State Fair announces new theme

It looks like Stickie will be donning his pith helmet this summer as the California State Fair announced on Wednesday that its theme will be “Your Passport to Adventure” this year.

Fairgoers will be offered a summer concert series and new attractions, including the first U.S. appearance of the “Days of the Dinosaur” exhibit with dinosaur robots, skeleton replicas and a kids’ archaeological dig. The fair also will have a new jungle adventure with reptiles, birds and amphibians; and an animation and pop culture exhibit.

The Fair finally decided to the move the dates to avoid back to school issues.

For the first time in more than 100 years, the California State Fair has moved off its traditional Labor Day schedule to a July event. An adventure will be waiting inside Cal Expo from Wednesday, July 14 to Sunday, August 1, a 19-day summer schedule that will no longer conflict with the busy back-to-school season.

Those looking to showcase their performing skills can submit an Entertainment Application by March 31st. You hear that, sac-eats?

Adventure Cyclist Shares Globe Travel Tales Tonight

Weir's new book: Travels with Willie
Weir's new book: Travels with Willie

Ever picture yourself traveling across the globe?—by bicycle? Sacramento native Willie Weir has done it, and done it cheaply. Across the United States, Canada, and even through far-flung places like South Africa and Laos, Willie has put his pedal to the road. He shares his travel tales tonight at REI in Sacramento at 7:00pm.

Weir is a cycling columnist for Adventure Cyclist magazine and a public radio cycling commentator. He’s experienced it all, and done so on a tight budget. He’ll go so far as to call himself “cheap.” In fact, one five-month journey cost him only $400. Find out how he does it tonight for a cheap $5, which benefits the Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates.

If you can’t make the event, his adventures can also be found in his new book Travels with Willie: Adventure Cyclist.