Five Days of Rides, Rodeos, and Rock Music at Cal Expo's County Fair

Memorial Day weekend just got a whole lot louder—and more fun. The Sacramento County Fair is pulling into Cal Expo from Thursday, May 21, through Monday, May 25, and it’s bringing the full carnival experience: 30 rides (including the seriously intense Zipper), live music every single day, monster trucks, a rodeo, and enough livestock shows and art exhibits to keep you wandering the fairgrounds well past sunset.

If live music is your draw, you’re in luck. Beyond the daily performers—Tina Marie the Hypnotist, The Drumheads, and The Wilder Show—the Main Stage will feature a different headliner each evening. You’ve got Sunset River Band kicking things off Thursday, Remedy 7 on Friday, Dane Madden and Ninth Circle on Saturday, Corazon De Mana on Sunday, and Gunpowder&Lace closing it out Monday. Whether you’re into classic cover bands or want to scope out something new, the lineup gives you real variety across the five days.

The adrenaline seekers will gravitate toward the rides and events. The carnival’s got everything from kiddie tea cups to that wild Ferris Wheel, plus small roller coasters that demand you hit at least 42 to 48 inches tall (and bring an adult). And if you’re brave or just seriously unafraid of spinning, The Zipper is the ride to test yourself on—it’s famous for its extreme vertical flipping cages on a spinning rod. Fair hours run 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday through Sunday; Monday closes early at 7 p.m. for Memorial Day.

Here’s the money part: Pre-sale admission (buy online before 8 p.m. on May 21) gets kids under 12 in free, ages 12–16 for $10, and adults for $12. Regular admission bumps those prices slightly to $14 for adults, but seniors 62+ get free entry on opening day only, and active/retired military get in free on closing day with a valid ID. If you want to ride all day, a single-day carnival wristband runs $33. Special events like the Stars and Stripes Rodeo, 4×4 Truck Pull, and Dirt Drag Racing have their own ticket prices—plus parking is $10 and wheelchair or wagon rentals are $20 if you need either.

Don’t sleep on the livestock shows either. They build across the first three days leading up to the official Junior Livestock Auction on Sunday, May 25, at 10 a.m. And if you want something totally different, check out the 13 daily entertainment activities featuring reptiles, birds of prey, and Alaskan racing pigs.

This is the kind of event that works whether you’re chasing nostalgia, hunting for thrills, or just want to spend a weekend doing classic fair stuff with family. May 21–25. Cal Expo. Don’t miss it.