How far does $50 go at the California State Fair? Your guide to fun and food on a budget

After paying for food, rides, parking and the tickets, spending a day at any fair or theme park can be expensive. Hosted at Cal Expo July 12-28 this year, the California State Fair is no exception.

But going to the Fair doesn’t have to cost too much — if you plan ahead. Here are some ways you can cut down on costs and spend a day at Cal Expo without missing out on anything fun, just under $50.

Buy admission tickets in advance

Daily admission tickets were $2 cheaper if you bought them online in advance rather than at the gate, with adult tickets going down to $14 from $16, senior tickets at $10 instead of $12, and youth tickets costing $8 vs. $10. Children 4 and under get in free.

But with a new state law for upfront pricing and a $2 ticket fee online, you’ll be paying $16 for an adult ticket no matter what.

If you are bringing your family to the fair, you can save on admission and parking by buying the $50 family fun pack, which includes four single-day general admission tickets, four ride tickets for the carnival or monorail, and a parking pass. It’s a hefty savings that everyone could split.

Get to the State Fair in the morning to make the most out of a daily ticket and enjoy the outdoor attractions before the day gets too hot.

Carpool to the fair

This is especially easy if you’re going to the fair as a family or group of friends. I got to Cal Expo by riding in a car with three fellow Sacramento Bee interns. Split four ways, the $15 general parking fee would turn into $3.75 per person.

To park and enter the Fair, my total would be $19.75.

Check out the exhibits

Exhibits are all included in the admission ticket. There are 15 different exhibits this year, and one of my favorites is the Candy Maze Selfie Experience, where you can take sweet pictures for Instagram at 14 candy-themed photo stations.

There is also the Animation Academy, where visitors can design a stop-motion animated short and learn about animation, storyboarding, stop-motion and CGI technology. My last recommendation would be the Tree Circus, which alternates between climbing shows by professional arborists and time for visitors to try climbing the ropes themselves.

After exploring the various exhibits, my total is holding steady at $19.75.

Go on a Tuesday for discounted carnival rides.

There’s no getting around the fees for carnival rides, which cost between $3 and $7 depending on the ride. However, all rides cost only $2 on Tuesdays, which can save a lot of money if rides are the main attraction for you and your group.

If I went to the fair on a Tuesday, my total would so far be $25.75 after going on three rides.

Discounted food on Wednesday, Thursday

Don’t get too excited — not all food is discounted. However, during Taste of the Fair, which is on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., every food vendor will offer one item on the menu for $4.

Still assuming that I’m at the fair on a Tuesday for the discounted rides, a grilled cheese sandwich from Cheesy Chef ($9), a fried potato on a stick ($10), and two scoops of coconut pineapple ice scream from Ohana ($4) would make for a food total of $23, bringing my total spending to $48.75.

Attend an evening concert.

The Toyota Concert Series is free to attend with fair admission. Line up at the back of the stage venue at 5 p.m. for first-come, first-served seating in the free area, which is limited to 700 guests.

Performers in the concert lineup include the Beach Boys, Chris Young, Patti LaBelle, Flo Rida, and Lukas Nelson.

After attending a concert, my total would still be $48.75.

Beyond all of this, there are still so many activity options included in the admission ticket at no extra cost — animal events like a petting zoo and horse shows, competitions like cooking and pie eating, and special events like firework shows on Friday and Saturday nights.

With some planning and attention to detail, it shouldn’t be hard to enjoy activities at the fair that interest you or your group without breaking the bank.

This story was originally published July 12, 2024 at 8:45 AM.