Utah State Fair

The good: Arts buildings! The area dedicated to photography was huge; bigger than any I’ve seen. Fine arts and arts & crafts are well represented too. I like how inclusive they are as well in different age and skill level categories, as well as disabled artists. The farming exhibit for kids was also pretty awesome.
The bad: The fair is tiny. Spent about 4 hours out there and was fully satisfied. Too many lame marketing booths and «as seen on TV crap» and not enough games, food or attractions IMO.
Food is obscenely expensive, even for a state fair. $ 8 corn dogs? Gimme a break. Not much selection either.
All told we had a good time, but only maybe $ 5 worth of good time.

It’s freaking state fair. There’s pigs and cows and produce and flannel. There’s destruction derbies, there’s rodeos, there’s live music from locals and washed up stars. There’s overweight people everywhere, everything is way overpriced. There’s food and drinks spilled all over the floors, there’s rides that have been in use since 1963 that we pay 15 dollars to put our children on. There’s 17 booths selling DirecTV and Dish Network services. There’s 12 Cricket dealers, smoked turkey legs, rocky mountain oysters, corn dogs, and this is all within the first 4 minutes of walking in. State fairs aren’t classy, and as long as you know you’re going to experience a very specific kind of fun, and are going to pay way to much for it, you should have a good time. If you’re looking for a cheap wholesome time with the family with healthy eating, you’re obviously going to be severely let down. So get your expectations right, and come experience all ‘Murica has to offer.

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…

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.

Ok $ 8 bucks to park. $ 10 bucks to get in. $ 7 bucks for cheap beer. $ 14 for turkey leg, totally worth it. $ 5 for funnel fries that were half cooked, not worth it. Lets just say the fair isn’t cheap. Besides animals there is art done by amateurs and certain crafting such as pickeling (who would of thought.) Tons of swap meet items for sale including as seen on TV items like food choppers and massage things that shoot electricity in to your body. People watching is epic. I guess its worth it once a year but I remember the fair being more fun when I was high and I had the munchies, good ol’ days.

I just have one complaint. If I wanted to get treated like shit while trying to park my car, I’d try to force my way into the preferred season ticket holder parking at a jazz game. The fair was great, the parking crew needs to get canned

This is always a good & «classy» fall outing! I skipped the vendors & animals this year & went straight for the food & beer. They even have a vodka «Adults Only» area this year with mixed drinks! Parking is always a nightmare but where else can you get a fried snickers bar, right?

I ALMOST enjoyed going to the Utah State Fair for the first time.
Parking was meh. Food was meh. Food prices was… are you trying to rob me?
Expected the $ 9 funnel cakes to taste like sex… they didn’t.
Only expected the $ 6 chicken n waffle to taste like actual food… it didn’t.
The goats and sheep were cute and were definitely cuddle material but the rides and things were bahhh.
My conclusion is that my definition of fun and Utahn’s definition of fun are at opposite ends of the rainbow.
Lol

There seems to be less amusement park rides this year at the fair than in the past? Has anyone else noticed that the «Spider» or sometime called, «Octopus» ride was missing?

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.

My suggestion: have the organizers of the Utah State Fair use some of the proceeds from the fair to attend a «real» Fair in another state to educate themselves as to what it’s all about…
I was spoiled, and had the opportunity to patronize the Puyallup fair in Washington State for several years in a row (crusty pups, how I love thee!). So, I suppose I had high expectations. But even if I hadn’t known what to expect, I think I would have been disappointed.
$ 7 for a yucky corn dog. $ 7 for a deep fried snickers bar that tasted more like the grease it was cooked in, than anything satisfying.
I will say that some of the blame for a poor experience lies at my feet. I decided to go on «Family night». Need I say more?
I’m quickly learning that if a discount is offered somewhere in the State of Utah, half of the entire population will show up.
I’m thinking I’ll stick to attending the smaller fairs (for me, that’s the Davis County Fair; and it was great!). However, if I do go back to the state fair, I won’t go on a day when a discount is offered.

I’m from out of state, and thought I would check out the local fair while working in the area. The Fair was nice, but I thought it would be larger being that this is a State Fair. Far fewer rides than I have experienced at county fairs, but they had the staples including the Ferris Wheel, Titl-​o-​Whirl, Scrambler and even a Fun House. But the rides aren’t the reason for going to the Fair — its the food and the animals for me. Okay that may sound a little sick petting some animal one moment and then chowing down on some beef, chicken or pork the next. But I do enjoy seeing all the different types of animals. And the food is always great. Love the grilled corn.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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!

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.

State fairs are funny things. Some places they are HUGE others they are mediocre. Some you can see in a day and others take 3. The Utah State Fair is small, can be seen in an afternoon, and is OK as fairs go. It reminds me more of some county fairs in other areas.
The rides are OK. The midway is small the food is plentiful and bad for you and the livestock, quilts and produce are all here. Prices are, well, fair prices. Be prepared to clean out your wallet. The concerts can be good and can suck, but they are not crowded.
It all sounds like a fair. Don’t expect the California State Fair and you will be happy!
Oh and check out the butter cow and the deep fried bacon on a stick smothered in chocolate!

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.