Mild Temperatures Have California State Fair Officials Optimistic On Attendance

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — With mild temperatures in the forecast, California State Fair organizers are hoping to bring in record crowds.

New exhibits, including Minds In Motion, are meant to educate kids and adults about science and wildlife.

"We have hairy armadillo, we have a great horned owl, animal-wise. we also have jungle porcupines, a nocturnal kinkajou. we have hands on opportunities with hedgehogs and leopard geckos," said Karla Majewski.

The former Governator might enjoy another new exhibit, Tech Trek, which has a collection of robots, including the Terminator. The 3-D experience inside is bound to be a big hit, as fairgoers wear virtual reality goggles and stand on sensory pads as they move virtually through different scenarios.

"You'll walk out on a scaffold, where the scaffold will fall away and you'll fall away. You'll feel vibrations. You'll hear sounds," said Carl Carlson.

All that learning might make you hungry for some food. New on this year's menu is deep-fried wood-fired pastrami pizza, as well as bacon-wrapped corn on the cob.

"We invite all our friends and family over, crack open a bottle of wine. We call it a 'fry party.' we deep fry, wrap in bacon pretty much anything you can think of and bring you guys the best of the best," said Amber Vandewarker with The Bacon Habit.

If you're thirsty and can't walk anymore, maybe you can pedal. Buy a ticket for the Off The Chain bike bus, which makes three beer stops across the fair. But fair warning, you do have to put in a little legwork.

The gates open at 10 a.m. on Friday.