Love Chocolate? Candied Bugs? Here’s a Look at the California State Fair’s Candy Maze

Visitors to the California State Fair get a taste of Willy Wonka magic at the Candy Maze Selfie Experience.

The exhibit, located in Building 2 of the Expo Center, features hundreds of varieties of sweet treats, arranged in a maze-like pattern. The candies are sold by weight, allowing fairgoers to mix and match.

The candy maze featured classics like Hershey’s and KitKat candy bars, as well as twists on more traditional items like freeze-dried peach slices. If visitors were feeling adventurous, they could try seasoned crickets.

“How can you not see candy? Some of it (candy) looks like it was in the good old days,” said Denise Boucher, who stopped by to see the exhibit.

Boucher was looking for Abba-Zaba, a chewy chocolate bar with a real peanut butter center. Boucher, 63, is drawn to the candy of her childhood.

“Remember candy cigarettes? We thought they were the coolest thing,” Boucher said.

Debbie Hilpert, who came with Boucher, didn’t have a particular candy in mind, but “she’ll know it when she sees it.” Hilpert usually chooses chocolate.

Tracy Wang, 17, walked out of the checkout line with a plastic bag full of candy. Her mix of Twix, mints and other treats cost her $14 total. She saw candy she doesn’t normally see in the store.

“I was a little overwhelmed,” Wang said. “I like brands, so I wouldn’t go for the generic candy in a bag.”

Right next to the candy, visitors can pose for photos at 14 dessert-themed photo booths. They can poke their heads through an American Gothic billboard or recline on a chair adorned with candy decorations.

The photoshoots were free and allowed visitors to cool off. On the opening day of the fair, temperatures reached 43 degrees, but visitors were able to relax in the Expo buildings, where there is air conditioning.

Carrie Root took her 6-year-old daughter, Karli, to the candy maze. Visiting the fair has become “like a tradition,” said Root, who takes her family every year.

The mother and daughter compared the candy maze to a children’s playground. When asked what her favorite part of the exhibit was, Karli Root pointed to the candy chair. Then the life-size plastic candy bar. Then the lip couch.

Wang also came to the candy maze last year, so she has “a bunch of identical photos.” For example, she took photos of the cow-ch, a cow-shaped sofa, both years.

The candy exhibition is open Monday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Friday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Even though they didn’t find Willy Wonka’s golden ticket, visitors said they still enjoyed the exhibit.

“It was a nice, relaxing day,” Boucher said.