Saturday marks the second-to-last day of the 2025 California State Fair, and fairgoers can expect a full day of cultural celebration, live music, and crowd-pleasing attractions as the event heads into its final weekend stretch. With forecasted highs in the mid-70s once again, the mild weather continues to be a welcome surprise this year—especially compared to 2023, when 11 days topped 100 degrees. This year, the fair has seen 11 days below 90.
“The weather has been absolutely wonderful this year,” said Darla Givens of the California State Fair. “We’ve even had to restock long-sleeve shirts and sweatshirts at the souvenir shops because guests are layering up in the evening.” It’s a cool twist that’s contributed to relaxed, lively evenings and record attendance across multiple nights of the fair.
Multicultural Gospel Celebration Returns
One of the biggest cultural events of the fair takes place all day Saturday with the return of the Multicultural Gospel Celebration, filling the PG&E Center Stage from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Now in its 30th year, the celebration originally began in 1995 as an African American gospel showcase but expanded in 2003 to include musical traditions from many different cultures and faiths. The result is one of the most joyful and spiritually uplifting events of the fair season.
Throughout the day, visitors will be treated to a blend of worship bands, children’s choirs, praise dancers, community ensembles, and soloists, all bringing messages of unity, praise, and inspiration. It’s a crowd favorite not only for its music, but for the way it brings diverse communities together in one shared celebration of spirit.
Brothers Osborne Headline Saturday Night
Saturday night’s featured concert brings country music to the big stage, as Brothers Osborne headline the Toyota Concert Series on the Sky River Casino Stage at 8 p.m. The award-winning sibling duo has become a defining force in modern country, blending bold guitar work, thoughtful lyrics, and traditional twang with a rock edge.
John and TJ Osborne, hailing from Deale, Maryland, are known not only for their distinctive sound, but also for their authenticity and impact. The band won a Grammy Award for their song “Younger Me,” inspired by TJ’s coming out journey, and has earned numerous CMA and ACM Duo of the Year honors. With hits like “Stay a Little Longer,” “It Ain’t My Fault,” and “All Night,” the Brothers Osborne are set to light up the Saturday night crowd with a high-energy show filled with both grit and heart.
Saturday’s Local Entertainment Lineup
Music, dance, and cultural performances are planned throughout the day across the fair’s various stages. Highlights include That 90’s Band bringing their throwback hits to the ICANGOTOCOLLEGE.com Promenade Stage from 5:30 to 7:20 p.m., Chasing Anthems rocking the Don Julio Outlaw Bar & Stage in two sets beginning at 5:30 p.m., and David Perez Band closing out the night on the Promenade Stage from 9 to 10:50 p.m.
Other performances include The Stokes on the Farmers Brewing Craft Brew Stage (2 p.m. to 3:50 p.m.), Ballet Folklorico Nube de Oro, Northern CA Cloggers, ZCrew, Capitol Chinese Orchestra, and community dance groups like Wyillocity & South Natomas Zumba Dancers and Balance Dance Project. The United Impact Community Choir takes the Promenade Stage at 8 p.m.
Jaripeo y Bailazo: Banda Corona Del Rey, Los Rieleros Del Norte, y Más takes place from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Michelob Ultra Grandstand. Tickets are available through the fair’s website.
Livestock and Ag Highlights
At the Tractor Supply Co. Big Barn, visitors can explore Llamas, Alpacas, and Goats, with showmanship competitions, halter classes, and fun family events like the Llama Limbo and Walk-a-Llama/Walk-an-Alpaca returning throughout the day.
The Farm presented by SaveMart continues to offer interactive exhibits such as the UC Davis Insect Pavilion, Aquaculture Pet-a-Fish tanks, and the fun-filled Passport Program. Nearby, the SaveMart California Kitchen will host cooking demonstrations with Sac Italian at 3 p.m. and a SMUD cooking showcase at 4:30 p.m. California Cider Day runs from 1 to 8 p.m. in the Taste of California Classroom.
Around the Grounds
Saturday’s grounds entertainment is rounded out with appearances from the All-Alaskan Racing Pigs, Funkanometry dance crew, The Drumheads, Sea Lion Splash, Captain Jack Spareribs, and Tanzanite African Acrobats. For those feeling adventurous, test-drive a Ram truck or hop in for a ride in the “Ramdemption” Monster Truck—both free with fair admission.
The kids will love the climbing walls, camel rides, petting zoo, and ongoing roving performers, from stilt walkers to magicians. And don’t forget to catch the hypnotist show at 9:30 p.m. on the PG&E Center Stage.
Inside the Expo buildings, attractions continue with the Silent Disco, Candy Maze Selfie Exhibit, POPnology tech experience, and the Wild World Animal Adventure. Expo Building 5 hosts the CaLOWfornia Love lowrider car display, while Building 7 features juried fine art and photography from across the state. In Building 8, families can browse youth projects and California-made crafts.
Fireworks cap off the night at 10 p.m.
Saturday closes with a spectacular fireworks show at 10 p.m., lighting up the sky above Cal Expo and serving as a fitting celebration for the fair’s penultimate evening.
Looking ahead to Sunday: En Vogue headlines closing night
Sunday marks the final day of the 2025 California State Fair, and it ends on a powerful note as iconic R&B group En Vogue headlines the last concert of the Toyota Concert Series. With their trademark harmonies and timeless hits, En Voguehas redefined female vocal groups across three decades.
From their breakout debut with Born to Sing and the megahit Hold On, to genre-shaping singles like Free Your Mind, My Lovin’ (You’re Never Gonna Get It) and Don’t Let Go (Love), En Vogue continues to resonate across generations. This performance will also mark a special reunion, as original member Maxine Jones rejoins the group on stage for the first time in over a decade.
Their legacy includes seven MTV Music Video Awards, three Soul Train Music Awards, two American Music Awards, and chart-topping collaborations with artists from Salt-N-Pepa to Chance the Rapper. Now featured in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, En Vogue remains a defining voice in the entertainment industry. Don’t miss their show-stopping performance as the 2025 fair comes to a close.
For more details and tickets, visit castatefair.org.
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