The Washington State Fair returns

Bring the whole family out for a fun filled day at the fair

By Claire Nunn on August 20, 2021

The Washington State Fair is right around the corner and the smell of hot fresh scones and Krusty Pups is in the air. And after a year of no fair, boy are we ready. 

Located about a 25-minute drive from Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Puyallup, this is a yearly tradition that is not to be missed. 

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The fair will run Sept. 3-26, except for Tuesdays and Wednesday Sept. 8. Right now through Sept. 2, online tickets can be purchased at the lowest price possible. Any day tickets including weekends are $13 for ages 13-61, $11 for children six-12 years old and 62+ and children five and younger are free. Starting Sept. 3, online tickets will remain the same for weekday tickets, but will increase $2 for weekend tickets for ages 13-61 and $1 for children six-12 years old and seniors 62+, children five and younger will remain free. Gate prices run higher than online ticket prices, so it's recommended to purchase online prior to attending. 

A couple of free admission fair days to be aware of include free gate admission on opening day (Sept. 3) for everyone between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. with a suggested non-perishable food donation; Friday, Sept. 3 through Monday, Sept. 6, free admission for kids ages 18 and younger, courtesy of BECU; and Friday, Sept. 10 is free gate admission for all 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. with a suggested new school supply donation.

Every Monday is free admission for all active, reserve and retired military, National Guard and their dependents, plus disabled veterans, when each shows valid military ID at any fair gate.

Once inside the gates you will be fully immersed in everything there is to love about a fair; animals, rides, exhibits and of course food.

It's hard to know where to start when it comes to which fair food to try, but a Fisher scone is a must. These are the quintessential Pacific Northwest fair food and they're incredibly delicious. There will be several stands throughout the fairground to pick-up from, with the largest one located under the grandstand. You will definitely want to indulge in one right on the spot, but you can't go wrong grabbing a bag to go. Pro Tip: grab a large bag of scones and freeze them to indulge in throughout the year. 

Exhibits include the hobby hall, which is an assortment of different collection entries. New this year is the Hall of Heroes, which brings guests into the superhero world, crime-fighters, gadgets and more. Plenty of other exhibits will keep you entertained during your visit as well.

Rides for all ages are at the fair, but a fan favorite will definitely be the big yellow slide. This ride will have the whole family giggling all the way down the slide atop their burlap sack.

Throughout the duration of the fair a concert series will also be taking place featuring Carrie Underwood, Macklemore, Old Dominion, Steve Miller Band and many other artists. Concert tickets are sold separately. For a full list of performers visit https://www.thefair.com/concerts/.

The Puyallup Rodeo is back too. This popular event features the best in the business on the road to the National Finals in Las Vegas. Tickets are sold separately. For more information on the rodeo and to purchase tickets visit https://www.thefair.com/rodeo/

For all additional information regarding the fair and to purchase tickets in advance to save money visit https://www.thefair.com/.