I share in the Sac Rag’s love of Big Fun, but heat, crowds and cost usually conspire to make me skip out on the event, if we’re being honest. For me, the real fun is the smaller but still very fun Sacramento County Fair, which comes around every Memorial Day. Squeezing all the fun of shows, exhibits, food, and midway action into just the area taken up by fried foods during the State Fair, you really get your money’s worth…especially since kids under 12 are free!
One of the main showcases at the County Fair is always the work of the schoolkids and young livestock farmers from FFA (Future Farmers) and 4-H. The livestock halls full of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs is endless awwws for all ages.
Music-wise, this year’s event has Country music from McKenna Faith and Road 88, “Shasta County Idol” Stacy Stone, indie rockers Walking Spanish and The Generals, as well as singer songwriter Clay Hawkins, Norcal bluegrass weirdos Hot Tar Roofers and of course local sensations Dog Party.
For eats, expect many of your State Fair favorites, minus some of the “stunt fried foods.” There are also “food trucks” which is sure to please everyone who likes their food served out of trucks. For everyone else, there is a corn dog eating contest on Saturday. Mark your calendars for Friday night, when every food vendor will be selling an item for $1.00.
For headline entertainment in the evenings, there is a Demolition Derby Friday and bull riding Saturday. Throughout the weekend Circus Imagination will have an “impromptu circus” act, which sounds like a lot of fun.
Sacramento County Fair
May 24-28
Cal Expo Fairgrounds
Adults $5 – Kids under 12 free
The Sac Rag 
I do like the county fair, but with two kids under five I figured out that the best value for the State Fair is to get myself a season pass. The kids get in free, and if I go three times (which would make me happy) I’ve more than made up the cost. Heck, I could go for an hour or two each day it’s open and really make back my money—though at least one of those days will be kidless so as to look at the things *I* want to look at.
(does happy dance for fairs of all types)
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Do you mean *your* kids get in free based on ages? Or do kids any age get in free with a parent with season pass? That sounds too good to be true…
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Toa few aok the family to the fair this evening. One nice surprise was the presence of a few local food trucks on the midway, including Drewski’s and Coast to Coast.
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Errr… took the family
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