State Fair Starts Today – The Sacramento Observer

By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

The state fair takes place on July 12 and runs through Sunday, July 28. It promises to be an unforgettable experience filled with competitions, live concerts, lively walking acts, food from around the state, carnival rides and much more.

Entertainment and performers include the Toyota Concert Series, various stage performances, trivia, horse racing, contests and challenges, motocross and other special events.

There are various exhibitions on visual arts and photography, a student exhibition, cannabis, the country’s first high-speed rail line, an animation academy, a booth by a Californian writer, climbing, petting zoos and much more.

Every Tuesday during the fair, visitors pay just $2 per ride and can choose from over 50 attractions, ranging from roller coasters to mazes and even some water rides.

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This year, the fair is presenting “Read to Ride.” For every two books read, participants in the program receive two free rides and a monorail ticket – valued at $15.

Read to Ride is open to students in transitional kindergarten through eighth grade. Students must read two books, write a summary, and then bring the completed form to the fair’s Guest Services Office, located inside the main entrance, to receive two free rides and one monorail ticket. Read to Ride redemption is valid any day of the fair. Only one report card form per child per day will be accepted.

There are several ticket types available, including single day passes, season passes, ride tickets, concert tickets, and parking passes, which can be purchased at etix.com/ticket/v/14615/california-state-fair. Admission prices may vary. Below are the State Fair hours (subject to change).

Main entrance and blue gate: 11am-10pm Monday to Thursday; 10am-10pm Friday to Sunday.
Green Gate: Opens at 2pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, and at 11am on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Carnival and Skyride: 2pm-11pm on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 11am-11pm on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Children’s Park: 1:00-11:00 PM on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday; 11:00 AM-11:00 PM on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday.
Exhibition Building: 11am-10pm Monday-Thursday; 10am-10pm Friday-Sunday
Monorail: Open at 11am Monday through Thursday and 10am Friday through Sunday.
Box office: 09:30-22:00 from 12 to 14 July (opening weekend); 10:30-22:00 from 15 to 18 July; 09:30-22:00 from 19 to 21 July; 10:30-22:00 from 22 to 25 July; 09:30-22:00 from 26 to 28 July.
Closed Sunday, July 28: No stamps after 6:30 PM; No re-entry after 7:00 PM; Parking gates close at 7:00 PM; No car access through main entrance after 7:00 PM; No admission after 8:00 PM; Ticket office closes at 8:00 PM; Uber and Lyft pick up at parking lot B.

By Nicholas Ibarra | OBSERVER Staff Writer

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