Food Festival Pass

Eat your way through the CA State Fair!

Person holding ice cream for a Food Festival Pass Booth

Participating food vendors will have a special Food Festival item for you to eat by yourself or share! There’s something delicious for every palate.

From savory – like sweet BBQ pulled pork, to sweet – like the bacon and pecan cinnamon roll, and fried of course! – deep fried apple pie anyone?

Come visit all of our award-winning Food Festival Pass participants, see their well-deserved ribbons displayed at their booths and taste their delicious entries!

food festival pass: $34. a $48 value

Here’s how it works:

Buy your Food Festival Pass for only $34 (a $48 value!) online.

You will receive 4 Food Festival Pass tickets to be redeemed at the participating vendors for specially selected items that have been entered into the Food Festival and Competition.

Food Festival tickets are NOT valid for all food. Redeem your tickets for pre-selected Food Festival items ONLY.  Eligible Food Festival items are listed online, in the California State Fair app, and at participating booths.

LOOK FOR THE PURPLE FLAGS to find participating vendors to trade your tickets for delicious dishes and drinks!

One ticket is good for one Food Festival item, each valued at $12 or more.

Hand squeezing lime on a plate of tacos

Food Festival Pass tickets are transferable and may be used any day of the California State Fair.

Download the California State Fair app and map out your eating adventure!

Sign up for our newsletter to be the first to know about all things Food Festival.

Food Festival Competition

Join us at the Save Mart California’s Kitchen on Tuesday, July 18, from 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm, as esteemed judges determine the winners of this thrilling gastronomic showdown. Prepare for a delectable experience as the talented Food Festival participants showcase their skills and vie for culinary supremacy!

Judging 

  • Time: 1:30 pm to 5:30 pm
  • Location: Save Mart California’s Kitchen

Awards Ceremony

  • Time: Begins at 6:00 pm
  • Location:  Promenade Stage

2023 Panel of Judges

  • Tina Macuha
  • Laura McIntosh
  • Rick Mindermann
  • Annette Turek
  • Dean Hyatt
  • Dixie Deets

2023 Food Festival Featured Items

Savory Servings

LOOK FOR THE FLAGS to find participating vendors

Vendor Food Item
Benito’s Tacos One Benito’s Taco & Horchata Drink – 3-hour braised beef taco in tortilla fried in chili matcha oil, paired with a guajillo/ancho/arbol pepper cosumme and served alongside a cinnamony horchata drink.
Boss Burger Pulled Pork Fries – Crispy fries served with BBQ pulled pork and claw slaw on top with a BBQ sauce drizzle.
Flavor Fusion Vegan Egg Roll – Deep fried vegan egg roll with carrots, mushrooms, and our house sweet and sour sauce.
Flavor Fusion Deep-Fried Potstickers – Deep-fried chicken postickers with cabbage.
Grinders Chicken Strips with Fries
Jerry’s Cowboy Jerky Three Wild Game Sticks of your choice: Wild Boar, Venison, or Elk.
Maddy Moo’s Rainbow Grilled Cheese with Fries – Famous grilled cheese filled with a rainbow of colors and side of shoestring fries.
Oriental Cuisine Express Chicken on a Stick – Asian BBQ chicken on a stick.
Pepe’s Mexican Food Street Style Quesadilla Supreme – Quesadilla with pico de gallo, lettuce, tomato and sour cream.
Sharky’s Fish Fry Loaded Deep-fried Pickles
Sharky’s Onions and Fries Nashville Hot Onion Rings – Crispy, spicy, served with ranch.
Soul on a Roll Sac Cajun Chicken Poboi – Grilled cajun chicken, bell peppers and onions on a toasted french roll topped with house sauce and served with fries.
The Sleek Greek Greek Fries – French fries covered with tzaziki sauce and feta cheese.
Wing Mahal Fried Chicken Tacos with Tikka Masala or Punjabi BBQ Sauce – Two fried chicken tacos with your choice of Tikka Masala or Punjabi BBQ Sauce, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, & parmesan cheese.
Wing Mahal Samosa Tacos with Tikka Masala or Punjabi BBQ Sauce – Two samosa tacos with your choice of Tikka Masala or Punjabi BBQ Sauce, topped with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cilantro, & parmesan cheese.

Sweet Summer Faire

LOOK FOR THE FLAGS to find participating vendors

Vendor Food Item
Balance Me Out Handcrafted Coffee The Golden Bear – A delicious blend of comforting spices that help support the mind and body. This drink is as beautiful as it is healthy and tastes like sunshine. Cinnamon, cardamom, turmeric, and oat milk are some of the key elements that elevate this drink. Vegan.
Balance Me Out Handcrafted Coffee Lavender Matcha – California grown lavender and organic matcha come together for a uniquely balanced drink. Full of energy and antioxidants, this matcha latte is carefully crafted with organic almond milk. Treat yourself to a floral experience with a pleasant earthy taste and mint-like undertones. Vegan.
Balance Me Out Handcrafted Coffee Dark Berry Lime – An iced sparkling mocktail dark with award-winning espresso locally roasted in Sacramento, and a hint of lime for a refreshing experience. Vegan
California Ice Cream Company Funky Monkey Sundae – Our vanilla ice cream served with Reese’s peanut butter sauce, Hershey chocolate, a frozen banana skewer dipped in chocolate and topped with whipped cream & sweet banana chips.
Cakes by Jeff the Chef Peach Cobbler Cheesecake – Peach cobbler filling baked inside of Chef Jeff’s Original Cheesecake, topped with whip cream, peach filling, cinnamon spice, and caramel drizzle.
Cakes by Jeff the Chef Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Cheesecake – Raspberry and chocolate filling baked inside Chef Jeff’s Original Cheesecake, topped with a smooth vanilla whip cream, raspberry, and chocolate sauce.
Cakes by Jeff the Chef Pineapple Splash Cheesecake – A pineapple and coconut extravaganza baked inside of Chef Jeff’s Original Cheesecake! Topped with the famous Vanilla Whip Cream, juicy pineapples and coconut flake bits!
Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Sundae – Our famous hot cinnamon roll, covered with baked cinnamon apples, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, drizzled with caramel sauce, and walnuts. A fair favorite combined with an American classic.
Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls Tropical Orange Smoothie – A refreshing mix of orange juice, pineapple, mango, and a hint of coconut for a delicious treat, and a healthy alternative.
Delicious Funnel Cakes Fruity Pebble Funnel Cake- Funnel cake finished with powder sugar, whipped cream and topped with fruity pebbles.
Dole Whip/Pineapple Chill Waffle Cone – any flavor ice cream/Dole Whip
Ice Cream Churro Shake – Caramel milkshake with churros and whipped cream and cinnamon seasoning.
Ice Cream Mini Donuts Waffle Cone – any flavor ice cream
Ice Cream Factory THE OMG CHOCO TACO – Homemade waffle cone taco shell with soft serve vanilla ice cream dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts.
Giant Baby Bottles Small Baby Bottle with 1 Refill- Choose any flavor like strawberry, watermelon, blue raspberry, mango, peach, pineapple or create a mix!
Jerry’s Cowboy Jerky Two Hot Bavarian Nut Cones of your choice.
Lynn’s Hawaiian Shave Ice Chamoyada – Mango shave ice over a chomoya layer, topped with more chamoya, tajin and a tamarind stick.
Lynn’s Hawaiian Shave Ice OrangeCreamsicle – Vanilla ice cream with orange shave ice, sweet cream and topped with whipped cream
More Liife Ice Caribbean Flavor Italian Ice – Cherry, Orange, & Pineapple Flavored Italian Ice.
Olde Tyme Ice Cream Waffle Cone – any flavor ice cream/Dole Whip
Pepe’s Aguas & Fruit / Sweets by J Waffle on a Stick – Waffle in the shape of a tree on a stick. Topped with your choice of toppings, powdered sugar and whipped cream.
Pepe’s Aguas & Fruit / Sweets by J Oreo Stuffed Waffle Sandwich – Oreos stuffed into a waffle with ice cream, topped with strawberry and chocolate syrup, powdered sugar and whipped cream.
Phils Fresh Squeezed Lemonade Fresh Squeezed Strawberry Lemonade with strawberry boba. (Served in 2 locations)
Popcorn! – The Candy Stand Deep-fried Twinkie, Snicker, or Oreos – America’s favorite hostess cake, candy bar, and cookies dipped in a batter and fried to perfection with powdered sugar and chocolate drizzled on top.
Suck It Up Ice Cream Apple Pie Sundae Cone -Waffle cone with apple pie filling and ice cream.
Suck It Up Funnel Cakes “It’s a Party” Funnel Cake – Funnel cake with powdered sugar and sprinkles.
Sweet Cheeks Jennis Strawberry Funnel Cake
Sweet Cheeks Jennis Oreo Funnel Cake

2023 Food Festival Competition Winners

 

Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls: Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Sundae

California Ice Cream Company: Funky Monkey Sundae

Benito’s Tacos: Benito Taco & Horchata

Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls: Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Sundae

  • Gold: Balance Me Out: Golden Bear
  • Silver: Giant Baby Bottles: Small Baby Bottle
  • Bronze: Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls: Tropical Orange Smoothie
  • Gold: Benito’s Tacos: Benito Taco & Horchata
  • Silver: Soul on a Roll: Cajun Chicken Poboi
  • Bronze: Wing Mahal: Fried Chicken Taco with Tikka Masala & Punjabi BBQ
  • Gold: Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls: Caramel Apple Cinnamon Roll Sundae
  • Silver: California Ice Cream Company: Funky Monkey Sundae
  • Bronze: MoreLiifeIce: Cotton Candy Bubblegum Italian Ice
  • Gold: Sharky’s Onions & Fries: Nashville Hot Onion Rings
  • Silver: Boss Burger: Pulled Pork Fries
  • Bronze: The Sleek Greek: Greek Fries
  • Gold: Cakes by Jeff the Chef: Peach Cobbler Cheesecake
  • Silver: Cakes by Jeff the Chef: Pineapple Splash Cheesecake
  • Bronze: Cakes by Jeff the Chef: Raspberry Chocolate Kiss Cheesecake
  • Gold: Sweet Cheeks Jenni’s: Churro Funnel Cake
  • Silver: Sweet Cheeks Jenni’s: Oreo Funnel Cake
  • Bronze: Sweet Cheeks Jenni’s: Strawberry Funnel Cake
  • Gold: Dole Whip: Waffle Cone
  • Silver: Ice Cream Factory: OMG Choco Taco
  • Bronze: Suck It Up Ice Cream: Apple Pie Sundae