{"id":403874,"date":"2026-07-18T22:44:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-18T22:44:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/403874\/"},"modified":"2026-07-18T22:44:24","modified_gmt":"2026-07-18T22:44:24","slug":"3-unique-must-see-exhibits-at-the-2026-california-state-fair","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/403874\/","title":{"rendered":"3 unique must-see exhibits at the 2026 California State Fair"},"content":{"rendered":"

Fair rides, deep-fried food and cute animals are favorites at every fair, for good reason, but this year\u2019s California State Fair<\/a> has some unique offerings you may not expect.<\/p>\n

A new collection of historical artifacts and a revamped version of a fan-favorite nature educational program will be open all 17 days of this year\u2019s State Fair, giving attendees a chance to experience a different side of the festival.<\/p>\n

Kids and adults alike can feel like birds climbing into Northern California\u2019s iconic redwood canopy, and attendees can get up close and personal to ancient relics. Plus, fair lovers are encouraged more than ever to attend as often as they can, with an exclusive stamp rally.<\/p>\n

Among the State Fair\u2019s dozens of exhibits, performances and other activities, these experiences are must-dos for any attendee this year.<\/p>\n

\"Exhibit Exhibit Technician Austin Clarks checks the King Tut replica during the California State Fair media day at Cal Expo in Sacramento on Wednesday. ZIYU JULIAN ZHU julian.zhu@sacbee.com Suspended circus act<\/p>\n

Just outside Expo Building B, a grove of redwood trees was transformed into an enchanted forest, complete with fairies posed among the trees.<\/p>\n

Looking upward, guests can watch professional tree climbers ascend into the canopy held by only a rope in the treetop, and some can participate as well.<\/p>\n

Fair attendees ages 6 and up and weighing under 250 pounds can have the opportunity to fly among the trees as well, for no extra cost. Members of the TreeCircus<\/a> crew will help participants strap into the rope system and teach them how to climb using only the power of their own body.<\/p>\n

Ropes are set up a few dozen feet in the trees, and participants can climb as high along them as they want. The Redwood Climbing Experience runs throughout the day during the entire state fair run, and TreeCircus is slated to perform during the evening hours, starting at around 4 p.m.<\/p>\n

The circus, featuring a cast of certified arborists including professional tree forewoman Sarah Santee and tree climbing champion Chad Brey, is an educational entertainment program aimed at teaching children the importance of trees to nature and to human processes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are all about saying trees are actual medicine, they\u2019re what keeps us alive,\u201d said TreeCircus founder Timmy Womick. \u201cPeople will understand when they come here … we already feel better naturally just by being under the canopy of these trees.\u201d<\/p>\n

At previous California State Fairs, TreeCircus has set up its ropes and its educational show inside Expo Building B, and this year it finally has the opportunity to operate in its natural habitat.<\/p>\n

The Enchanted Forest and TreeCircus are set up along the northern edge of Cal Expo, marked on the State Fair map as location No. 25.<\/p>\n

\"A A visitor tries out the redwood climbing experience during the California State Fair media day at Cal Expo in Sacramento on Wednesday. ZIYU JULIAN ZHU julian.zhu@sacbee.com Journey into the past<\/p>\n

Deep in the heart of Cal Expo, beyond the doors of Expo Building 4, fair goers can see a collection of replica artifacts originally found in ancient Egyptian King Tutankhamen\u2019s tomb.<\/p>\n

Glistening gold models of the tomb and its myriad contents, including a sculpture of the mummified pharaoh himself, are on display at the State Fair.<\/p>\n

Though unrelated to California\u2019s history or economy, the exhibit was organized by West Sacramento-based Stage 9 Exhibits<\/a>, which develops unique museum-like exhibitions for the State Fair annually, according to State Fair media director Darla Givens.<\/p>\n

In previous years, Stage 9 has put on interactive and educational exhibits at the State Fair including \u201dPOPnology\u201d<\/a> \u2014 exploring the intersection between tech advancements and pop culture \u2014 and the huge \u201cExpedition: Dinosaur\u201d showcase<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Expo Building 4 is located within the central Exposition Building complex, marked as No. 15 on the State Fair map.<\/p>\n

\"An An ancient Egypt-themed King Tut replica exhibition is seen during the California State Fair media day at Cal Expo in Sacramento on Wednesday. ZIYU JULIAN ZHU julian.zhu@sacbee.com Gotta collect them all<\/p>\n

The U.S. Postal Service is a mainstay of the California State Fair<\/a> every year, offering mailing services, letter writing education for youth and an exclusive annual stamp rally.<\/p>\n

A set of 17 California State Fair-themed stamps is designed every year to immortalize iconic aspects of the long-running festival. This year\u2019s stamps include commemorations of the annual olive oil competition, the towering Cal Expo water tower, this year\u2019s \u201cWish You Were Here\u201d fair theme and plenty more.<\/p>\n

Attendees can earn their stamps by visiting the U.S. Postal Service station popped up inside Expo Building B during as many days of the fair as possible. Each stamp is only issued on the day it was designed for, according to Givens.<\/p>\n

However, the Postal Service also offers the stamp by mail-order request. A coordinator for the U.S. Postal Service previously told The Sacramento Bee that hundreds of people around the world reach out requesting the full set of limited edition stamps every year.<\/p>\n

Stamp aficionados can send a request to the Stamp Fulfillment Services office in Kansas City, Missouri, via mail within 30 days of the stamp\u2019s issuing date to receive the unique postmark. Full instructions and mailing addresses are available on the USPS website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Expo Building B is located on the northern end of Cal Expo, near the Enchanted Forest. On the State Fair map, it is marked as No. 41.<\/p>\n

\"The The Cal Expo water tower is seen during the California State Fair media day on Cal Expo in Sacramento on Wednesday, July 15, 2026. One of this year\u2019s exclusive State Fair postal stamps features an image of the iconic water tower. ZIYU JULIAN ZHU julian.zhu@sacbee.com <\/p>\n

This story was originally published July 17, 2026 at 11:23 AM.<\/p>\n

Related Stories from Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n


\n \"Profile
\n <\/a><\/p>\n

Camila Pedrosa<\/a><\/p>\n

The Sacramento Bee<\/p>\n

Camila Pedrosa is the California Diversions Reporter at The Sacramento Bee. She previously worked on The Bee\u2019s service journalism team and was a summer reporting intern for The Bee in 2024. She graduated from Arizona State University with a master\u2019s degree in mass communication.\n <\/p>\n