The International Railfair is coming to Cal Expo on November 14 and 15, 2026, turning Buildings C and D into 28,000 square feet of model railroad layouts, vendor tables, and full-size railroad equipment. It is the kind of show that draws hardcore hobbyists and families with curious kids in roughly equal measure, and the ticket prices are low enough to make it a worthwhile Saturday excursion even if you’ve never owned a locomotive in your life.
The show runs on Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm. A Saturday general admission ticket costs $12 and is valid for both days, which means if you want to come back on Sunday you are already covered. Sunday-only admission is $10. Children 12 and under get in free, and active and retired military receive $2 off tickets purchased at the gate. Parking is $10.
What’s on the Floor
The show covers four scales: Z, N, HO, and G. For anyone new to the hobby, those letters correspond to the size of the equipment — Z is the smallest (roughly 1:220 scale), N is slightly larger, HO is the most common scale among hobbyists worldwide, and G scale is large enough to run in a garden. Several fully operating layouts are on display, which means the trains actually run throughout the day rather than sitting as static exhibits.
One of the more unusual features of the Railfair is the West Coast Railroaders display of full-size railroad motorcars. These are the motorized maintenance vehicles that railroad crews once used to travel along tracks — smaller and more accessible than a locomotive, and a genuinely different look at railroad history than most model train shows offer.
For families: there is a children’s layout where kids can actually run the trains, and coloring tables with free souvenir International Railfair crayon sets are set up throughout the weekend while supplies last. Vendors of all sizes fill the floor with equipment, parts, kits, and collectibles — worth a lap even if you’re not buying.
Getting There and What to Know
Cal Expo sits at 1600 Exposition Blvd in Sacramento, directly off Business 80. The show is in Buildings C and D. Parking on the fairgrounds is $10, cash or card. The venue’s clear bag policy and unaccompanied minors policy both apply; check calexpo.com if those details matter for your group.
Tickets are sold through Cal Expo’s Etix page. The Saturday ticket is the better value if there’s any chance you want a second day — $12 covers the full weekend, compared to $10 for Sunday alone. The venue recommends buying in advance; third-party resale tickets are not verified by Cal Expo, so stick to the official channel.
If trains are already on your November radar, the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento is worth pairing into the same weekend. The museum houses full-size historic locomotives and is about a 10-minute drive from Cal Expo. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 for children ages 6–17.
The Details
- Event: International Railfair Model Train Show
- Dates: Saturday, November 14 and Sunday, November 15, 2026
- Hours: Saturday 10 am–5 pm; Sunday 10 am–4 pm
- Venue: Buildings C & D, Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815
- Admission: Saturday $12 (valid both days), Sunday-only $10, ages 12 and under free, military $2 off at the gate
- Parking: $10 on-site
- Tickets: Available through Cal Expo’s Etix page at calexpo.com; no refunds or exchanges
- Scales on display: Z, N, HO, and G
- Phone: (916) 263-3000 (Cal Expo)
Bottom Line
The International Railfair is a low-key, inexpensive November weekend activity that works for serious model railroad enthusiasts, families with train-obsessed kids, and people who are simply curious about a hobby they’ve never explored. The Saturday ticket covering both days is worth it even if you only plan one visit. November 14 is the better choice for the longer hours; the full-size railroad motorcars from West Coast Railroaders alone are an unusual enough draw to justify the trip.
If you’re building out your November calendar, the Mountain Mandarin Festival in Roseville is the following weekend (November 21–22), and Funderland at Land Park runs through November 29.