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What's New At The California State Fair In 2016?

California State Fair Sneak Peek

The California State Fair starts up again on Friday! We got a little sneak peek today of some of this year's attractions.

Posted by CBS13 CBS Sacramento on Thursday, July 7, 2016

This year's California State Fair takes place July 8-24.

The California State Fair is back and promises to be as big, fun and filled with delicious treats as in previous years. Here are some of the new features you can expect to find at this year's fair:

Entertainment
Grab a deep-fried twinkie and settle down for a high dive show. The divers will spin and flip from 80 feet up! Shows happen daily in the Show Arena. On July 23, more than 50 teams will battle to be named the state's first cornhole champs.  And on July 9th and 23rd there will be a professional rugby match at Bonney Field.

Exhibits
Get moving...over to the Calfornia on the Move: Air, Land & Sea exhibit. It explores the role of transportation in the state from past to present and how transportation is shaping California's future. You can also catch an exhibit that focuses on whales and other animals that live along California's coast. You can also check out the photo competition where hundreds of the 2,200 photos submitted will be on display. You can see the display at Expo Center 1. There's also an exhibit about California's Olympic heritage, where you can see some of the athletes from our state who've represented the U.S.A.

Food
The food is one of the biggest attractions at the fair. And this year, there's a way for you to try more of the treats without shelling out spending a lot of money. On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 11 a.m.-4 p.m., you can get snack-sized versions of certain dishes being offered by food vendors for only $2 per sample.

New Rides
The Sky Ride is a $1.1 gondola that's been permanently added to the fair. It features 77 3-seat cars and spans over 1,300 feet. Take a load off your feet and take in the view as you glide from one end of the park to the other.

And check out the inversion, a tripod of passenger 12 seats swinging from side to side like a pendulum, turning almost upside down. Hopefully, you can keep down those fair treats! Riders reach a height of nearly 80 feet. Enjoy the sensation of freefalling with the 1001 Nachts ride. The Quasar is also new to the fair.

Other Favorites
There'll be 10 days of horseracing at the Miller Lite Racetrack Grandstand. The Governor's Cup is on July 23. Cooking displays and competitions are happening throughout the fair. For those who enjoy beer and wine, you can pick up a $5 wine slushie. The Best of California Brewfest will be on July 16 will feature winners of the Commercial Beer Competition.

The California State Fair has been around for 160 years and celebrates California's achievements, industries, culture and diversity, according to fair organizers. Advanced tickets start at $6 for kids, $8 for seniors and $10 for adults. Tickets can be purchased at CAStateFair.org/Tickets.

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