Every fall, Sacramento homeowners get one weekend to compare contractors, see materials in person, and walk away with an actual quote — all without driving to six different showrooms. The Sacramento Fall Home & Garden Show returns to the Cal Expo Pavilion for its 2026 run on October 9–11, and after more than 40 years of operation, it’s become one of the more practical ways to spend a fall weekend in the Sacramento area if you have a home project on the horizon.
What the Show Is
The Sacramento Fall Home & Garden Show is a three-day consumer show produced by Sacramento Home & Garden, the same team behind the spring home show at Cal Expo and similar events in Lodi and Stanislaus County. The format is straightforward: exhibitors fill the Cal Expo Pavilion with contractors, landscapers, kitchen and bath designers, window and roofing companies, home energy specialists, and a growing plants section. This is not a trade show for industry professionals. It’s aimed squarely at homeowners trying to figure out their next project, and exhibitors know it — most come prepared to quote and close.
That’s actually useful. If you’ve been putting off a bathroom remodel, a new deck, or replacement windows because you don’t know where to start, a show like this compresses weeks of research into a few hours. You can walk the floor, ask specific questions, and get ballpark numbers from multiple companies in one visit. The show also tends to bring out exhibitors who offer show-only pricing, which is worth asking about at each booth.
What’s New in 2026
This year’s fall show includes a few additions beyond the core exhibitor floor.
Plant Social Club workshops run all three days and are free with admission. The schedule is the same each day: Tropical Plants at noon and Succulent Arrangements at 2 PM, held inside the Pavilion building. Space is limited, so showing up a few minutes early is the move if you want a spot at the table. These are hands-on sessions, not demonstrations, which makes them worth building your schedule around.
Wags & Whiskers Pet Rescue will be stationed outside the show entrance with adoptable dogs and cats throughout the weekend. Same-day adoptions are available on-site, which is either a great opportunity or a significant risk to your wallet, depending on your discipline around puppies.
Exhibitor Bingo is back: pick up a yellow card at the entrance, collect stamps from participating exhibitors as you walk the floor, and complete a blackout for a chance to win prizes. It’s a low-key way to make sure you actually talk to more than three booths.
The Floor Itself
The show organizes exhibitors into six main categories: Remodeling, Construction & ADUs; Kitchens, Bathrooms & Interiors; Windows, Roofing & Exterior Improvements; Landscaping, Pools & Outdoor Living; Home Systems, Energy & Services; and Plants, Shopping & Specialty Products. The ADU category in particular has grown in recent years as Sacramento-area homeowners have looked for ways to add space or rental income to existing lots — and contractors know there’s real demand there.
The plants section is worth a stop even if you’re not there for a major project. Independent nurseries and specialty growers tend to bring stock that’s harder to find at big-box garden centers, and fall is a genuinely good time to plant in Sacramento’s climate — the heat has broken, root systems establish well before winter, and prices on perennials tend to drop as the season winds down.
The Details
- Dates: Friday, October 9 – Sunday, October 11, 2026
- Hours: Friday 11 AM – 4 PM | Saturday 10 AM – 5 PM | Sunday 10 AM – 4 PM
- Location: Cal Expo Pavilion, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815
- Entrance: Blue Gate at the corner of Challenge Way and Exposition Boulevard
- Admission: Adults (18–64) $8 | Seniors (60+) $6 | Seniors on Friday only: $2 | Youth 18 & under: FREE
- Parking: $10 at Cal Expo; free street parking available on nearby streets
- Free workshops: Tropical Plants at 12 PM and Succulent Arrangements at 2 PM, all three days (space limited)
- Tickets: Available at the door; discount tickets available via text (see sacramentohomeandgarden.show for details)
- Phone: 916-595-2899
Practical Notes Before You Go
Friday is the lightest attendance day and offers the best senior discount ($2 for 60+). If you want fewer crowds and more time at each booth without hovering, Friday afternoon is the right call. Saturday draws the biggest crowds, which can make conversations with exhibitors rushed. Sunday tends to feel like Saturday but with shorter lines by afternoon.
The Cal Expo Pavilion is a single large indoor hall, so there’s no navigating multiple buildings. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a phone or a notepad — you’ll want to capture booth names, phone numbers, and any pricing you get. Most exhibitors will push for your contact information, which is fine if you’re serious, but you’re not obligated to hand it over to get a quote.
If you’re coming with kids, entry is free for anyone 18 and under, and the pet rescue outside makes for a natural stop before or after walking the floor.
Bottom Line
The Sacramento Fall Home & Garden Show is worth the drive to Cal Expo if you have a specific project in mind and want to meet the contractors who’d actually do the work. At $8 for adults, the price of entry is low enough that it’s also worth walking even if you’re just in the early planning stages. The free plant workshops and the pet rescue outside add enough non-contractor content that it doesn’t feel like a purely transactional afternoon, especially for families.
For more fall things to do around Sacramento, see the full guide to fall festivals and markets in Sacramento, the roundup of holiday craft fairs and artisan markets coming up in November and December, and the list of holiday markets around Sacramento for later in the season.
