Skip to main content

Sacramento Oracle

Best Of The Best Celebrated at the State Fair

Jul 29, 2016 12:00AM ● By Source: CA State Fair

Nearly 675,000 people celebrated the best of California during the annual California State Fair, the largest single event in Northern California. The California Exposition and State Fair has a positive $300 million economic impact on the Sacramento region annually, and receives no funding from the government.

As a premiere State-wide event, the State Fair looks at a number of statistics in evaluating its success.  For example, competitive entries increased this year by 21 percent to 21,441 entries compared to 17,753 in 2015. Representing the work of talented Californians, the new photography competition generated 2,256 entries.  As the number of Craft Beer breweries continue to increase in California, the State Fair competition saw an 11 percent increase in Craft Beers vying for the coveted Blue Ribbon, with 1,204 entries. Sponsored by the Tractor Supply Company, the Junior Livestock Sale of Champions experienced a 20 percent increase in funds raised by youth selling the top 56 award winning animals. The $236,400 raised for youth this year was the second highest amount in the past 10 years.

The 2016 California State Fair was packed full of more than 3,000 exhibits and events that featured technology and agriculture and celebrated the best of the Golden State. Advance admission sales were up by 7.2 percent. The Best of California Brewfest drew 2,015 guests, up 31 percent from the previous year’s 1,535 guests.

“For more than 160 years the California State Fair has remained the one constant setting for showcasing the best of California.  From award winning wines, craft beers, fine arts, photography, horse racing, livestock, concerts and entertainment, to technology, science, farming and food, the 2016 State Fair was a huge success,” said Rick Pickering, CEO of the California Exposition & State Fair.  Pickering added, “in the face of a heat wave and tragic events around the nation, hundreds of thousands of guests came out to celebrate the sense of community, good will and unity that the State Fair provides.”

Paid Attendance decreased by 11 percent to 511,224 from a record year of 577,646 in 2015. Total Attendance decreased by 14 percent to 673,237 from a record year of 787,833 total visitors in 2015. Yet through a period of national tragedy and a local heatwave, business and community pride at the State Fair remained strong during the 17-day run.  According to exit survey data, 92 percent of visitors were satisfied with their State Fair experience, and more than 95 percent felt their State Fair was a good value, up from 74 percent in 2015.

Sacramento area arrest records
Vote Republican 2024
Upcoming Events Near You

No Events in the next 21 days.