Every November, Cal Expo transforms into something that has nothing to do with the state fair. Millions of lights go up across ten acres of the fairgrounds, a covered ice rink appears in the middle of it all, and the parking lot that hosts demolition derbies in summer fills with Sacramento families looking for the one holiday tradition that genuinely earns the word spectacular.
That’s Imaginarium — Northern California’s largest annual holiday light festival, and one of the most searched holiday events in Sacramento each fall. Here’s what to know before tickets go on sale for the 2026–27 season.
What Imaginarium Is
Imaginarium isn’t a neighborhood light display or a casual drive-through. It’s a ticketed, multi-attraction outdoor festival built around light. The event spans more than ten acres of Cal Expo’s grounds and has run every holiday season since 2022, growing in scale each year.
The 2025–26 season ran under the theme “Utopia: A Perfect World of Light, Joy, and Imagination” and featured fifteen million lights installed across the grounds. The 2026–27 season dates and theme have not yet been announced; based on prior years, the event typically opens in mid-to-late November and runs through early January. Dates and tickets will be listed at calexpo.com when announced.
What You’ll Actually Find Inside
The lights are the draw, but they’re not the whole event. Here’s what the festival typically includes:
Themed light displays. The grounds are divided into zones — fairytale gardens, enchanted forests, and abstract installations that use the sheer scale of Cal Expo to create tunnels and canopies you walk through rather than just look at.
Infinity mirror rooms. The mirrored rooms are consistently the most photographed stops. They’re enclosed spaces where the lights repeat endlessly in every direction. Plan to queue during peak weekend hours.
Covered ice rink. A full-size, covered ice skating rink sits in the middle of the festival grounds. Skate rental and rink entry are separate from general admission.
Cirque Legacy performances. Live acrobatics and aerial performances run at scheduled times throughout the evening. Check the posted schedule when you arrive — these fill quickly if you want a front-row spot.
Carnival rides and games. Traditional carnival rides are available, primarily geared toward families with kids. Wristband packages are sold separately from general admission.
Lantern lagoon. One of the more distinctive features: a lagoon where guests float glowing lanterns carrying personalized messages. It’s the quieter corner of the festival and worth finding.
Food Court Row. A dedicated food section with seasonal treats and drinks. Expect mulled cider, hot cocoa, loaded fries, and themed cocktails at the adult bars.
Tickets and Pricing
The 2025–26 season pricing from Visit Sacramento’s official guide:
- Adults (13–62): $27 weekends / $21 weekdays
- Children (3–12) and seniors (62+): $21 weekends / $17 weekdays
- Children under 2: Free
- Military (weekday): $17
- Family four-pack: $88 weekends / $76 weekdays
Pricing for the 2026–27 season has not been announced. Buying in advance online is always cheaper than waiting for day-of availability, and the event does sell out on holiday weekends. Ice skating and carnival rides are purchased separately at the gate.
Hours and Schedule
In the 2025–26 season, Imaginarium ran Wednesday through Sunday with gates opening at 5 PM. Friday and Saturday nights ran until 11 PM; all other nights closed at 10 PM. The event was closed Thanksgiving Day. The festival runs dark on Mondays and Tuesdays throughout its run.
Weeknights in December — particularly Wednesdays and Thursdays in the first two weeks of the month — are noticeably less crowded than weekends. If your schedule is flexible, those are the nights worth targeting.
The Details
- Address: Cal Expo, 1600 Exposition Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95815
- Parking: Available onsite; passes purchased at arrival
- 2026–27 dates: Not yet announced — check calexpo.com
- Typical opening: Mid-to-late November, based on prior seasons
- Typical run: Through early January
- Hours: Gates typically open at 5 PM; closes at 10 PM (11 PM Fri–Sat)
- Closed: Mondays, Tuesdays, Thanksgiving Day
- Tickets: Purchase in advance at calexpo.com
Practical Tips
Arrive within the first hour of opening on weeknights. The infinity mirror rooms and Cirque Legacy shows are the two pinch points where lines form — hit the mirrors early and check the performance schedule when you walk in.
Dress warmer than you think you need to. Cal Expo’s grounds are open to the sky and Sacramento December nights drop into the high 30s and 40s. The covered ice rink area gets cold fast, especially if kids are skating for an extended session.
If you’re pairing Imaginarium with other holiday activities, the Downtown Sacramento Ice Rink is another option for skating that’s easier to reach without a car. And if you want to build a full holiday-lights evening, Sacramento’s Fab 40s and Dovewood Court neighborhood displays make a good bookend — see the Sacramento Christmas Lights guide for directions and timing. For a free alternative that’s worth the short drive, the Elk Grove Illumination Holiday Festival runs several nights in December at no charge.
Bottom Line
Imaginarium earns its reputation as the biggest holiday event on Sacramento’s calendar. It’s not free, and it’s not small — this is a full evening out, not a quick stop. But the combination of scale, variety, and that lantern lagoon makes it the one holiday tradition in Sacramento that regularly converts first-timers into people who come back the following year. Watch calexpo.com starting in October for the 2026–27 season announcement.
