Arizona Exposition & State Fair

Altough there is admissions at the door, I believe it was $15 per person, I think the should not charge. Make it affordable for families, cause those are you biggest customers because they have kids. You charge more than enough for the rides and the food and the games. Make it more affordable because still you are going to do more in profit. It was not to bad for me because I came when it was free to get in 12pm to 1pm today when you opened. And I am an older woman who dont get on the rides, so I didnt do to bad. However, I call still say it was one of the best times I had in a very long time. The Food was delicious. It was lot of fun, entertainment & prizes, and rides.The prices weren't as bad as I thought they would be. My family and I had a ball. See ya'll again when you come back to Phoenix AZ.

Where are all of the humans this year!!! ‍ Last year, it was crowded as soon as, the gates were opened as well as previous years!!! The heat never stopped humans before but, perhaps this year, it was possibly due to the heat being 106° that the crowd was pretty much crowdless! Parking was $15 whereas, last year it was $5 in the same spot I park each year. This year, I was offered free VIP parking but turned it down because, since no one was hardly here, I was able to park in a better spot than what VIP parking offered, which was literally steps away from the entrance. A Winwin!!! All of the food stands offered $3,00 items which is a drop from last years $4.00 prices. These $3 food items were full sized servings/portions and only available to senior citizens last year but this year, they were giving them to any and everyone. Upon entrance the photographers asked to take your photo for free... but, there's a catch... these humans will tell you that, the photos are free and to pick them up on your way out, HOWEVER, When you go to pick them up there's a charge, and a heavy one at that!!! ‍ ‍ ‍ The thing about these photos were that, they didn't even turn out great especially, if you're a human of darker complexion! I recommend taking em with your own camera and save your money. I found it interesting how the photos came out considering that it wasn't just my photo but other lighter skinned minority photos as well. I asked the guy working here why this was the case, in which he stated that, the photos come out darker due to the machine being used and that he wished that there were a way to correct it since all brown and dark minority photos, turn out darker than others!!! (Respectfully) He was nice and honest!!! Moving on...The first stop that we made after the photos, was the Arizona lottery booth, which was 1 of the first booths upon entry. I always love to stop here first, to spin the wheel. I won a popup hand fan as well as, $20. Yippee The second stop, was food food food... at one point, I was walking around with fry bread, chili fries and a slice of pizza eating them all. $3 each and all were full portions Yes, I am greedy!!! After an hour of digestion, I ended up eating a grilled hamburger with grilled onions, curly fries and a lemonade which was one heck of a deal at $9.99. To walk off our full bellies, I stopped inside the shopping tent to visit a friend whom I met last year and we've been pals ever since. My plus 1, left due to heat exhaustion. My friend who works here is such a fun diva to chat with. This human being has my hypertension beat... on steroids. Lol Sheesh dude is something else. Lol Funny and vibrant!!! I seen a poncho and bag that I wanted to get last year and finally was able to get a steal on it, this year by using my sales skills I then walked to see the 3 humans who were screaming on rides, and then to watch 2 shows before, I started to feel faint due to the 106° heat myself!!! Side note: I wasn't aware that, you can wheel and deal on merchandise sold at tents at the state fair but I'm thinking it's because of the economy that these vendors are desperately trying to keep afloat therefore, they were willing and dealing with customers. Although, it was fun and they gave me props for being a great bargainer it was also breaking my heart that I couldn't afford to buy them out entirely because they all were wonderful humans who deserved every cent made!!! I literally used very little sales pitch to get what I wanted but also, I didn't break them doing it because; I felt bad especially those vendors who had their kids working with them. They have to make money!!! They employees and customers even clapped for me for being a good bargainer lol Maybe, my calling is to become an auctioneer Finally: I was ready to leave after my last stop which was to visit all of the brand new vehicles on display at Toyota. I liked that Toyota had a nice group of 2025 vehicles showcased on the grounds with starting prices of $21k and up!!The 2025 RaV 4 and the 2025 pickup truck were nice vehicles. I won a tote bag here by participating in a bean bag game offered. I stopped to give them traffic and because, I love cars and suvs. Lastly, I went to watch one last amazing show, with acrobats really doing an amazing job swinging on bars and doing flips in 106° weather. They were all awesome!!! Granted that by now, you'd think that these vendors would buy shaded tarps to cover their aluminum stands for humans to sit and watch in Arizona but...‍ ‍ Although, I loved the crowd "as is " this year, I felt sorry for all vendors. This was a great time and day for all to visit! I'm looking forward to going again next yearThanks to all vendors, restaurants, and workers because in this heat... you all deserve 6 months off with pay!!! See yall next year AZ State Fair

Had a great time at the AZ State Fair with some close friends tonight! I'm not big on going to the Fair usually but it was extremely entertaining with this group, never a dull moment!$15 for parking and $15 for admission....not terrible. The food.....definitely on the "oh damn" side. $20 for a normal size bowl of Bacon Mac n' Cheese! To be expected though, it's the fair :)If you're thinking of going, give it another 2 weeks when it's a tad cooler outside.

I was going to give three stars, but the more I think about it, I just can't. I looked up the AZ fair info before coming into town, so I knew, for the most part, that this fair was going to be tiny, but I was excited to go because I have never been to another state's fair. I am biased to my own fair, in Wisconsin. It's HUGE. Probably AT LEAST 10 times the size of this fair. Size was not the only let down.Let's start with cost. At home, I can get tix for $10 or under, but they get you with parking at $15. AZ? $15 per person admission and $8 to park, but I had to cross a busy street to even get onto the fairgrounds!Food. At home, various local restaurants have food stands AND provide live entertainment. Duplicate drink (lemonade and soda) purveyors abound, but not for food. Food runs the gamut of everything you can imagine. AZ? The same vendor of turkey legs, brisket, and pulled pork at at least 3 or 4 locations around the grounds. Ditto the lemonade stands. AZ DOES have a couple of locations where you can get full on liquor drinks, like a whiskey neat. There is also a ton of taco and corndog stands. Rides. At home, the giant ferris wheel is $6 or $7 per person, and you're on it for at least 5 minutes. AZ? The giant ferris wheel was smaller, was $11-$13 per person, and went around 2 times. TWO!!! Every ride was at least $4 per person, minimum, where as at home, you could ride some for $3 per person. Vendors. Both were the same: bathroom remodel, overpriced and poorly made dresses, bags, jewelry, kids toys, basket of pick-your-own candy at $6.49 per half pound, AZ just has waaaaay fewer of these things.Animals. Arizona, come on. You had, and yes, I counted: 2 cows, 4 chickens, 1 turkey, 2 sheep, 2 pigs, 2 piglets, 4 camels, a donkey, a llama, an alpaca, and at least 4 breeds of goats, of which you probably had 100 total. Horses? Rabbits? Ducks? WHAT. THE. HECK.Do you offer a physical map of the grounds, or of the food vendors? Nope. You have a map of the fairgrounds at all the entrances, and also on your app. Which was near impossible to see in the sun that shines ALL DAY, CAUSE WE'RE IN ARIZONA!And finally, Arizona. I love you, but you can do better. There wasn't one piece of fair merchandise I could buy as a souvenir. Not even a post card. I had to settle for asking a stranger to take our picture in the picture frame thing set up in the coliseum. But hey, you had monster trucks!We went on $3 food day, where certain food items were only $3 a pop, and that was definitely enjoyable, barring the Chamoy pickle. Word on the street is that it was terrible.All in all, the Arizona state fair was pretty much what I expected, except for the food. I am definitely happy I went, I did have a nice time, but I do not see myself coming back unless it gets a drastic makeover.Honestly, you could be in and out in 3 hours or less. Wow!53/2023

My very 1st state fair! Was lucky enough to be in Phoenix this month to hit up the AZ State Fair. Their motto is "Fair is Life", and to be fair, my life has changed. I grew up with the LA, OC, and SD County Fairs, and in terms of landsize, the AZ State Fair falls short. But, it does make up for it by being moooo-arvelous. Sorry bout the cow joke. I've just never seen so many cows. Black cows, brown cows, big cows, small cows. For a city girl who gets excited seeing cows graze by the freeway, this close-up, fenceless encounter is jaw-dropping. The entire agricultural display & cattle barn is a fitting showcase of AZ's flourishing farming industry. Cow rumps were being measured for some competition. Young pigs were trotting around with their trainers. Even alpacas and llamas were in the mix. I regret missing the Native Spirit performance since it's a unique part of local culture, but I did get to try the Chili Meat & Cheese Frybread. I also regret not going on Fri for Taste of the Fair where certain menu items are only $3. Got a Blood Orange Tequila to drown my regrets.Browsed the local art entries, shopping halls, and finished my night with the Sky Ride. This ski lift ride is one-way so you could see the whole fair then take it back to the entrance. Get the app! I was able to buy my entrance tix on it & scan it to get in. It also has a searchable fair map & schedules. Parking wasn't as easy. The $8 lot was full, and there's no sign till you drive up close. On the way to the $12 lot, we found free neighborhood parking 1 mile away. My 1st state fair was a novel and fun experience. With the crowds I saw on a Thursday evening and the chaotic parking, they may need to make it bigger in the future. And bring in more cows.

I am specifically reviewing the AZ State Fair and not necessarily the Fair Grounds.Over the years my feelings about this place have declined drastically. It really started after going to the Texas State Fair in Dallas. It's difficult to top that fair experience. If you ever go, you'll understand why you can't view the AZ state fair the same.I'm writing today because i was suckered in to coming back. I said I wouldn't come back again last year for the same reasons. Decided I'd write a review to remind myself next year.$34 ticket for entry (2 people)$50 for about 8 rides. [only 8 rides!!!!]$29 lunch (tater tots and a flavorless turkey leg)$8 Dole Ice Cream$6 Ice cream cup$14 Four Peaks Kilt LifterTotal: I can't believe I didn't write a review last year after coming here and being so vexed by the quality of the food! Here's the deal... I come to a state fair for the food! Literally! Last year, I had that lobster roll and another lobster dish(I think it was lobster fries) because a newscaster raved about it... terrible. The worst money I ever spent. I vowed to never ever try a $30 dish at this fair again. Fast forward to Today... thinking I'll play it safe... I order a turkey leg ($19) . How could that be bad? You tell m: How do you pull a turkey leg off the grill and the thing is barely warm? Smokey in flavor yes, but lacking atrociously in seasoning(uhm Bigey, talking about you)! The only good thing I've had there in the last two years were the tater tots(because I asked them to make mine fresh and to cook them a little longer so they were crispy).One of my more recent finds at this state fair are the Mercados set up in a few places on the fair grounds. I alga e a star for those because they actually provide a cool place to relax on the warm AZ fall days. The mercados have interesting items that you can buy to clutter your house and junk it up nicely. Lol. All in all.... I'm saying I'll never return today .... As I sit inside the fair in the last day of 2023.... But I already know... I'll be back! Return Factor: 90%But I will not be buying "lunch" or "dinner" next year!

Was in town for my Girlfriend's birthday, and wanted to do a day visit to the Arizona state Fair. It had been years since she visited the fair, and I have never been to Arizona's fair. It was a good time.As in most fairs, that I have visited, its expensive. It's not the walk in cover, but the parking, get in, food, beer, and thats if your not there all day like us. The animals was as always so cute to see and visit. The petting area with the animals was free, so that was nice. There were lots of rides and games. Food options were a plenty.The vendors that were indoors, they could have been better or maybe better prospected by the organizers. The vendors seemed limited and almost reminded me of a swap-meet.My biggest issue was that there was zero entertainment. I get it, there will be at night. However, we dropped a few hundred dollars during the day and no DJ, no music, no bands nothing. There was not an ounce of entertainment during the day.My recommendation, don't go during the day at all!

Foodieland fair was quite a miserable experience. They must have oversold the tickets and were not paying attention to the timed entries. 90 minutes into Saturday, all food booths had lines of 20 deep and parking was a nightmare. Luckily, I didn't waste $12 on parking, only $6 on the ticket. Nothing was worth Waiting an hour for. They did have plenty of food booth, at least 100, but somehow it was just a mess of people and nowhere to sit either. At least, they made money.

It is a waste. Too expensive, food vendors don't wear gloves.No free disability parking. Takes up streets, entertainments sucks.Shut it down

Everything was overpriced. I paid $55 just to get in the door with the now-$40 parking-fees (if you don't want to walk far in a terrible part of town) and $15 for a ticket! It was $20 for nachos. And was it a huge amount? NO! It was ridiculous! They aren't Walt Disney World! Totally not affordable.z