The 2025 California State Fair wrapped up Sunday night with a celebration not just of summer fun, but of impressive growth. Fair officials confirmed that more than 700,000 people attended the 17-day event at Cal Expo this year—an 8 percent increase over 2024 and the second straight year of rising attendance.
Organizers credit this year’s success to a combination of factors, most notably the unseasonably cool weather that swept through Sacramento in July. After record-setting heat during the 2024 fair, which still managed a 10 percent boost in attendance, this year’s milder climate made for ideal fairgoing conditions. Saturday alone drew more than 90,000 visitors—making it the single busiest day of the 2025 fair.
“This has been an extraordinary year for us,” said Tom Martinez, CEO of California Exposition & State Fair, in a statement. “As we look ahead to 2026, we do so with momentum and gratitude.”
The fair’s momentum is unmistakable. Attendance has climbed steadily since 2023, when the event drew just 590,000 visitors. This year’s final count firmly positions the fair on a path of post-pandemic recovery, re-establishing it as one of California’s top summer attractions.
Fairgoers flocked to Cal Expo not just for the rides and concerts, but also for the fair food staples that define the event. Organizers noted that cinnamon rolls were sold at a rate of one every 20 seconds—a sweet indicator of both foot traffic and appetite.
While this year’s turnout was the best in recent memory, it still falls short of the all-time record set in 2001, when over one million people attended the California State Fair. Still, the current upward trend has officials optimistic about the years ahead.
Tickets for the 2026 fair are not yet on sale, but interested guests can sign up for the official fair newsletter for updates. For more information and highlights from this year’s event, visit www.calexpostatefair.com.
Copyright © 2025, Folsom Times, a digital product of All Town Media LLC. All rights reserved. No portion of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
<p>The post State Fair Attendance was Up with over 700,000 Visitors first appeared on Folsom Times.</p>
