping rides and monster truck action to livestock competitions, rodeo thrills, hypnotists, live music and kid-friendly attractions. Whether visitors are there for funnel cakes and Ferris wheel rides or to cheer on young livestock exhibitors, the fairgrounds are once again alive with activity throughout the long holiday weekend.
The midway remains one of the biggest attractions as dozens of carnival rides spin, flip and soar over the fairgrounds. Families can enjoy classic rides including teacups, kiddie trains and the towering Ferris wheel, while thrill seekers line up for more intense experiences like the Zipper, known for its spinning cages and unpredictable motion that has terrified and thrilled riders for generations.
Throughout the fairgrounds, the sounds of live entertainment echo from nearly every corner. Main stage performances throughout the weekend feature a mix of rock, country and tribute acts, including Remedy 7, Dane Madden, Ninth Circle, Corazon De Mana and Gunpowder & Lace. Meanwhile, recurring daily performers such as hypnotist Tina Marie, The Drumheads and The Wilder Show continue entertaining crowds with comedy, percussion and acrobatic performances.
Fairgoers will also find a packed lineup of roaming and family-friendly entertainment spread across the grounds. Fair management shared that daily attractions include reptiles, birds of prey, pig races, BMX stunt shows, petting zoos, sand sculptures, mini railroad rides and even appearances by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
The fair’s arena events are expected to be among the busiest draws of the weekend. Monster truck action once again shakes the grandstands during the Monster X Tour, while dirt drag racing, 4×4 truck pulls and the Stars & Stripes Memorial Rodeo bring horsepower and high-energy competition to the fairgrounds.
But beyond the rides and entertainment, the Sacramento County Fair continues to emphasize its agricultural mission — something organizers say remains one of the fair’s most important purposes.
Livestock barns filled with cattle, goats, sheep, rabbits, poultry and swine remain central to the experience as young exhibitors proudly showcase months of hard work and preparation. Dozens of livestock competitions and judging events are taking place throughout the weekend leading up to the Junior Livestock Auction, one of the fair’s signature traditions.
Fair management shared that for many urban and suburban residents, the county fair may be the only direct agricultural experience they ever encounter.
“For a majority of Sacramento and some exhibitors, the county fair is the only agricultural experience they will ever have,” fair management shared in event materials. “But, as they become responsible citizens, they will make decisions that could affect the way we all live and do business.”
The history of the Sacramento County Fair stretches back nearly 90 years and mirrors much of the region’s own growth and evolution. The fair was first established in 1937 in the city of Galt on property that today is home to the Galt Flea Market and Park. In 1948, the event transitioned from a traditional county fair into a District Agricultural Association and remained in Galt until the mid-1950s.
By 1954, the fair relocated to the old State Fairgrounds on Stockton Boulevard in Sacramento, where it partnered closely with the California State Fair to produce a spring fair event. Then, in 1969, the Sacramento County Fair made another major move alongside the State Fair to the newly constructed Cal Expo grounds, where it has remained for more than five decades.
For many years, the Sacramento County Fair was largely centered around livestock exhibitions, youth agricultural programs and indoor competitions featuring sewing, baked goods and other traditional fair exhibits. But in 1988, the fair underwent a major transformation, adding paid gate admission, carnival rides, commercial vendors, entertainment and expanded programming as it evolved into a broader regional entertainment destination.
The fair even faced periods of uncertainty over the years. In 1990, construction of the Livestock Pavilion temporarily forced the fair to relocate to the Placer County Fairgrounds in Roseville. Then in 2011, statewide fair funding was eliminated under then-Gov. Jerry Brown, creating serious financial challenges for fairs across California.
In response, local leaders formed the Sacramento County Fair Foundation, a nonprofit organization focused on preserving the fair’s agricultural mission and educational programs for future generations. The foundation continues working to promote agricultural literacy and hands-on learning opportunities for youth throughout Sacramento County.
Today, fair officials say that educational component remains at the core of the event even as it continues growing into one of the region’s largest Memorial Day weekend traditions.
“The Sacramento County Fair is the perfect example of education through entertainment,” fair management shared in historical materials. “This value-driven family event strives to educate the community in a fun and safe way.”
Of course, no county fair experience would be complete without the food.
Across the grounds, visitors are once again indulging in classic fair favorites ranging from turkey legs and funnel cakes to mini doughnuts, hot dogs, pretzels, Mexican food, baked potatoes, chicken on a stick and ice cream.
For many families, the fair is as much about tradition as it is entertainment. Parents who once rode the midway as children are now bringing their own kids to experience the same lights, sounds and excitement that have defined Sacramento summers for generations.
The Sacramento County Fair continues through Memorial Day at Cal Expo, located at 1600 Exposition Blvd. in Sacramento. Fair hours run daily from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., except Memorial Day when the fair closes at 7 p.m. Parking is $10.
More information, schedules and tickets are available through the official Sacramento County Fair website atSacramento County Fair.
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