The Washington State Fair is one of the biggest annual events in the Pacific Northwest, bringing rides, games, animals, food and entertainment to Puyallup each fall.
Whether you’re coming for the roller coasters, hoping to eat your weight in fair food, or bringing the kids to see the animals, there is easily enough to keep you busy for an entire day.
We’ve visited the Washington State Fair several times over the years, both before we had kids and now as a family. And while the experience has changed a little with two young children in tow, the fair remains one of our favorite ways to spend a late-summer day together.
Here’s a look at some of our favorite things to see, eat and do at the Washington State Fair.
Rides at the Washington State Fair
The Washington State Fair has rides for every comfort level, from roller coasters and spinning carnival rides to much tamer options for younger kids.
On our latest family visit, we rode several together, including the Wildcat roller coaster, Tilt-A-Whirl and haunted house.
Our kids also spent plenty of time exploring SillyVille, which has a collection of smaller rides geared toward younger fairgoers. They floated around in canoes, spun in fire trucks, flew mini helicopters, and found plenty of other rides that were right up their alley.
If you have kids of different ages or appetites for adventure, there are enough options that everyone should be able to find something they’re excited to ride.
See the Animals at the Washington State Fair
You could easily spend hours at the fair without going on a single ride (but good luck with that if you have kids).
The animal barns have always been one of our favorite parts of the Washington State Fair. Depending on when you visit, you’ll find different farm animals and exhibits throughout the fairgrounds.
We made our way through several barns on our latest visit. Our daughter couldn’t get enough of the piglets and baby goats, while our son was especially interested in the pigeons and horses.
He also got the chance to take a pony ride, which costs extra but was another highlight of his day.
Beyond simply seeing the animals, we enjoy walking through the barns and learning a little more about them.
What to Eat at the Washington State Fair
Come hungry.
Food is almost as much a part of the Washington State Fair experience as the rides and animals. There are stands everywhere selling corn dogs, burgers, barbecue, ice cream, fried food, and just about anything else you can imagine.
Our family did our part on our latest visit.
We ate Krusty Pups corn dogs, shared an elephant ear, had ice cream and chocolate-covered strawberries and somehow still found room for one of the fair’s most famous traditions: Fisher Scones.
You can certainly be more restrained than we were, but where’s the fun in that?
Play Some Fair Games
Then there are the games.
You’ll find all the carnival classics around the fairgrounds, offering countless opportunities to spend money for the possibility of bringing home an oversized stuffed animal you never knew you needed.
We raced each other in the Triple Crown horse racing game, threw darts at balloons and netted rubber ducks.
Were we financially better off afterward? Absolutely not.
But the kids walked away with a new supply of stuffed animals, so they considered it a very successful trip to the fair.
How Much Does the Washington State Fair Cost?
There’s no getting around it: the Washington State Fair is expensive. If I could make this even bolder and underline it five times, I would.
Admission is only the beginning. Rides and games require tickets, fair food isn’t cheap, and some additional activities, including things like pony rides, cost extra.
We were fortunate to have free admission tickets on our latest visit and still managed to spend hundreds of dollars during our day at the fair.
With a family, those costs can add up remarkably quickly.
That said, we didn’t leave regretting what we’d spent. We spent about seven hours together at the fair, riding rides, playing games, eating ridiculous amounts of food and wandering through the animal barns.
We had a blast.
For us, the Washington State Fair isn’t an inexpensive family outing, but it is something we’re happy to splurge on occasionally for the experience. We call it our World Cup: we can afford to experience it once every four years.
Tips for Visiting the Fair With Kids
If you’re bringing younger kids, plan on spending more time at the fair than you might expect. There is a lot to see, and bouncing between rides, games, food, and animals can easily fill most of a day.
There are also plenty of things for kids to do beyond the rides. Both of our kids had fun driving pedal tractors around the free tractor track.
SillyVille is a great place to start with younger kids before deciding which of the bigger rides they’re ready to tackle. We’d also recommend building some quieter stops into the day. Walking through the animal barns gave our kids something completely different to do between rides and games.
And set your spending expectations before you arrive. Between food, rides, games and extras, it’s very easy to spend more than you planned.
Most importantly, don’t feel like you need to do everything. The Washington State Fair is huge. Pick the things your family is most excited about and enjoy the day.
Plan Your Visit to the Washington State Fair
The Washington State Fair takes place in Puyallup each fall, but dates, admission prices, ride prices, hours, and attractions can change from year to year.
Before heading to the fair, check the official Washington State Fair website for current dates, ticket information, entertainment schedules and other details.
We’ve experienced the fair as a couple and now as a family with kids, and there’s something fun about finding new reasons to enjoy it at different stages of life.
It’s crowded. It’s expensive. You’ll probably eat something you don’t need and come home with at least one stuffed animal you definitely don’t need.
And you might just have an unforgettable day together.
