Spend the afternoon learning about terpenes, sip a CBD slushie, catch a live concert, and finish the evening soaring on the Sky Ride.
In this article:
🎡 California State Fair details at a glance
🎡 California Cannabis Experience and Awards
🎡 Know before you go
🎡 Smart tips for cannabis travelers
🎡 More fun on the Fairgrounds
Every summer, the California State Fair celebrates the state’s biggest agricultural achievements: wine, cheese, olive oil, livestock, craft beer, and, for the past five years, cannabis. Yes, the California Cannabis Experience is an official part of one of America’s oldest state fairs, with educational exhibits, award-winning products, licensed retail sales, and a dedicated consumption lounge for adults 21 and over.
“The State Fair is all about agriculture, innovation, and community. Cannabis fits right in,” James Leitz, executive producer of the California Cannabis Experience and Awards, told HighWays Travel. “It belongs alongside California’s other great local products.” After all, cannabis has been a legal industry in the Golden State since 2016 and a not-so-legal one since long before that.
Whether you’re a lifelong enthusiast, a curious traveler, or simply interested in seeing where cannabis culture is headed, the California Cannabis Experience at the California State Fair is one of the most fascinating stops you can add to your summer travel itinerary.
California State Fair Details at a Glance
🔗 Website: calstatefair.com
📍 Location: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Boulevard, Sacramento, CA
🗓️ When: July 17-August 2, 2026. Hours of operation
💰 Entry cost: General admission tickets start at $16 per day for adults. Ticket packages are also available.
💳 On-site payments: Accepted payments vary by vendor. ATMs are located throughout the grounds.
♿ Accessibility: Scooter and wheelchair rentals available for $70 per day. The Fun For All program provides a limited number of free tickets for people with disabilities.
👜 Bags: Know the Fair’s clear bag policy.
✈️ Travel: Fly into Sacramento International Airport. From there, it’s a 25-minute drive to Cal Expo.
🚗 Rent a car: Make a road trip out of it.
🛏️ Stay over: Find a nearby hotel in Sacramento.
What Is the California Cannabis Experience?
The California Cannabis Experience is a dedicated 21+ section of the California State Fair that’s all about celebrating the state’s iconic relationship with cannabis. This adults-only expo combines education, retail, entertainment, competition, and consumption into one immersive destination.
What began in 2022 as an educational exhibit in one building now takes place on an expansive 50,000-square-foot former water park right on the California Expo grounds. “It feels like you’re entering stoner Disneyland,” says Leitz. “You walk in through a barn, and then you’re on a palm-lined street with all kinds of cannabis educational materials. Even the old Sharky’s is now named Sparky’s.”
Once inside, visitors can learn about the plant, shop award-winning products (more on that below), meet cultivators, enjoy infused edibles, see live entertainment, and legally consume cannabis—all between grabbing a funnel cake, riding the Ferris wheel, or falling in love with a llama in other parts of the Fair.
Education
Since the beginning, cannabis’ presence at the California State Fair has focused, first and foremost, on education. Adults can learn about the integral part that California has played in the evolution of both the plant and the industry, get information about responsible consumption, explore the science behind the plant’s effects, and so much more.
Dispensary and Consumption Lounge
Visitors to the California Cannabis Experience can purchase state-regulated cannabis products from the on-site dispensary in partnership wth Embarc, which operates 18 stores throughout California. From legacy growers to newer farms that are just making their mark, brands from all over the state are on hand to showcase their best.
In the adjacent consumption lounge, guests can kick back and legally enjoy their cannabis purchases before heading back to the fairgrounds. Whatever they don’t finish, they can reseal and bring home for a future sesh.
The California Cannabis Awards
One of the biggest draws is the showcase of California Cannabis Awards medalists. This elite event, the country’s first-ever state-sanctioned cannabis competition, honors licensed operators from all over Cali, who compete across categories ranging from flower and pre-rolls to concentrates and edibles.
The Cannabis Awards adhere to the same standards and professionalism expected of every other State Fair competition. Cannabis is treated with the same respect as wine, olive oil, or cheese—complete with official judging in partnership with Budist, Golden Bear trophies, and a focus on craftsmanship and agriculture.
For cultivators, receiving a California State Fair Golden Bear Award has become one of the industry’s most meaningful honors. For cannabis enthusiasts, it’s one of the few opportunities to see the state’s top producers recognized on a mainstream stage.
New for 2026: Homegrown Pride
One of this year’s most anticipated additions to the awards roster is the inaugural Home Grow – Personal Use Flower Competition. Celebrating backyard gardeners, this event is a unique opportunity for amateurs to share their homegrown products with the public. “Think of it as a cannabis growers’ version of the ultimate bake sale,” Leitz says.
Community
Yes, the California Cannabis Experience is packed with interactive exhibits, inclusive retail, and endless learning opportunities, but the sum is so much greater than its parts. This purposeful, diverse gathering fosters the strong sense of community that makes the California cannabis scene so special. Growers engage directly with the people who benefit from their products, activists enlighten newcomers, and canna-curious consumers share joints with canna-soirs. The common thread? Celebrating the plant and the people who make it possible.
Know Before You Go
🌱 The California Cannabis Experience is open Monday-Thursday 4:00 pm-10:00 pm and Friday-Sunday 10:00 am-10:00 pm.
🌱 The Fair is open to guests of all ages, but you must be 21 or older with a valid government-issued photo ID to enter the California Cannabis Experience.
🌱 Only cannabis purchased on site can be consumed at the Fair. Don’t bring your own.
🌱 Cannabis consumption is only permitted in the designated area. Whatever you don’t consume on site, you can seal and bring home with you.
🌱 California law allows you to purchase up to 28 grams of flower and 8 grams of concentrated cannabis per day.
Smart Tips for Cannabis Travelers
- Stay hydrated. Sacramento summers are hot, walking the fairgrounds can be exhausting, and the sun can amplify the effects of cannabis.
- Start low and go slow, especially if you’re trying a new edible or concentrate.
- Plan your transportation. If you plan to consume cannabis, use rideshare services or taxis, or designate a sober driver.
More Fun on the Fairgrounds
While the California Cannabis Experience is the biggest exhibit at the Fair, it’s just one of a slate of exciting attractions to explore. The event’s website offers a comprehensive day-by-day guide to everything you can see and do during the 12-day extravaganza, but we’ve put together some of our favorites below.
🎤 Live entertainment: The Toyota Concert Series brings top talent to the stage, to the tune of Boys II Men, Babyface, Trace Adkins, and Midland, not to mention roaming circus performers and so many more crowdpleasing acts.
🌻 Agriculture: Cali’s most celebrated agricultural industries are on full display. Check out showcases and competitions for wine, cheese, beer, olive oil, flowers, and more.
🍔 Food, food, food: From funnel cake and kettle corn to barbecue and loaded baked potatoes, no one leaves the fairgrounds hungry. Plus, you can watch chef demos, eating contests, cooking competitions, and other culinary programming.
🎨 Art: Crafting, photography, painting, and film are just a few of the creative endeavors to see. You can even watch artists capture scenes from the fair on canvas in real time.
🎢 Rides and Games: For thrill-seeking attendees, roller coasters, the log flume, the drop tower, and the 70-foot-high “Freak Out” are a handful of the many ways to get your adreneline pumping. If you prefer to stay on solid ground, you can make your way through mazes, run through the fun house, and steer an updated version of bumper cars. And of course, there are loads of tamer rides made just for kids.
What would you like to see at the California Cannabis Experience at the California State Fair? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
