Always a good time at the state fair ! Food has great variety, felt like this year had less shop/stands variety The ferris wheel was broken down so I was so disappointed that I couldn't go on it !! But loved the games they had, everything is just so expensive these days so we found it hard to justify a lot of items or activities. Still a fun and must do activity every year ! It's a perfect activity for the beginning of fall vibes :) read more

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I had never been to the fair before this year, and likely won't be back. It costs $15 for adults to get in, $10 for kids and that doesn't include any ride tickets. You have to purchase ride tickets separately, and most rides are between 4-10 tickets, with some of the bigger rides up to 15 tickets. There were a lot of really cool food places, but the prices for food were astronomical. We got a grilled cheese sandwich to split and it was $20. Most of the food prices were averaging $20 per item, and we looked at getting a boba and it was $12. We stopped by a cotton candy stand and some of the custom cotton candy items were up to $25. I genuinely don't understand how things were so expensive or how people are able to take large families here! It's so much money. We ended up spending $20 At McDonald's afterwards to feed the four of us. They had farm animals to pet, and we spent a lot of time there. I would recommend going to a show or the rodeo - that seemed to be fun. It was also fun to go in the evening and watch the sun go down/the lights of the rides turn on. Parking was also a mess - I would recommend taking the trax if you can. We lucked out with a close spot in the neighborhood. I'm not a crowds or rides person, so my review may be biased, but after our experience here I won't be back. It was fun to experience once, and the kids had fun, but I don't see a need to go again! read more

Utah state fair has really changed over the last few years for better and worse. This year was no exeception. One of the biggest changes is the price of the event itself. $15 entry and $20+ for most meals is extremely high. Not to mention ~$4 for any of the rides that you might want to take. Also the concerts aren't nearly as cheap as they should be. Apart from the prices, it's nice to see that some of the food vendors have changed up, and it's not just a complete repeat every year with the same offerings. They could use a little more variety, but I didn't mind the options overall. The events themselves have been great, with a large number of free entertainment and things to watch, if you check the schedule first. The atmosphere is fun and it's worth visiting annually, or at least every other year. read more

The state fair grounds hosts many different events, but I went for the Rodeo. The rodeo event itself started at 7pm and I got there around 6:20pm, but the official parking lot was full. So I had to find other parking arrangements. I would recommend either budgeting additional time for parking lines or having something else lined up. The line to get inside was very smooth and fast. There was one main area for food and other vendors, but towards the arena, there was also various food and drink vendors available. The arena itself is what you'd expect. Overall, the rodeo event was very fun and entertaining. It was my first time and my favorite was definitely the bull riding, but I was also introduced to a bunch of events I had never heard of before! After the rodeo was finished, around 9pm, we decided to take a stroll through the other part of the fair grounds. This area was where the bulk of food vendors were located. There were also a bunch of kiosks and shops selling their products. Prices for food varied and I didn't think they were outrageous, but definitely a few items did not seem worth the price. Overall, I enjoyed my first time at the 2025 Utah State Fair rodeo and I would definitely do it again! read more

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I enjoyed visiting the Fair in September 2024 and several times from 2008 through 2016. Go soon after it opens if you can, to beat the rush. I parked inside the Fair complex, well away from the entrance. Usually warm or hot in the day but in some years, it can get cold at night. I always visit the agriculture exhibits in the red brick Agriculture, Sheep, or Cattle barns. Good to see prizewinning vegetables and farm animals! That reconnects city dwellers like me to farming and ranching, where our food comes from. Have also watched some good rodeos here. The best food stalls are in the brick buildings near the food court. This year I enjoyed a slice of pepperoni pizza and then a Leatherby's pistachio ice cream followed by a boba tea. I have previously had Dole whip, Mexican street corn or elote, turkey legs, funnel cakes, and poutine. A turkey leg lasted me for a couple of days! read more

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We were able to get tickets but the food is pricey. Like $16-18 per item. Everything smelled so good though so we spent way more than we should. I really liked the exhibits in the buildings. We went to the pork chop competition and able to taste taste the entrees after the judges did their tasting, would go back for that. I also enjoyed the quilting/knitting/sewing exhibit, amazing talent in handiwork. The fair was organized and very clean. Will be back. read more

I visited for Get Freaky 2024, which was their first year setting up at the Utah State Fairpark (previously only hosted at the Saltair). Such a great venue. Before entering the Fairplex, there's a spacious parking lot next to the DMV out front. We ubered as our hotel was only 10 mins away, but we saw plenty of attendees drive in. The venue is already set up for their state fair, which meant it's equipped with onsite flush toilets, food court, and bars. Alongside the existing buildings, the event organizers also placed food trucks and vendor stands to expand the variety. One of the buildings was set up for VIP ticket holders as a private lounge. It's definitely smaller than some other 3-day festival venues, but felt much more spacious and easy to navigate. read more

As a long-time fairgoer who is saddened by what the Utah State Fair has become. Once a proud, vibrant event, it now feels overpriced and repetitive, with fewer livestock exhibits and limited new attractions. Utah deserves a fresh vision and leadership to restore the fair's excitement and accessibility so families can once again afford, enjoy, and proudly share the experience. read more

I was very disappointed in the 2025 Utah State fair. I've been to county fairs that offer a better selection of livestock and quality vendors. If you're just looking for an expensive meal and cheap quality vendors, this is your place. I read an article about a gentleman who is trying to visit every state fair and gave Utah 7/10. I would hate to see the Nevada state fair that he gave a 3. read more

As a venue, the Utah State Fairpark is used throughout the year for various events including the State Fair itself, the Days of 47 Rodeo, trade shows and as a concert venue. Recently it was the site of the now annual Kilby Block Party which I was able to attend for two of the ghee days. This review is specifically relating to the Kilby Block Party at the Utah State Fairpark and how it worked as a venue for that event. The Fairpark has parking in its north end which was available, apparently as a pre sold ticket for this event. General admission parking was on the south side of the Fairpark on North Temple Street, near the TRAX light rail stop. We parked there and paid a $30 fee which seemed to be a very steep price for a distant parking area. Then, we found that there was no entrance on the south side of the Fairpark for this event and we had to walk about 1/3 of a mile to the far north west side of the Fairpark to enter. This was really inconvenient and hopefully for future events and alternate south side entrance will be added. Once in the event, we had a really nice experience with two talented bands playing throughout the day at four alternating stages. There were numerous food trucks and other eating venues, plus beer distribution areas where about four types of draft beer were served at $15 per glass. Also there were "weak" cocktail venues which served Utah level watered down punch drinks with a small amount of alcohol. Really a waste of money for such poorly crafted cocktails. There was also a merchant building which had a long line at all times, where one could buy merchandise from the multiple music acts and performers, plus an assortment of brightly colored concert posters and memorabilia. There were water distribution centers around the venue, but several had long lines and a 20 minute wait to fill a water container, which was a problem on the first day when it was really sunny and over 85 degrees. More water distribution centers should be considered for future events of this size. On the second day, (and also the third which I was not able to attend) there were some big thunderstorms which not only delayed the scheduled music performances due to a threat of lightning. On the screens of the performance areas attendees were urged to take cover until the storms passes. Big Problem! There were no interior areas which would have been available for shelter and indeed, we all just hung out and were rained upon until the storms passed. If there had actually been a lightning strike, it could have been catastrophic. Now for some good things; the music at the Kilby Block Party was great with local and national acts performing all day long from noon to 10:00 PM. A fee acts I really liked were Caroline Polachek, Japanese Breakfast, Osees, Domenic Fike, The Yea Yea Yeas and Run the Jewels. And there were so many more. It was a pleasure and a treat to have so many talented performers in Salt Lake City for what will, I'm sure continue to be a really epic event in future years. In summary, the Kilby block party was really fun. The Utah State Fairpark as a venue has a lot of wrinkles that need to be worked out. But all in all, the Kilby Block Party is an event that is certainly was and will be worth attending. read more

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I've been coming to the Utah State Fair for years. Part of the appeal is the nostalgia-the setup is the same each year-games, rides, food, exhibits-so you know just where to go. The weekends and evenings are the busiest, so if you prefer fewer crowds, visit during the day (but wear sunblock and drink lots of water-it can get hot!) The parking lot is large, but plan on paying $10 per vehicle. There is free street parking if you're lucky to find it, but plan a little extra time to talk in. And don't leave anything valuable in your car. It's not the best part of town. If you plan to go on the rides or play any games, come prepared to throw down a good amount of money. It's not a cheap activity. Food's also pricey-but you can find all the greasy, sugary goodness that we've come to love about the fair. So I say, go ahead and splurge! read more

First, we are still in the middle of the covid stuff, so I appreciated that they had a mask mandate, and social distancing tables for eating. They had arrows on the floor for the shopping and booths. They also had all employees in masks. That said, I felt safe and had a blast. We saw a stage show. They have adorable baby animals to see. A ton of rides to go on. Games to play. Food galore! And so many seating areas you could distance and relax comfortably. This state fair went all out to make 2020 a much better end of summer than beginning. It felt as close to normal as I've felt in 6 months. Thank you to the staff, planning comitee, and security. read more

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I look forward to the fair each year. I think it began when I was a kid because my sister LOVES animals. We would go to the fair specifically to look at all of the farm animals. So it was kind of exciting to bring my son here! We went in the afternoon so it wasn't as busy which was really nice. We went through the animal buildings first, goats, cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens. Some of them were being washed and given haircuts for showing which was something I've never seen firsthand before. There was also a building where you could touch the animals, but it was really busy so we didn't make it in there this time There is a really cute activity for kids where you can do little farm tasks, there is a place to play like you're in a grocery store, collect false eggs, I'm not sure what else, but SO cool for littlest! We looked through some of the booths selling items, very wide array of things from home decor to paintings, fridge magnets to Knick knacks. Jewelry and even hot tubs. Now I assume if you're going to the fair, you've got to stay long enough to get your money's worth! And chances are your stomach will get dumbly and your mouth will water when you pass by any of the multitude of food options! Boba tea, teriyaki noodles, dole whip, dippin dots, lemonade, BBQ, burritos, corn dogs, Mexican street corn, hot dogs, turkey legs, funnel cakes, poutine are just some I can name off the top of my head. Honestly I think there is something for everyone. But as mentioned in other reviews, each item is nearly double what you would pay outside of the fair. My husband and I shared a steak burrito and a lemonade to hold us off until dinner. It was pretty good! The steak inside was amazing! We stay away from the rides in my family haha anything that can be picked up and moved makes me nervous. But they are cool to look at. We left not because we ran out of stuff to see, but a strong was starting and it got pretty windy and miserable. read more

Utah State Fair - Hamburgers and hot dogs - Amusement Parks Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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The prices were pretty high. It was fairly expected given the nature of state fairs, but I expected the carnival games to be a bit more reasonably priced. It took $40 to win the smallest of stuffed animals. Kinda took the romance out of winning something for my significant other! Over all it was a fun experience. As adults without kids, we only needed 2-3 hours to have our fill. Great ribs with lots of meet on the bone. It would have been nice to see a map of the fairgrounds. read more

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Save your money, don't go. Not only has the ticket for the fair and parking increased but the ridiculous amount the vendors are charging for food and drinks is absurd. $25 for chicken kabob??? $10 for a dried hot dog???? Are you kidding me? They've turned what used to be a family fun event into a money gouging nightmare. So disappointed! read more

Three stars for a Particular reason- First, the Nitty Gritty- I was a performer and also had friends as musicians who performed at the State Fair. The people for the most part are really nice and friendly, However park directions were unclear- I was not sent with a map to know where to go for which stage I was assigned to perform on, and entry prices for anyone I knew that tried to come and see me & hear me perform, said that they were a little ridiculous in combination with food prices there as well. Something that all of my fellow performers and I agree on as well is that it is ridiculous how long it takes for them to "Process" payments if you are a performer that is getting compensated. The wait time is 30 DAYS afterward, and not even that but it's been over 50 days now and they are "Still processing" my invoice which I had to create another account on. It does not make sense to me why they can't have it be simply a check of sorts that you can pick up same day, after you perform. The process just to receive the compensation is ridiculous and overcomplicated. I have had to call their office a few times now just to check up and make sure that the process gets finished. While I do understand that there are multiple facete points by which the State Fair operates in order to even function, The payment process does not need to be as complicated as it is. The good parts: I will say though that I appreciate all the people working in the office however as they have been so patient and understanding, and I know that they've got to receive all sorts of calls on the daily. Same goes for grounds workers (Though their sense of giving directions for some could use a little bit of work) And the stage crew/sound guy was super nice & super professional and did an excellent job in making sure that what I was hearing and what the audience was hearing sounded good and was balanced. Food was delicious, but overpriced. And don't get me wrong, I appreciate the opportunity to perform & had a blast! It was super fun and I had a good time, I could care less about getting paid to some extent- Just the system they have in place is weird and overcomplicated in my opinion. So my overall review really is that it isn't terrible, but also not the best. read more

Listen it's the state fair! Yeah it's expensive. Yeah it attracts that carnie lifestyle from vendors hustling up "as seen on tv" products but shoot it's all fun. $12 to get in is a bit steep but $21 for a turkey leg is just ridiculous, but delicious! I'm not sure if they would allow outside drinks or food this year. My son had a blast. We went on some rides that seem to b newer and safer. In the past I didn't trust the janky things. Playing games is a total rip off. Like 3 balls for ten bucks! No thanks. Animals were cute. My son loved the horse rides. We were there for almost 7 hours and had a blast. I think I still spent more money at the Greek fest! Well worth it this year. Heeehaw read more

It's Fair Time. About every other year I get a craving for Fair Food. You know Funnel Cakes Giant Corn Dogs and other things that should never be fried but are and you kind of like them Yes we had all of the above and went to all of the free entertainment. The bands were good The Comedians and Magicians were entertaining when you just needed to sit down to eat that Fair Food The people watching is the best. There always seems to be the same kind of people there. I can say that well because I was there too It's $8 to get in Parking another $10 and we spent about another $60 on said Fair Food It only comes once a year so go people watch and eat something new and have fun read more

This is the location for many events in the Salt Lake Valley including the Utah State Fair and Days of '47 Rodeo. There is also a DMV located on property. I think it is a great space of land. They usually have lots of food options. Be prepared to walk everywhere you go on the property and know that parking is limited. read more

They really need to limit the number of tickets that can be sold to this. Lines were over an hour long to do any rides. There was even a giant line to get into the venue, but they weren't telling anybody they could skip it and easily get entry tickets on the website. It was so overcrowded, it wasn't even enjoyable. It felt like Disneyland, but worse. The events they put on look fun, and maybe if we went another day or time it would have been a bit better. The only thing I got out of it was something to do on a Saturday night- as in just walking through giant crowds, looking at people selling stuff. The state fair was nothing like this 20 years ago, it used to actually be fun. read more

Today I realized something: I love the state fair. I mean, I always knew that it was fun, and I make it a point to come every year, but I really just love the whole atmosphere. The displays, the vendors, the games, the music, the food (oh, the food!) and the other things that you only see once a year. I also love that second part--the once a year thing. I love coming to the fair, but I also like going home. It's exhausting, can be expensive, and after having your mind blown so many times (both by talent and by the weirdos who come out to the fair) you really couldn't do it more than once every twelve months. With that in mind, here are some tips to help you enjoy the Utah State Fair: - Parking is a zoo. Just fork over the $4-6 and park in one of the lots along North Temple. You can park down a residential street, but plan on hoofing it. - Look for discount tickets. $10 to get in is a bit steep, so look around town to see who has the cheapies. Usually you can save $3 at a local grocery store partner or something like that. - Not sure about other years, but opening day was half price today. - Go during the day. I mean, part of the charm about fairs is all the lights at night. But if you must go at night, pick a weeknight. Weekends are insane and that critical mass of humanity sucks the fun right out of it. - Take the time to cruise all the submissions. Poultry, livestock, photography, fine art, 4H, produce, crafts. It may not all be your cup of tea, but it's all fascinating. - Skip the vendor building. Honestly, it's like a giant "As Seen On TV" room and not in the good way. - Eat something horrible. Fried Jell-O. Elephant ears. Cotton candy. It's your right and obligation as a 'merican. Get on it. Go out and enjoy the madness. It's fascinating, frightening, hilarious, and a true piece of the American experience. read more

I am so pissed at myself for not ordering the hot dog stuffed into a hollowed out pickle and then battered and deep fried. I didn't see it till I already blew my load of cash. For a family of four, this can easily be a hundred dollar night. Last year we bought a hot tub and I can say that was the most expensive day at the Fair ever! Totally worth it though. This has become somewhat of a yearly tradition for my family and I am proud to say that I have it dialed in. First...avoid North Temple at all costs. I sneak in through the north and wind my way through residential Rose Park. Second...I never pay $10 in parking. I go during the week when its not so crowded and park on a residential street just North of the lots. Third, I was able to get discount tickets for $5 because I am a State employee. There are other discount tickets out there so look around. Save money where you can because it all starts adding up quick. My favorite things to see at the Fair are the arts and crafts, agriculture, and horticulture exhibits. The butter cow sculpture is mandatory too. The animals are always fun to see and you can pet most of them. I always leave wanting to get a pet rabbit and promising myself that maybe next year I will enter some work in an art exhibit. Oh and they have plenty of hand washing stations around. The kids love the games and rides. 30 ride tickets were $26. And each ride is about 3-4 tickets worth. The hands on farm is fun for the young kids too. They "work the farm" and then earn a buck for a treat at the end. This year I tried the "Mac Attack" sandwich ($10) which was shredded meat and mac and cheese on a bun. It was recommended by one of the security guys working there, who has eaten one every night so far. It was ok. I should have gotten the deep fried pickle dog. I always get a Moon River Farm Roasted Corn. And the local Peaches stand in the food court area is a great way to finish the night. Oddly enough, I ate no fried food on this last trip. There was everything you could imagine being fried up...pop tarts, moon pies, cookie dough, cheescake, you name it! Til next year... read more

Utah State Fair - Nothing like a State Fair Sunset - Amusement Parks Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

We had a great time at our first Utah fair experience and there is a ton to see and do, but this is definitely geared toward adults, families with older kids. You need a few hours at least to see everything there is to see, plus lots of dough to throw out for any extras (rides, food, games). This could get very expensive for a family. With our two little preschoolers, we did really enjoy all the livestock barns (so many! Cows, goats, sheep, birds, butterflies) before the kids got bored and tired and wanted to go home (ha!) I also really enjoyed the photography exhibit but had a hard time finding it (upstairs above the arts and crafts). There is a nice little area with board games and shade for families to rest and let their kids run around in the grass. That is a nice reprieve. Parking is a bear - if you have kids, it's better to fork over the $10 and park in the dirt lots across the street. There is free street parking but you'll have to walk quite a ways. There are always coupons available for discounts on admission, too - keep an eye out for those. This will be so much fun when our kids are older. Can't wait for that. In the meantime, we'll wait until then and save our money. read more

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I love the Utah State Fair! It is a great celebration of Utah culture, people, and entertainment. Thursday, the opening day, is the best day to go in my opinion. Admission is half price. There are way less people. And the animals pens aren't as stinky. We usually go to the State Fair every other year because the fair doesn't change much year to year. My favorite exhibits are the animals, the photography, and the artwork. We usually skip most of the rest. I've had photographs in the Utah State Fair show several times and won a number of awards. It is a pretty good show with LOTS of photographs to see and lots of talented photographers. If you don't usually check out the art or photography you should. Rides make my dizzy most of the time or motion sick, so I skip them most of the time. I wish I could enjoy their rides but they are just not for me. If you like rides the Utah State Fair has lots to choose from. Again, Thursday is the best day to go because admission is less and there are less people -- so shorter lines. You can thank you me now. Although I've usually made a habit of grabbing a corn dog and fries, a lemonade, and some other tasty treats at the fair I think in the future I'm going to pass next time. The food is overpriced and usually pretty mediocre. I don't what I was expecting but for my money I usually expect more. read more

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Year after year this event happens and year after year I come back and leave a couple pounds heavier. The state fair is such a fun place to be, but do be careful because there is ton of food here and fried everything. If you're watching your weight and want to stay away from temptation, stay away from the state fair. There is an entrance fee and I think it varies every year. This year it cost $10. Here is a helpful way to save money, and that is to park one or two block away and walk there. Parking at the state fair is also $10. Now onto my favorite thing when coming here. The food!!!! There is literally fried everything, if you can think of how delicious it is, you can for sure imagine how great it is deep fried. Every year there is something new and you can always try a lot of new thing. The things I always get here is a turkey leg. It's always so delicious. I've recently discover the mini donuts covered in chocolate. Totally recommend it. I usually get a funnel cake, but this beats the funnel cake. Now if you can truly resist all the temptation of all the good food here (idk why you would), there are other things to do. There are plenty of rides you can play or even fun carnival games such as darts, baseball throw, etc. you do need to pay for each of them. There are other things to do, like shopping if that is your thing. If not, you can always stroll into the barns and see all the cute animals. But if you do go on the last day don't expect to see a lot of animals. When I went most of the animals went back home already. There was like 3 cows and a some Sheeps. There was a room filled with chickens and rabbits though. This is an event for everyone, no matter how old you are. You will always have fun here. read more

Utah State Fair - Time to play - Amusement Parks Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

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I love a fair more than just about anything so it pains me to write this 2 star review. I got suckered into buying the unlimited ride passes. I have one word for you -- DON'T! It's a colossal waste of money. First off, there are hardly any rides. This is more like a quaint county fair than a state fair. Second, half of the rides there had signs posted that said "we don't accept unlimited ride wristbands." WTF?!? All the good stuff you want to ride isn't included. The food stands are just okay and are, as is to be expected, super overpriced. I didn't see much that I wanted to blow my calories on. I did end up eating a $14 funnel cake. Yes folks, FOURTEEN DOLLARS. The flies and bees buzzing around the root beer and lemonade stands made my normally iron stomach turn. If you are into quilts (and really, really BAD art), make sure you don't miss the arts and crafts buildings. They are hilarious. We had the most fun awarding our own "worst in show" ribbons. A giant handpainted canvas of a soaring eagle complete with guns and the American flag took our "prize." The vendors in the buildings are all the same -- stupid crap as seen on t.v., old people mattresses and amazing ginsu knives! The best part of the fair are the livestock exhibits. Cute goats, cows, pigs and more. That part is always fun until you realize that these cute critters are probably days away from being slaughtered and on somebody's plate. I won't be going back to the Utah State Fair unless I get a free pass or something. It just wasn't that much fun. read more

Utah State Fair - Duck races - Amusement Parks Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

While this is a small state fair, We still had lots of fun there. I liked the goats the best, as well as the other animals. We went to a stage show, did some rides, ate some food, and had a lime Hawaiian ice. There is headliners at night..... I am glad I went.....but I must say.....its SMALL compared to California State Fair. Thanks to all involved in Utah that put on or were part of the fair. The funniest part of the state band judging was the judge of the jazz bands. We showed up and he was a bit of a crazy man putting down one jazz band for their music, the one they sat, the way they looked, and so much more....but kept saying - since they drove a long way, given them applause. (Note: I wish the judge had been a bit nicer but the band took it in stride.) read more

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Poorly managed - it makes the airlines look competent. Too expensive; too crowded. Lines are so long you can't get any food or ride any rides. It's totally not worth it. read more

OK, I'm going to go all out and say, we had an unforgettable day here! As a city girl, I am not accustomed to seeing middle school or high school aged children who are so familiar with pigs and calves. Thus, I spent an unusual amount of time watching the children parade their livestock around the fenced in demonstration area for the judges. Somehow this was fascinating and I was mesmerized. Most spectators seemed to find this not quite as unusual an experience as it was for me. There were other unique experiences. Most were entertaining simply because I had never seen anything like it before in my entire life. I guess this was my first state fair out West. Many of the exhibits were unique (to me, again). There was a gigantic sculpture made entirely of butter. There was an entire room filled with handmade quilts. I guess I just never met anyone who makes quilts. In another room, there was a science exhibit with photos from outer space. They were magnificent works of art. The magician and the mindreader were both silly and skippable. I also spent a great deal of time looking at the sheep wearing custom embroidered coats. The ice cream eating contest was hilarious. Overall, a fun day at the fair! read more

Well for my first experience for a fair it was okay. The food options are good. The rides are good. As expected- everything is pretty over priced. Most of the staff looks like they've been up all night and coming down from a good one... if not still on one. One booth the guy could barely talk to us with out his jaw moving in all directions and sweating like there is no tomorrow. Another didn't even know what he was saying.. My son got something the first try and the guy running the booth wanted to charge us more just because he didn't expect him to hit it.. my son is 5, it shouldn't be about ripping off a 5 year old for an extra $10 because he was good at the game. I always imagined the fair being much more exciting and much better experience. Better luck next year. read more

Typical state fair: food, rides, animals, vendors. $10 entry fee??? Good thing I wasn't paying. Of course there were tons of cardiac arrest causing yummies. When we were there, it was the last evening of the fair so most of the animals had already gone to market but the grandkids seemed to really enjoy the livestock that was still around. Another positive of going on the last night was that they were offering some "buy one get one free" hot dogs and other snacks. Parking ranged anywhere from $5-$20. We were lucky to find a spot for $5. read more

I love fairs and all of the deep-fried gooeyness that goes along with them. I had to work at a booth in the market building for a few days during this year's state fair and I enjoyed it for the most part. I think I may be allergic to sheep, or cow, or pig. I was near all three and sneezed all day long. I tried the chocolate covered bacon. It was interesting but not worth all of the media attention OR the price. I had fun and I will go every year I imagine. Oh, and if you buy the ride wrist bands online you save $5! read more

Do your research about discounts and family day, park on the street, eat lunch before you go, and have a great time at the fair! We go for the agriculture, viewing the livestock, looking through the winning produce and to take a ride on the giant slide. We don't care so much about the overpriced carnival or games. Watch a heifer judging, talk to the beekeepers association, walk through the crafts building. You'll learn something new and be inspired! It's pretty small compared to other rodeos/fairs we have been to, but we really enjoyed most of what the fair had to offer. A great annual outing. Fun for all ages. Go see the goats. read more

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Well I've been to a lot of fairs, and when it comes to a State Fair I expect it to be interesting. This fair did have some good buildings filled with really good art from all ages and groups including the craft projects we all wish we had time to waste making ourselves for a cute $1 store second place ribbon. I always enjoy that. They had shows sprinkled around here and there, fair food, games, farm animals, and a butter sculpture. That I have to say was a good time. It's worth an afternoon. read more

Utah State Fair - Butter Sculpture - Amusement Parks Near Me - Salt Lake City, Utah

I go to the fair most years. This year with Covid I was not expecting as much, and was still very disappointed. There were no pavilions open. About all there were was an exhibit of some sheep, cheesy souvenir stands, and fried food. One very disappointing thing was the "convenience" fee of $1 for my one ticket. I thought that it was just a sleazy way of saying the tickets cost $5, but you have to pay $6. Next they will likely add a "convenience" fee for parking, which already costs too much. Save your money and go to the zoo, aquarium, aviary, or other legit attractions. read more

I love the States Fair. From the horticulture building, and all the awesome home grown fruits, vegetables, butter sculpture and all the people milling about. I have to see everything in the horticulture building before I move onto the next building with all of the good finds in there! I love to visit the building where all the art is housed with all the wonderful things people in our community and throughput the state of Utah has crafted for the awesome Blue Ribbons! A friend got an award in photography and another got a blue ribbon on an awesome picture she crafted out of junk! The fair isn't complete until dinner is served, and a bag of kettle corn is in my possession. This year I opted for caramel and cheese corn, a giant caramel apple. I hunted high ñ low for dinner. Couldn't decide on the crazy long hot dog, the deep fried cheeseburger, or the Chile verde. It was the last night of the fair and the last hour. So with my kettle corn and apple, I hiked back to my car. I love parking in the neighborhood and walking in. That's part of the fair experience. And people watching! ! It's a lot of fun!! read more

Not sure what was going on this year, but there were no animals. There were a few cows, goats and sheep. One livestock house was completely empty, with 3 jersey cows on one end. I don't know if they all have been judged pand went home? Or if they aren't there yet? They had the bedding all clean and ready to go, but no livestock. We did go from 12-3, when I usually go in the evenings. That may have a big part in it, maybe just too early? Or took them all out for cleaning? Who knows. There's a few options for the adventurous when it comes to deep fried whatnot. Oreos, ice cream, cookie dough, twix.... I was bummed to see no alligator again this year. I know the prices are steepest at these places, but when 6 of the major booths are all the same company, and your hands are tied paying a base price of $8 for 1 thing, no matter where you go, I lost interest in giving my gut a rollercoaster ride. I just got a lemonade from their permanent brick building and call it good. My friends tried the curly fries and deep fried oysters on a stick. She liked it at first and then said everything at the fairs start to taste the same. She likes to try everything, so I trust her tastebuds. I had a bite. All I tasted was deep fried snot. I'm adventurous when it comes to exotic meats, but oysters...yikes. Still tasted ok though. It just looked green and scary. I wish the State Fair would feature more, if nit some local foods and goods. After all it IS the STATE fair. Not China's Fair, Not Missouri's Fair. Every tent there is filled with junk from China or places like Noveltees Wholesale. I don't even bother looking anymore. I guess going to the Fort Bridger rendezvous last week spoiled me. There were handcrafted things galore. There are so many talented people who make amazing food and crafts here in Utah, why not feature them?! (besides the exhibits with ribbons).I mean, to buy. People say buying local is expensive, yeah, I'm one of them who say it, but everything there is expensive anyways. But that's besides the point and now I'm rambling. Anywho, I wish there were more animals, local treats and goods ALONG with the carni foods. Workers are friendly, bathrooms were spotless. I don't know if I'm just getting old or if I just need to loosen up. I used to enjoy the fair a lot more. I will still go every year though! read more

Most over priced food and parking. Piggly's bbq is a joke. Their food is nasty and over priced. Got the fish and chips where dry. Old tasted like they where cooked the day before. When I told them. They didn't even say sorry. read more

Today I went to the fair. I find fairs to be funny things, one you pay to get into them, two you pay three times as much for all the items at the fair. Really the only free thing is seeing the live stock. Here are a couple of things you should know before going to the Utah state fair. 1. Tickets are $9 2. Tickets at Smiths are $7 (aka go to Smiths!) 3. Parking is $6 if you go to their lot, however if you don't mind walking a couple of blocks, there is plenty of street parking around. Shhh! Don't tell my secret. 4. Corn dogs cost $6, and don't eat one if you don't normally eat beef. 5. The goats are cute. 6. Every one has red fans that say "Be ready Utah" I guess it is the emergency preparedness campaign. 7. Everyone wins first prize. I don't know why. Overall it is a great place to spend the afternoon. read more

I love the Utah State fair for what it is: A place for people watching and eating unhealthy fried foods. The people watching is spectacular. So many different kinds of people show up out of the woodworks. I went to the Wilson Phillips concert last week and I sat behind two old men with their wives. The men had giant (I mean giant) cowboy hats and bushy mustaches but you bet they were singing along to all of the songs. Speaking of the concert, you get to see free/cheap shows every year. I couldn't believe how many people showed up for tickets to Wilson Phillips but hello! It was free. As for the pricey fair tickets, I got a killer deal online: 2 adults for $10. Also, if you go the opening day, it's only $5 a ticket anyway. The fried food is worth it. Footlong corn dogs, elephant ears, navajo tacos, fries, etc. etc. etc. And every year, there's a new fried craze. I think this year is the fried butter. I'm not sure how that works but I'm planning on going back this week to investigate it along with fried energy drink and kool-aid. I'm not up for eating exotic animals but if you are, there is a stand this year serving up antelope burgers, black bear burgers, fried alligator, and maggot melts. Make sure you grab some fried jelly beans and fried pickles too! Update: I did it. I had the deep fried butter. I was going to try the kool-aid but the guy convinced me by saying it tasted like a buttery biscuit. And you know what? He was right. It tasted like an overly buttered fried biscuit but it was actually pretty good in an "ew I just ate fried butter" kind of way. We also tried the deep fried skittles but I didn't care for the flavor combination. The man behind the deep fried goodness said he was under some influences when he thought these up. Is anyone really surprised? read more

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