Things To Do Utah This Weekend: Utah State Fair 2010

The Utah State Fair beings today! We have gone as a family and has a date for just the two of us.  It is always quite an experience to see, smell, hear, and taste what the Utah State Fair has to offer.

We love to go and see all of the exhibits and commercial vendors.  It is fun to try new products, and get a few FREEBIES that they are offering.  PLUS who can argue with yummy, greasy, unique fair food?!?! Plus they have livestock buildings that kids tend to love (and you will love the smell ), entertainment – both FREE and ones that you will need tickets to, the carnival rides, and more!

Alex and Cassie like to walk around the commercial buildings.  All of the kids find the animals to be quite cool.  They espeically loved the chickens/hens and rabbits as they could see them up close and at eye level. Both of these are FREE activities and gives you quite a fair experience! Of course we mean FREE by being no additional cost to your fair admission.

We have budgeted and planned to get some food. It is very pricey, but it is a once a year opportunity! Cassie’s favorite is the funnel cakes which are not super hearty, but they cost around $8 decorated with toppings. But oooooo so good! Alex loves the real dipped corn dogs that typically run around $5 each.  The kids seem to love just the usual fair food – cotton candy which runs about $5 a bag.

Also, don’t forget about the famous deep fried guy that has offerings only available at the Utah State Fair. He has had deep fried Snickers, deep fried PB&J, deep fried twinkies, deep fried brownie cheesecakes…… and I guess this year it looks like deep fried chocolate covered bacon! Wowza, I already feel 10 pounds heavier and 10 years closer to a heart attack!

We have never participated in the actual carnival part of the fair as it hasn’t been worth the cost to us or horribly safe (heard too many traveling carnival accidents that will make one quite leery. We are sure it is perfectly safe, but it is also not the interesting to us as a family with young kids! Maybe one day, but we will enjoy the fact that they seem quite satisfied with the FREE stuff. The carnival rides are very pricey – buying a wristband is the best way to save and below lists some wristband discounts. The normal price is $21.00 or $25 and the carnival ticket booth.

Details:

When: Sept. 9th – 19th opening at 10 am everyday and runs late into the evening.

Where: The Utah State Fairpark is located just outside Downtown Salt Lake City at 155 North 1000 West SLC 84116. The main driving entrance to the Fairpark is located at 200 North 1000 West.

More Information: Utah State Fair Website

Prices: If purchased at the Utah State Fairpark gates (see discounts below!)

• Adult $9.00
• Senior (62 & over) $7.00
• Youth (6 – 12) $7.00
• Children (5 and under) FREE
• All-You-Can-Ride Day Carnival Wristband $25.00
• Season Admission Pass $40.00
• Parking Daily $6.00

A few tips when heading to the fair:

• Even with discounts, prepare to spend money.  If you have strong self-control and only have to pay for your discount entrance fee, then you will save.  However, between the smells of the foods, fair happenings, vendors deals, we would be surprised if you didn’t walk away spending more than you planned.  Just be prepared – oh and take cash just in case, in fact, take more than you plan to spend as you can always put it back in the bank.  Most places to do not credit or debit (or checks for that matter) and the ATM fees inside the fair are ridiculous! By having plenty of cash, you are safer from risking the ATM machine usage.
• Plan to pay for parking. The actual fair grounds have a very large parking lot and you will need to pay to park (around $6).  Then for several blocks (with a few parking space exceptions, if you happen to stumble upon one), the local area residents and businesses will let you park in their parking lots for a few.  Some are the same cost as the fair parking (so check there first) and others will be discounted by $1-$2.  You will need cash to pay for the parking at most locations.
• The bathrooms are decent.  Honestly, I (Cassie) would prefer not to use them, but they are not actually that bad.  They will be very busy though.
• Heading to the fair more towards evening is a fun time to go as the lights and excitement seem to be buzzing more, plus you will stay a little cooler (which might not be much of an issue during the day this year).
• Take a stroller for your young kids.  All of our kids like to rotate and take turns taking a break as there is a lot of walking.  Pushing a stroller around is easy in most places.
• Plan on everyone and everything you have with you getting dirty and dusty – what is a fair experience without taking home the dust and dirt?
• There are a few places to sit and rest, but honestly not many or at least enough with the crowds.

Ways to Save:

• Discount State Fair Admission Tickets Available at Smith’s Food and Drug Checkouts for $7 beginning August 1, 2010, through September 19, 2010. Save $2 on Adult Gate Admission.
• $4 OPENING DAY SPECIAL, THURSDAY SEPTEMBER 9, 2010. Thermwise invites everyone age 6 and older to attend opening day of the Utah State Fair for only $4 ! Age 5 and under are FREE (everyday!) $4 admission also includes Utah’s Own PRCA Rodeo at 7:00 pm.
• PATRIOT DAY, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11, 2010 – As a “Thank You” to those who selflessly serve our state and country, all military, law enforcement and emergency services personnel, with proper identification, will be admitted FREE on Patriot Day.
• 2 NEWS FAMILY VALUE DAY, MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2010 – Free gate admission for anyone age 12 & under. Adults get in for youth price of $7. Purchase one All You Can Ride carnival wristband and receive a second wristband FREE. Compliments of Mighty Thomas Carnival and KUTV2.
• KSL 5 FREE PARKING, TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 14, 2010 – FREE parking from KSL 5 Television. Save $6 when you park in Utah State Fair Parking from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Visit ksl.com to print off your coupon today!
• FOX 13 “LAST DAY ” SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2010- check back here, or join us on FACEBOOK as a FAN of the Utah State Fair, and enjoy one last day of the 2010 Utah State Fair… this promotion will be “uncommonly GOOD!”

• ENTERTAINMENT COUPON “HAPPENINGS” BOOK Contains a Utah State Fair coupon for a BUY ONE GET ONE FREE FAIR GATE ADMISSION. Valid Monday -Thursday, September 13-16, 2010 only. (Not valid with any other offer)

• SCOUTS Wear your uniform and get $2.00 off gate admission price for scouts and leaders. Just print off this coupon and go directly to the ticket booth. Offer is not good toward Discount tickets. For more information call (801) 538-8400. ( See the “JUST FOR KIDS” page for more information on how to Celebrate 100 Years of Scouting with this year’s Utah State Fair!)

HAVE FUN!