Washington State Fair: Is it worth it?

The Washington State Fair hosts two annual events – the month-long State Fair, in September, and the four-day Spring Fair every April, both in the city of Puyallup. 

Numerous visitors to the fair have expressed their opinion that the Washington State Fair, much like its home state, has become very expensive.So the question is: is it worth it?

To tackle the issue of rising costs, I found ways to get around it, getting the Dizzy Pass, which offers unlimited access to rides, or purchasing one of the variety of offers such as the Season Pass, Fair Meals deal, or Experience Packages. 

However, just purchasing the regular entry pass paves way to a lot of activities,  including live cooking shows, face painting, animal and horticulture displays, musical performances, stage performances, fine art shows and other exhibits.

Another complaint I heard is that the food stalls are too expensive, but what seems to be  overlooked is that serving sizes are large, and the fair does not prohibit visitors from bringing their own food. Many of the stalls that serve drinks, like milkshakes and boba tea, also provide bottles that are both a souvenir of the fair, and reusable.

Now to answer the dealbreaker question: is it worth it? Hands down, yes, the Washington State Fair is worth every penny. It is the place where rides, entertainment, agriculture, animals, exhibitions, shopping, photo booths and delicious food meet. Time flies by at the fair, and almost every second is spent in pure enjoyment, excitement and anticipation. It is the perfect place for families, couples or anyone looking to have an amazing time. It is true the cost has risen over the years, but so have the amount of activities and exhibits.

The fair is a welcoming place for people of all ages. Not only are there numerous activities for adults but also an abundance of activities for children, ranging from big slides to horse and pony riding, and, of course, the stuffed toys won at game booths that bring a smile to every child’s face. There is also a smaller version of almost every ride or activity so the children feel happy and at par with their elders. Along with those, there are numerous stage performances to explore, paired with fireworks shows –  the icing on the cake after a long, but fun, day. The fair also offers a great number of seating spots and a variety of activities that accommodate visitors with disabilities.

Surprisingly, it is also a place where the rain does not hinder too many activities. Despite the rainy weather through many days of the fair, visitors still seemed to thoroughly enjoy themselves as the activities and booths were prepared to face the rain.

To quote the speakers at the rides in the fair, “everything good must come to an end.” The Washington State Fair comes to an end this Sunday, Sept. 22. But the end of summer paves way to the start of a new school year at Seattle Central, and the Spring Fair, which is only two quarters away. It is undoubtedly worth every penny for all the fun experiences, as memories last forever.