The California State Fair 2015

By John Benton
Staff Writer

One of the biggest parties to hit Sacramento each year is the California State Fair, and it is here, now. Ever since 1859, Sacramento has played host to the fair, an agricultural expo bringing farmers, ranchers, and city folk together to experience some of the most exciting new things each year. From giant and exotic vegetables and fruits to award winning livestock, visitors can always count on experiences that can't be found elsewhere. Close to three quarters of a million people come to the fair each year expecting to see, hear and taste all the "amazingness" that California has to offer, and are not disappointed. Photo by John Benton: The California State Fair at sunset

My favorite part of the California State Fair each year is the decadent food. The fair always has the widest variety of foods to sample--many healthy choices and many not-so-healthy choices. Corn dogs have been a staple for fair-goers for decades, but one of the most popular styles of food at the fair (this can be said for just about any fair) follows closely in the footsteps of the corn dog. Deep fried EVERYTHING can be found at the California State Fair. They have deep fried pork chops, deep fried cheese curds, deep fried steak fingers, deep fried catfish; they even have deep fried Twinkies, deep fried Oreos, deep fried Snickers, even deep fried chicken patties with a Cap'n Crunch breading on a bun. Photo by John Benton: The food of the California State Fair

Although most people KNOW that the deep fried treats at the fair are not healthy choices, they are easily the most popular of the fair foods. We tried the Cap'n Crunch chicken sandwich and as odd as it sounds, it was delicious. It had just the right mix of salty and sweet to make me want more. If you are adventurous with your deep fried foods, you should definitely try one. Apart from the food, a favorite of most fair-goers is the rides.

With two distinct sections of rides (the smaller ones for the younger riders and the full sized rides for the more adventurous), the California State Fair boasts more excitement than any other attraction to Sacramento. You can either purchase tickets (rides cost anywhere from 3-6 tickets per ride) or an all-you-can-ride wristband that lasts all day. Both tickets and wristbands are good in either ride area so that the younger riders as well as the more mature can pick and choose which rides they want to ride. Lines tend to get long on the busier days, so plan ride purchases accordingly. We figured that if each rider goes on 7 rides, the cost of the wristband pays for itself. It's a fun way to get the most out of the fair.

In addition to the rides and food, the California State Fair is known for having amazing shows. From top billing rock bands to children's favorite performers, each year the fair show schedule gets more amazing. At the PG&E Center Stage Master Hypnotist Tina Marie commanded a fantastic crowd. Using relaxing words and music, she took a group of around twenty people from being wide awake to a state of comedic suggestion. It was a lot of fun to watch complete strangers performing embarrassing tricks like laying their heads on each others' laps and singing Bruno Mars. Hypnotism is powerful and watching others be hypnotized turns out to be a fun way to spend an evening. Photo by John Benton: The Acrobats of Hebei, China- chair Stacking

Another show at the PG&E Center Stage was the Acrobats from Hebei China. This amazing group of young women and men, aged 19-25, have trained since childhood in different acrobatic techniques and have entertained people around the world. The opening act, the Chinese Lion dance, featured four acrobats paired up in colorful lion costumes, performing a comical dance that showed a glimpse of what the performance had in store for us. Chair stacking, hoop diving, and more, the Acrobats from Hebei, China put on a fantastic show that was fun for the whole family. Photo by John Benton: The Acrobats of Hebei, China- Chinese Lion Dance

The California State Fair has once again outdone itself. It is always the highlight of the Summer for many, but with the shows and concert lineup this year, you do not want to miss it. To learn more about the history of the California state fair, visit www.bigfun.org  Visit http://acrobatsofhebeichina.com to learn more about the amazing troop of acrobats. Check www.castatefair.org  for details of everything the fair has to offer this year. The fair is running daily through Sunday, July 26th.

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