Fairs and Festivals this July to Celebrate Summer

Photo by Max Whittaker

California State Fair

July 11-27 The 2025 State Fair is shaping up to be a ludicrously—or should we say Ludacris-ly—good time. The rapper and Fast and Furious star headlines opening night at Cal Expo, followed on later nights by Poison’s Bret Michaels (July 12), homegrown rockers Tesla (July 18) and more. With this summer’s State Fair casting a nostalgia-fueled look back with the theme “Times Like These,” expect art and installations based on California’s history, like an all-new Short Film Showcase featuring both live-action and animation. Also catch POPnology, a new interactive exhibit from the locally based Stage 9 Exhibits tracing how movies and books have influenced advancements in tech (including a full-sized replica of Back to the Future’s DeLorean). But it wouldn’t be a classic fair without the roughly 100 food options, from Milo’s jumbo corn dogs that are as big as a child’s arm to sweet potato pie cheesecakes from Sacramento-based Cakes by Jeff the Chef. And then there’s the more than 70 carnival rides that spin, whirl and twist. Pro tip: You might want to hit those rides before the giant corn dogs and cheesecake. Just sayin’. calexpostatefair.com

Marysville Peach Festival

July 18-19 Surprise, surprise—California has one juicy secret. Georgia may be known as the Peach State, but we grow more of the blushing fruit than every other state in the nation combined. The Marysville Peach Festival celebrates its 25th annual outing this year with two full days of sweet, vine-ripened delights, from traditions like a peachy pancake breakfast to a 5K run/walk. And that’s just the beginning. How about some peach cobbler milkshakes from Newcastle-based Everything’s Just Peachy? Or some smoked meat slathered in peach barbeque sauce from Fair Oaks’ Pancho Villa BBQ? Or perhaps some chips and peach salsa from Marysville’s own Quenchies & Munchies—winner of last year’s Tasty Treat competition? Around 50 booths will be serving up this year’s culinary creations. But save room for one perfect, round, fuzzy piece of fruit, fresh from the orchard and warm from the sun. marysvillepeachfest.com

Pear Fair

July 27 What pairs best with summer? The tiny Delta community of Courtland (pop. 528) has one sweet answer. The Pear Fair is back for its 51st year, temporarily increasing the riverside town’s population tenfold as it serves up pear-fection. Get there early for the famed grab-a-slice-before-it’s-gone, secret-recipe pear pie cooked up by the PTAs of Bates Elementary and Walnut Grove Elementary, along with pear fritters and pear mimosas. Wash them all down with a cocktail featuring custom pear gin or pear vodka from Sacramento’s Midtown Spirits. Farmers from throughout the area come to show off their best fruit (last year’s biggest pear winner weighed in at a hefty 1.5 pounds), and bakers compete for the crown of the most crave-worthy confection (last year’s champ was an upside-down buttermilk pear cake). Enter a pear-pie-eating contest if you dare, or sustain your pear gin buzz tapping your toes to local talents like rock and dance standouts the Jay Rolerz Band and country-rockers North Forty. And if you love a small-town parade like we do, this one ends with the coronation of the Royal Court. All hail! pearfair.com