Weird and wonderful at CA State Fair: 3 unexpected must-see exhibits at Cal Expo
Fair rides, deep-fried food and cute animals are favorites at every fair, for good reason, but this year’s California State Fair has some unique offerings you may not expect.
A new collection of historical artifacts and a revamped version of a fan-favorite nature educational program will be open all 17 days of this year’s State Fair, giving attendees a chance to experience a different side of the festival.
Kids and adults alike can feel like birds climbing into Northern California’s iconic redwood canopy, and attendees can get up close and personal to ancient relics. Plus, fair lovers are encouraged more than ever to attend as often as they can, with an exclusive stamp rally.
Among the State Fair’s dozens of exhibits, performances and other activities, these experiences are must-dos for any attendee this year.
Suspended circus act
Just outside Expo Building B, a grove of redwood trees was transformed into an enchanted forest, complete with fairies posed among the trees.
Looking upward, guests can watch professional tree climbers ascend into the canopy held by only a rope in the treetop, and some can participate as well.
Fair attendees ages 6 and up and weighing under 250 pounds can have the opportunity to fly among the trees as well, for no extra cost. Members of the TreeCircus crew will help participants strap into the rope system and teach them how to climb using only the power of their own body.
Ropes are set up a few dozen feet in the trees, and participants can climb as high along them as they want. The Redwood Climbing Experience runs throughout the day during the entire state fair run, and TreeCircus is slated to perform during the evening hours, starting at around 4 p.m.
The circus, featuring a cast of certified arborists including professional tree forewoman Sarah Santee and tree climbing champion Chad Brey, is an educational entertainment program aimed at teaching children the importance of trees to nature and to human processes.
“We are all about saying trees are actual medicine, they’re what keeps us alive,” said TreeCircus founder Timmy Womick. “People will understand when they come here ... we already feel better naturally just by being under the canopy of these trees.”
At previous California State Fairs, TreeCircus has set up its ropes and its educational show inside Expo Building B, and this year it finally has the opportunity to operate in its natural habitat.
The Enchanted Forest and TreeCircus are set up along the northern edge of Cal Expo, marked on the State Fair map as location No. 25.
Journey into the past
Deep in the heart of Cal Expo, beyond the doors of Expo Building 4, fair goers can see a collection of replica artifacts originally found in ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamen’s tomb.
Glistening gold models of the tomb and its myriad contents, including a sculpture of the mummified pharaoh himself, are on display at the State Fair.
Though unrelated to California’s history or economy, the exhibit was organized by West Sacramento-based Stage 9 Exhibits, which develops unique museum-like exhibitions for the State Fair annually, according to State Fair media director Darla Givens.
In previous years, Stage 9 has put on interactive and educational exhibits at the State Fair including ”POPnology” — exploring the intersection between tech advancements and pop culture — and the huge “Expedition: Dinosaur” showcase.
Expo Building 4 is located within the central Exposition Building complex, marked as No. 15 on the State Fair map.
Gotta collect them all
The U.S. Postal Service is a mainstay of the California State Fair every year, offering mailing services, letter writing education for youth and an exclusive annual stamp rally.
A set of 17 California State Fair-themed stamps is designed every year to immortalize iconic aspects of the long-running festival. This year’s stamps include commemorations of the annual olive oil competition, the towering Cal Expo water tower, this year’s “Wish You Were Here” fair theme and plenty more.
Attendees can earn their stamps by visiting the U.S. Postal Service station popped up inside Expo Building B during as many days of the fair as possible. Each stamp is only issued on the day it was designed for, according to Givens.
However, the Postal Service also offers the stamp by mail-order request. A coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service previously told The Sacramento Bee that hundreds of people around the world reach out requesting the full set of limited edition stamps every year.
Stamp aficionados can send a request to the Stamp Fulfillment Services office in Kansas City, Missouri, via mail within 30 days of the stamp’s issuing date to receive the unique postmark. Full instructions and mailing addresses are available on the USPS website.
Expo Building B is located on the northern end of Cal Expo, near the Enchanted Forest. On the State Fair map, it is marked as No. 41.
This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 11:23 AM.
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