The aroma of the Arizona State Fair food has begun to fill the air. The Arizona State Fair opened on Friday and it is now time to get your fill on roasted turkey legs and deep-fried goodies.
Before you plan a trip to the fairgrounds, here is a know before you go guide on need to know guide Arizona State Fair admission, parking, discounts, hours, new food and concerts.
-The Arizona State Fair will be in operation October 6th – 29th.
-Operation hours are: Wednesday – Sunday and closed on Monday and Tuesday.
Hours: Wednesday – Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.
Friday, noon to 10 p.m.
Saturday, 11 a.m. – 10 p.m,
Sunday, 11 a.m. – 9 p.m.
-The fairgrounds are located 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix AZ 85007, which is near 19th Avenue and McDowell Road.
ADMISSION
General admission to the state fair is $7 for seniors (55+) and children (5-13), and $10 for those 14 and older. There is no charge for children under five.
PARKING
Parking at the Arizona State Fairgrounds ranges between $5 and $20 per vehicle, depending on where you park. Cash is recommended.
-The West Lot is the cheapest at $5 and is located at 19th Avenue and Encanto Avenue.
-The North Lot is $10 per vehicle and is located at 19th Avenue and Monte Vista.
-VIP parking is available for $20 and can be purchased online.
There are other paid-parking lots near the fairgrounds that are operated by private companies or citizens.
ADMISSION DISCOUNTS
October 18th – Fair Friends 55+ Day: Those 55+ can receive free admission to the fair. Claim free ticket, here.
October 20th – Armed Forces Day: Military members, reservists and veterans, and up to five family members can receive free admission to the fair. Entrance is only through Encanto Avenue and you must bring your bring military ID.
We Care Wednesdays: Bring five food items to donate to Operation Santa Claus between noon and 6 p.m. and receive one free general admission ticket. The following items will not be accepted: Water bottles, Ramen noodles, baby food, and glass are not accepted. Peanut butter, canned fruit or vegetables, and canned tuna are acceptable.
First-Hour Thursdays: On Thursdays, for the first hour the fair is open, 12 p.m. – 1 p.m, admission is free to get into the fairgrounds.
Weekends before 2 p.m.: On Saturdays and Sundays, admission will be $5 before 2 p.m.
Arizona Milk Producers: Receive $3 off one admission ticket when you bring a grocery receipt showing purchases of milk, yogurt and cheese products. All three need to be on the receipt.
Read three books: Kids can earn three ride passes when they read three books and fill out a book report form. A teacher, parent or guardian must sign the form.
Free Fry’s Fridays: When you spend $50 at Fry’s through October 27th, a promotion for two free general admission adult tickets will be on the back of the receipt. Those tickets can be redeemed on Fridays between noon and 6 p.m.
NEW FOODS TO EAT
Most always look forward to fair food and this year there will be nine new food vendors. The deep-fried goodies, cotton candy and turkey legs are still there, but here is a quick peek at some of the new treats to try.
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Popcorn Factory – this vendor will have 50 flavors of gourmet popcorn.
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Drink a Fruit From A Fruit – this vendor will have fruit-flavored drinks where the fruit’s shell becomes the glass. Think pineapple, coconut, and watermelon.
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Baja Lobster – Lobster mac and cheese, lobster fries and lobster dogs.
NIGHTLY CONCERTS
Evening concerts are included with that day’s general admission. Reserved seating can be purchased at an additional cost.
This year’s lineup includes DNCE, Billy Currington, Halestorm, Snoop Dogg, Randy Houser, Marilyn Manson, Gin Blossoms and Rick Springfield. View the full lineup.
NEW ATTRACTIONS AND SHOWS
The Dragons Den: People will be able to interact with life-sized animatronic dragons and learn the folklore behind them. There is an additional cost of $5 per person.
The La Grande Wheel XL is a large observation wheel with climate-controlled cabins and half-million LED lights. It will make its debut at the fair this year.
The All-Star Freestyle Mania and Thrill Show will have Transaurus, a 30-foot car that transforms into the likeness of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and can shred other cars. The show also features a jet-powered Smart Car and monster trucks.
Lights of the World: The Chinese lantern festival has moved from Rawhide to the Arizona State Fairgrounds. A “teaser” exhibit will be at the fair while the official festival does not open until November. Read more.
The fair will of course have a wide variety of carnival-style rides and games, art and livestock competitions.
For more information, visit: https://azstatefair.com
