Arizona State Fair – Rides, Food & Fun at the 140th Annual Fair
Fall is on the horizon, and in Arizona that means it’s State Fair time! The 2024 Arizona State Fair is celebrating its 140th year, bringing weeks of fun to Phoenix this autumn. If you love thrilling rides, indulgent fair foods, live music, and family-friendly entertainment, mark your calendar for this iconic event in September 2024.
When & Where: Fair Dates and Location
When: The Arizona State Fair runs from September 20 through October 27, 2024, open Thursdays through Sundays each week. (The fair is closed Monday–Wednesday.) That gives you multiple weekends to choose from to get your fair fix. Gates typically open around noon on weekdays (a bit earlier on weekends) and the fun goes until about 11 p.m. or later, so you have plenty of hours to play.
Where: The fair takes place at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in central Phoenix (1826 W. McDowell Rd, near 19th Ave). It’s the same site as always, easily accessible from I-17. Parking is available in fairground lots for a fee (usually cashless, so have a card), and there are also nearby private lots. On busy days, consider the park-and-ride or a rideshare to avoid parking hassle.
What to Expect: Classic Fair Attractions
The State Fair is a sensory overload in the best way possible. Here are the highlights you won’t want to miss:
- Thrilling Rides: With over 60 rides on the midway, there’s something for every level of thrill-seeker. Adrenaline junkies can spin and flip on extreme attractions like the Insanity or plunge from the sky on the Sky Diver drop tower. Prefer a tamer thrill? Take a relaxing whirl on the classic Ferris wheel (one of three Ferris wheels at the fair this year!) or let the kiddos hop on the carousel and Wacky Worm coaster in Kiddie Land. For one price, unlimited ride wristbands are usually offered during certain hours/days (such as on Thursdays) – a great deal if you plan on hopping from ride to ride.
- Fair Food: Diets, abandon hope all ye who enter here! The fair is famous for its over-the-top food indulgences. Stroll the food row and you’ll smell roasted turkey legs, sizzling frybread, and sweet cotton candy on the breeze. Must-tries include: giant turkey legs (smoked and delicious), funnel cakes loaded with toppings (do you want powdered sugar, strawberries and whipped cream, or maybe chocolate sauce and nuts?), and the ever-popular fried Oreos (warm, gooey, and surprisingly delightful). Each year brings new wacky creations too – perhaps Flamin’ Hot Cheetos elote (corn), unicorn cotton candy burritos, or donut cheeseburgers. Our advice: go with a group and share items so you can sample a little of everything. And wash it down with a fresh-squeezed lemonade or a cold prickly pear iced tea for that Arizona twist.
- Games & Midway Fun: Can you throw a ring on a bottle or pop enough balloons with darts to win a prize? The carnival games are a fair staple – challenging but addicting! Test your skills and maybe, just maybe, you’ll take home a giant plush Pikachu or stuffed giraffe. It’s all about fun, so set a budget for games and enjoy the playful competition. If you have little ones, many game booths offer smaller prizes for participation, so everyone walks away happy. Beyond games, the midway also has side shows and vendors – perhaps try your hand at the ladder climb or gawk at the world’s smallest horse (yes, those quirky attractions still exist!).
- Live Music & Shows: One of the best parts of the fair is the concert series at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum. Major musical acts spanning rock, country, pop, and Latin genres perform on select nights – and general admission seating is free with your fair ticket! (There’s usually an option to buy reserved floor seats if you want to be closer.) The 2024 lineup hasn’t been fully announced yet, but past fairs have seen acts like Trace Adkins, Gin Blossoms, and Ramon Ayala, so expect some crowd-pleasers. Besides concerts, entertainment is everywhere: the outdoor Coca-Cola stage features local bands and dance troupes daily; roving performers like stilt walkers or breakdancers might surprise you; and classic attractions like the demolition derby, rodeo nights, or a hypnotist show add to the fun (check the daily schedule so you don’t miss your favorite kind of mayhem).
- Exhibits & Animals: A trip to the fair isn’t complete without checking out the exhibit halls and livestock barn. Marvel at the blue-ribbon winners in categories like baking, photography, painting, quilting, and Lego building – you’ll see everything from elaborate homemade wedding cakes to the state’s biggest pumpkins proudly on display. In the livestock barn, you can meet farm animals up close: prize dairy cows, sheep, goats, pigs, chickens, even llamas and rabbits. The 4-H kids are often there tending to their animals and happy to answer questions. Kids can also enjoy pony rides or the petting zoo (usually set up outside the barn) with friendly goats and sheep. It’s a great way to remind us city folk about Arizona’s agricultural roots. And don’t miss fun extras like the hatching chicks exhibit or the bee observation hive in the agriculture hall – educational and adorable!
Tips for a Great State Fair Outing
- Plan Ahead for Deals: Check the State Fair’s website or social media for promotions. Common deals include $3 Thursdays (where admission or select foods/rides are $3), or free admission days for certain groups (like educators or military) or with certain donations (bring canned food on a specific day, for example). If you’re taking the whole family, these deals can add up to big savings. Also, consider buying admission online in advance to skip the ticket booth line – plus some online bundles include a ride wristband at a discount.
- Best Times to Go: Weekends are busiest, especially evenings when the concerts and date nights swell the crowd. If you can swing a weekday evening or a Friday afternoon visit, you’ll find shorter lines for rides and food. Alternatively, go early on a weekend day (right at opening); enjoy a few hours of fun, then maybe take a break in mid-afternoon when it’s hottest and most crowded, and come back in the evening for the lights and concerts. Remember, your handstamp or ticket usually allows same-day re-entry if you need to step out.
- Dress & Gear: Wear comfortable shoes – you’ll be walking and standing a lot on asphalt, dirt, and grass. September/October nights can be warm in Phoenix, but bring a light jacket or hoodie if you stay late, as it can get breezy. A small backpack or tote is handy to carry essentials: water bottle (you can refill at fountains), hand sanitizer, sunscreen (if you go daytime), and maybe a picnic blanket if you plan to relax on the lawn by the stage. Pack some cash too; while many vendors take cards, some smaller ones (or game booths) might be cash-only.
- Family Considerations: If you’ve got kids, locate the Kid Zone when you arrive – they usually have a map/brochure at the gate. There you’ll find the kiddie rides and often a family services tent where lost and found or nursing stations are. Write your phone number on a small card and tuck it in your child’s pocket (or use a safety tattoo) in case you get separated in the crowd. Strollers are welcome, but navigating peak times can be tough with one – try to visit the barn and exhibits (where a stroller is easier to maneuver) earlier, and perhaps use a carrier for little ones during crowded evening midways. The fair is loud and stimulating, so plan some breaks – the indoor exhibit halls can be a nice, air-conditioned cooldown period for overstimulated kids (and adults!).
The Arizona State Fair comes just once a year, bringing together people from all over the state for a celebration of community, culture, and fun. Whether you’re there to scream on a carnival ride, devour a plate of deep-fried goodies, sing along at a concert, or see a prize-winning pig, the fair offers a little something for everyone.
So throw on your favorite fair-going outfit, grab your friends or family, and head to the fairgrounds this September. We’ll be roaming the midway (likely with cotton candy in hand) and soaking up every moment – and you can bet we’ll share our adventures. Follow us on Instagram and Facebook for a peek at our State Fair fun (and all the crazy foods we try) and tag us in your own fair photos! Here’s to 140 years of tradition – see you under the neon lights of the midway!
