A quick guide to the Colorado State Fair

Esteban L. Hernandez

Night carnival scene with a large Ferris wheel on the right, pink and purple neon spokes; a colorful cotton candy booth on the left and silhouetted people in the foreground. — The Colorado State Fair in Pueblo in 2019. Photo: RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images

The Colorado State Fair gets underway Friday in Pueblo to start an 11-day extravaganza.

🥳 Why it matters: This year's fair doubles as a celebration of two milestone birthdays: Colorado's 150th and America's 250th.

🎟️ State of play: Festivities this year include PRCA Rodeo, multiple concerts, a demolition derby, Monster Trucks, and a special Governor's Harvest Table with meals showcasing Colorado-grown food.

🤠 Musical acts include country stars like Ian Munsick (Aug. 28), Dylan Scott (Aug. 29), Neal McCoy (Aug. 30) and Jordan Davis (Sept. 4).
🪩 Vanilla Ice headlines an "I Love the 90s Tour" (Sept. 5), Mexican band Banda Machos (Sept. 6) performs during a charros celebration, and The Fray performs with Rome from Sublime with Rome (Sept. 6).

🎡 Between the lines: Unlimited carnival ride bands ($42) are available, though you can enjoy free family entertainment in the fairgrounds with admission.

🐴 Free attractions include a Great American Petting Farm, a Sky Drone Show, a roaming Stilt Circus, a sand sculpture and the State Fair Museum. Take a peek at the full schedule online.

🎆 If you go: The Colorado State Fair runs Aug. 28–Sept. 7. You can score discounted ($9) admission if you buy tickets before Friday.

Afterward, admission is $15 for adults and $7 for children 5-12.
Kids 12 and younger get in free on both Aug. 31 and Sept. 7. And admission is free Sept. 1 if you donate two canned food items at the gate.

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A quick guide to the Colorado State Fair

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