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Arizona Exposition & State Fair
Categories: Local Flavor Arts & Entertainment Local Flavor, Arts & Entertainment [Edit]
Arizona State Fairgrounds1826 W McDowell Rd
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 252-6771
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
50 reviews for Arizona Exposition & State Fair
50 reviews in English
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Review from sunny b.
I'm a native, I've lived in this beautiful state 35 years. I don't think a year has gone by when I have not attended the fair. This year was no exception.
I ate a turkey drum, deep fried twinkie, corn dog, grilled corn, caramel apple and a kebab (it was a long day).
I rode so many rides I almost puked. I can't remember the names of them, but they have a recently new one and it spins you while circling you high in the air. I got nauseas and it was fantastic.
I saw carnies with feathered hair and missing teeth. I saw gangbangers smoking who knows what. I saw a really trashy, heavy lady being pulled around in a red rider wagon by an equally trashy and heavy man. Did I mention she only had one shoe on?
I saw goats and chickens and pigs and they had a Bodyworks exhibit this year.
My boyfriend bought me a koala bear hat and his son a toy gun. We spent over 200 bucks and went home with sunburns and sickness. I love the fair! -
Review from gareth m.
Federal Way, WA
1/24/2012
As the high Arizona summer temps started their descent, and cooler weather began to emerge, the setting became ideal for the annual Arizona State Fair. I had not attended the fair since I was a small child, and had since spent the subsequent decades experiencing the Puyallup and other northwest fairs. The Arizona State Fair has certainly grown since I was a child and musical entertainment offered quite a variety of name acts ranging from Snoop Dogg to Billy Idol. Of course there were countless other local entertainers available throughout the run of the fair.
The midway offered plenty of popular rides including some very interesting water rides and roller coasters. Guests looking not to bust the bank may want to take advantage of the ride passes available during the week which allow guests to take in unlimited rides for a set fee which is much cheaper than paying for each ride individually, as after 4-5 rides the pass pays for itself.
Numerous food vendors adorn the midway offering a nostalgic bouquet of aromas to tantalize the senses. Everything from the traditional hot dogs and burgers to turkey legs, Mexican food, and the amazing Navajo tacos were available. But there was also an offering of many public service booths as well as interesting sideshow attraction that harken back to the best midway freak shows.
There was no shortage of vendors throughout the fair, although it did take a bit of adjustment for me as I had become so accustomed to the vendors in the Northwest. It seemed odd not to be inundated with saunas, hot tubs, and fireplaces available at special fair pricing. While at first some of the vendors seemed to be offering items typically found at a swap meet, sticking it out we were able to find a very nice mix of items available.
Of course it wouldn't be a fair without livestock and we certainly enjoyed the great array of animals that were available for viewing in the livestock barns as well as the numerous agricultural exhibits. My wife, a new transplant to Arizona, was particularly delighted by the There was also an exhibit available for an additional cost of which allows guests to get an up close look at the marvels of the human body.
When the sun went down, the fair kicked into high gear as the lights on the midway certainly added a more festive dimension to the fair.
The Arizona State Fair was a great trip down memory lane, a chance to experience the old and new and a fun event that truly offers something for the entire family. -
Review from Elias A.
Scottsdale, AZ
5/9/2012 1 Check-in Here
I came hear for a home improvement event recently and it was ok. The promoters did a good job putting together the event. There was a nice selection of vendors which my wife and I appreciated. I thought the food was expensive for the quality. I don't mind paying $5 for a taco as long as it is yummy. The parking, while ample, is also pricy. This was not a concert or a special event; it's a home show and I thought $7 was a bit steep. I think this reflects more on the promoters than the facility. I can't complain about having great A/C inside and staying cool while walking around.
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Review from Soli A.
Tempe, AZ
11/12/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Fun, but the food can be scary!
I checked out the body museum, and I had my mind BLOWN! -
Review from Lindsey K.
Mesa, AZ
10/20/2011
I have to say I was slightly surprised when I went to the State Fair this year. Now I wouldn't go as far as saying I was impressed and it's a must for families or friends. My sister and I won free tickets to the fair and reserved seats for The Band Perry Concert off the radio and thought that was a good enough excuse to head that way. We got their around 5:30pm and it was relatively easy to find a somewhat secure parking spot (for $10).
We went on a Wednesday so I imagine it wasn't as crowded as a weekend tournament, but this day happened to be a day where you could get in free if you bought three canned food items to donate to St. Mary's Food Bank. Good way to save on admission. I think I would be a little irked if I had to pay $10.00 to get in on top of cost for game/ride tickets and food and everything else. The other nice thing about going on a Wednesday is most of the games and rides are half the # of tickets or 4 tickets per game/ride (not all of them but the majority).
Lines were short and you didn't have to wait much for anything. They sell some pretty strange fair food - I mean I can't even imagine eating fried butter, but I did have a fried Reese's Peanut Butter Cup which was pretty good.
We went around 7:00 into the Veteran's Memorial Coliseum and it was easy to enter and pretty full once we got inside. We got moved to seats closer than our original section. This is a one time adventure for me and I am glad we went but the fact that it was pretty much free is what made it appealing. -
Review from Emma W.
Upland, CA
11/10/2011 2 Check-ins Here
The state fair was pretty cool. I love how many rides they have, and how many things they have to entertain you. Oh and all the food. I absolutely love carnival food so the AZ state fair was like heaven to me. I love how you can see all the animals and even pet most of them, but I hate seeing them in cages. There were so many cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, turkeys, etc. They were all so cute and almost convinced me never to eat meat again. I was later offered a tukey leg and I couldn't say no to that. The turkey legs at the state fair are HUGE and delicious. I also ate the churros, candied pecans, and fry bread. However there were some pretty interesting things there such as fried reece's and fried twinkies.
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Review from Travis B.
Updated - 10/24/2011
yup, it's that time of year again. when you can gorge on crap food, throw it up on a head spinning ride, sit and watch the most odd people, try to win a 50cent toy for 12 dollars, and then do it all over again!
THE FAIR!!!!! i love the fair. we held back a little on the fried foods this year...only a deep fried moon pie, deep fried pudding, a pizza, deep fried peanut butter, a giant sno cone, a regular ice cream cone, and about 3 pounds of giant onion rings. oh, my belly was rebellin....
we found the 5 dollar lot at the corner of encanto and 19th av and fair admission was free from 10-12am. then we bought an 30 dollar all you can ride wrist band and it paid for itself after 3 rides. we didn't play any games this year, but we did indulge in food and paid for it after one of the super spinning rides.
it was hot as usual, but there are so many cool people to look at (including us i hope). there are tons of kids so if you are kid averse, stay away. we watched a breakdancing show which was actually pretty good.
a large family will spend alot of money here. i saw numerous people sneaking in food and drink, which i would've done had i thought of it. but in any case, nothing is too good for my lady....including a trip to the 2011 AZ state fair.
p.s....there are other things to do....there's the AZ History museum, the produce/flowers/quilts/painting judging areas, the agriculture part, so it's not just about the rides and stuff....or maybe it is!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/24/2010
we LOVE the fair. it's one of the most fun things to do ever in Arizona. lets count the ways we love… Read more »
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Review from Jessica P.
Phoenix, AZ
1/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Went for the Maricopa County Home and Garden Show... a good place for that.
But if you expect to save money with these vendors, you are going to be sadly disappointed. -
Review from Chuck S.
Phoenix, AZ
11/17/2011 2 Check-ins Here
If you want to see the armpit of Phoenix, this is the place. This is like the opposite of old town Scottsdale. All the people are really poor and ugly instead of rich and beautiful. The rides suck, everything is overprice and the deep fried foods are delicious yet fattening. Eat AFTER you go on the teacups.
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Review from Richard R.
Phoenix, AZ
10/31/2010
I'll have to admit that my experience of the state fair is a lot different from most. Some coworkers and I were able to get free parking and passes to the fair. We also work early hours, so we went in the afternoon on Friday during "happy hour." A lot of rides and games were discounted during that time. I was there for about three hours, and only spent about 10 dollars!
For us, it was a wonderful way to waste a couple of hours. I know it's not realistic for most families, but if you're able to go on a weekday afternoon while things are cheap, it's a whole lot of fun. There's plenty of fun little rides, all of which threw off my equilibrium. The games are the usual assortment of carnival stuff. Try to do something that's usually harder than it looks to win a stuffed animal that probably isn't worth what you pay to try to win it. I won a stuffed monkey on one of them!
There's also some great people watching. I don't know what it is about events like the state fair, but you seem to get an amazing assortment of every kind of person that Arizona has to offer. -
Review from Susan D.
10/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
Got back from the State Fair earlier tonight. Ugh, food coma.
I had deep-fried everything: oreo's, cheese curds, funnel cakes, corn dogs... and a grilled corn that was drenched in butter. It was all delicious and since I split everything with 2 other friends... I'm not feeling sick. haha
BTW, it wasn't ghetto. Everyone said it's have crazy gang people but, I didn't see any of that and we stayed until just before close. I never felt uncomfortable.
I did miss the local exhibits, animals and farm stuff that I'm used to from other state fairs. The kids display and cakes in the stadium building is cool though.
I'd definitely go back.
See ya there! -
Review from Nader A.
Uhhhh... Fair food.... I'm sleepy.
I went down to the state fair today to walk around, check out the attractions and eat the food. I've been to fairs and carnivals before and I thought I knew what to expect, but I definitely found myself surprised a couple times. Sweet potato corn dogs? Deep-fried everything? My girlfriend and I made the decision to share whatever we got and boy was it a good idea. Here's what we had:
Deep-fried bacon - Meh, in the flavor department...
Cowboy fries with gravy - Made me think of Canada!
Turkey leg - Get one!
Deep-fried banana split - Delicious!
If you try nothing else that's not-so-good-for-you, make sure you try the banana split. My goodness was it good! If you've ever had Puerto Rican desserts with deep-fried bananas, imagine that with ice cream and sundae toppings! Mmm!
DISCLAIMER! - For all of you reading this and thinking about how disgusting all that sounds, do yourself a favor and remember that it's a fair and it's all in good fun.
Overall the fair was a good time. The ride wristband is a must if you want to ride anything at all. Oh, and it's definitely worth it to take a few minutes to look on the website before going. There are a lot of different deals. -
Review from Heather C.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/26/2008
I don't feel good today. Why did I have to eat barbecue, frozen yogurt ($4 for a standard cone-not a waffle cone mind you!), funnel cake, candy apple, cashews, and cotton candy in one trip? Oh yeah, because it's the fair! I did skip all the fried candy bars, twinkies, and whatever else that batter will stick to crap.
Also went on a few rides. I couldn't find one of my favorite rides this year and couldn't ask about it because I know it by the name it had in 1976 "The Scrambler". It's the one where if you sit on the correct side of the seat, you will squash your companion. Not a big fan of this new e-ticket card either. Too hard to keep track of how many tickets you have left. We had to go to a booth to check the balance because the ride attendants were too busy to tell us. That made me want to hold up the line having him scan a bunch of empty cards. Also, how do I know they are not overcharging me for a ride?
Also checked out a bear show and a few of the exhibits. Not a bad evening. Now I need a payday loan to cover it. -
Review from Mr K.
Phoenix, AZ
10/18/2007
There are $1 rides on Wednesdays, including four ferris wheels and a drop zone which seems higher than the one at Castles & Coasters.
There are many carnie booths, including that one where you try to throw a ring around the head of a Coke bottle and of course it'll never happen. No giant Scooby for you.
There are many animals, including a pair of alpacas and 10 dozen chickens. Why the chickens, I don' t know. More alpacas, I say.
There are drinks, including $12 margaritas and small $7 cups of beer. Amazingly, no one at the fair is drunk.
Then there is food, including deep fried Oreos and deep fried Dr. Pepper. I ate the deep fried Oreos and the deep fried Dr. Pepper.
The End.
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(last day of the 2007 state fair is Nov. 4) -
Review from Shannon M.
Phoenix, AZ
11/2/2009 3 photos
Not quite what I expected, but still a good time.
The highlights:
- Waterloo, an ABBA tribute band playing the night I was there, was amazing. They did a great job and had the audience dancing in the aisles.
- The food was a festival of deep-fried, artery-hardening goodness that you can only find at fairs and some sports events.
- I tried my first ever funnel cake. Yes, it was good
- I purchased a corn dog from a vendor that was missing his front teeth and wanted a sip of my beer. No, I did not give him one.
The not-so-great:
- $20 to park!? I am not familiar with the area and probably could have done better on this one.
- Where were the cows!? You cannot have a fair without COWS! I saw a large building filled with llamas, but no cows. Another building, that may have had them was closed. :(
Overall I am glad I went, but maybe should have gone during the day to be able to see more exhibits. In the evening it is more like a really crowded and kind of dirty amusement park, but with drunk people.
I will still go back next year... :) -
Review from Stevey P.
Phoenix, AZ
11/18/2007 1 Check-in Here
If you're OK braving the DMV or Walmart crowd, the October/November tradition known as the Arizona State Fair should be a breeze. Hey, I ain't above these sorts of things. Shoot, this place oozes nostalgia that we can all relate with.
Halloween night is arguably the best night to check the fair out. Its usual large crowd dwindles to a small but steady stream as families stay home to do the trick or treat thang.
For singles and couples that means - green light for the carnival and all sorts of artery-clogging junk food. But it also means costumed fairgoers galore, and little to no waits in line for rides.
A few cool observations:
* Free parking (as opposed to $10) if you park at the State Capitol and take the shuttle buses that run every few minutes.
* Expensive concessions, to be expected of course.
* Asphalt-paved grounds are a nice touch for those whose allergies are aggravated by the usual grass and dust of a typical fair.
* Intersting people-watching, including the 40-something costumed couple dressed as a matching nut and bolt.
* Your normal selection of carnival rides include the gigantic ferris wheel plus the skyride tramway-like ride reminsicent of the buckets at Disneyland.
* The Arizona Game and Fish dept. with their interactive exhibit is impressive and done well.
* Shrewd and aggressive little old ladies in the culinary arts exhibit who somehow recruited me for the 2008 SPAM cooking contest. Not quite sure how that happened, btw.
All in all, a fun and klassy time. -
Review from Toni S.
Phoenix, AZ
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boyfriend and I have gone to the fair every year since we started dating years ago. Now we have two kids & we enjoy taking them as well. There is so much to do and every year its something different. Tonight was our 1st trip this year & it was a great time. Our oldest son is at the age where he really enjoys the rides & games. They always have a petting zoo that's free unless you want to buy food to feed them. We love going through the buildings looking at all the neat stuff the vendors have and getting some yummy fudge & beef jerky. My boyfriend loves the BBQ pulled pork or smoked turkey legs & the cups of corn. I am always looking forward to Indian fry bread, maybe because I've always gotten it at the fair! We bring a cooler bag of snacks & goodies for the kids when we bring them just because the food & drinks can add up real quick.
Some people complain about the fair grounds being ghetto, it's the state fair grounds, what do you expect? It's south Phoenix, not Scottsdale! All in all, its a great time if you try to have one! Can't wait to go back without the kids! -
Review from Christine O.
Phoenix, AZ
10/26/2008
Growing up, one of my favorite movies was the animated version of Charlotte's Web. One of my favorite scenes from the film is when the rat, Templeton, goes around the fair at night, collecting left-over food scraps and garbage. He eats everything in sight, singing all the while about the fair being a "smorgasbord, orgasbord, orgasbord." At the end of the night, he returns to the pen where Wilbur is being kept, proclaiming "What a night! Never have I seen such leavings! Everything well ripened, seasoned with the passage of time and the heat of the day. Oh, it was rich, my friends. Rich!"
Well, there's no better way to describe the way I felt when I returned home from the State Fair on Friday night. I was disgustingly full of the greasiest food on Earth but incredibly satisfied at the same time. Like Templeton, my husband and I (and fellow fair-going companions) really partook in the "smorgasbord" - we consumed a corn dog, fried gator on a stick, mini donuts, funnel cake, bratwurst, and a massive turkey leg (which was delicious, by the way!). It was like Thanksgiving dinner, but less nutritionally complete. Of course, we also had some alcoholic beverages - the drinks we tried were all very expensive ($8.50 for beer and up to $12 for a mixed drink) but we were pleasantly surprised by how strong they were. No watered-down drinks for this crowd of fair-goers!
Another totally hedonistic experience at the state fair was the fabulous (and totally free!) Old School Jam concert. We rocked out to Coolio, Club Noveau, Climax, and Naughty by Nature (Ton-Loc was too cool for (old) school and skipped out). Maybe they weren't as good as back in the day, but we all had so much fun re-living the good old days and dancing off all of that ridiculously caloric food! The only less-than-fun part of the whole concert was the grumpy people behind us who told us to sit down (have they ever been to a concert?!), but their bad attitude was the only downer of the whole experience.
If you haven't been to the state fair yet AND you like eating lots of junky food in a no-frills environment, I recommend you check it out. You have until November 2, 2008 to do so. I believe you can still see Meatloaf and LL Cool J if you are interested in a concert. To save money on parking, park in the Capitol building lot (northeast corner of 19th Ave and Jefferson) and take the free shuttle (runs every fifteen minutes). Just don't have too much fun or you might almost miss the last shuttle like we did! -
Review from De Anna L.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/18/2008
We went to the fair on opening day. A buck to get in but 12.00 to park.
We took my nine year old neice who had never been to a fair (she lives in Globe and they keep her fairly sheltered). She was overwhelmed just walking in and I caught her staring at quite a few people.
She probably would have been happy to leave right then having seen enough freaky people.
The food was good. Fair food. Greasy and sugary and cotton candy wonderfuliciousness. That's a word. Don't question me.
We rode a few rides. Had a great time. We decided to leave just three hours later when we spotted two 12 or 13 yr old girls makin' out. Yeah, thankfully she didn't see THAT. It would have been a long ride home full of questions...that only her mother should answer.
On the way out we stepped over a hypodermic needle. I like how the addicts just leave it there for the next guy. I like a giving spirit. -
Review from mena c.
Chandler, AZ
10/10/2010
Wow. What can I say. This experience was pretty bad.
First-- it's in a REALLY BAD neighborhood. You can't feel safe at all, and this whole area needs 15 times the police that are walking around.
Price: Every time I turned around, someone wanted more money. Sure, there were displays of canned fruit and Elementary school artwork that's free to see, but anything else, and the carnies want more money. It would be a different thing, if they were cheap games with even cheaper prices, but they're not. These are cheap games with spendy prices. It's a groady, dirty, filthy place full of dirty, filthy workers that want me to hand over endless cash for their house-favored games.
I'm a proud, Arizona-born native, and I'm stunned that our politicians continue to declare that this annual event is a BENEFIT to the pride of the State of Arizona. Did I mention that they want money the INSTANT you park your car? They also WANT money to go in, and they WANT money for ride tickets, and they WANT money for food, and am I leaving something out? I would expect that they will start charging to use the CLEAN bathrooms that haven't been installed yet.
Please avoid this place, save your money, and don't feel like you're missing anything.
P.S. If you're going to a concert--- they will let you see it, once you've paid to get inside the park. It will be in the coliseum where the seats were designed for 12-year-old girls. Please don't expect that the seating was designed for actual, American men like John Wayne, who I heard was 6'4". He would've never fit. I'm also convinced that they won't spend the effort to correct this horrendous un-american flaw, and yet they will continue to expect your endless supply of $$$ money $$$.
Enjoy! -
Review from S.C. F.
Phoenix, AZ
10/15/2010
The first time we went to the fair *cough* glorified carnival *cough* was three years ago. I felt like I was in the Twilight Zone. We went for one of the free concerts but left early due to the amount of marijuana smoke in the section of the coliseum we were in, me being pregnant at the time. We swore off the state fair and had not returned.
Sadly we promised our toddler a ride on the ferris wheel when the state fair came this year. We figured we'd go fairly early and leave before dark. Some of the workers look like they are on a prison work-release program...we won't even discuss the general crowd that attends. The food to us was subpar: "Super" nachos for $7 that consisted of the kind of chips you can buy in the store, covered with cheese and hamburger meat; everything else including sour cream, peppers, tomatoes, etc were at least a buck extra.
All of the restrooms we used had no soap at all. Interestingly, we went on opening day, and the blocks and mats in Toddler Town were filthy. The fair had only been open for 4 hrs so I know the dirt was not from just that little time. Lame animal exhibits, a "farm tour" that has just a few animals but dozens of rabbits for sale. More profanity from the mouths of kids (some who looked all of 10 years old) everywhere we walked, than I hear in a month. On the way out, a herd of tweens-teens ran through the crowd, chasing after some other kids, while screaming profanities.
We definitely will NOT be back. We found a fair this summer in CA that was just awesome: clean, safe, and the best "fair-type" food we have ever had. We'll plan to go there next summer. I'm sad that this fair is supposed to represent the state of Arizona. -
Review from Noah A.
Chandler, AZ
10/18/2010
I've been here twice, which was obviously enough. The first time was in 2002, before I was old enough to drink legally. It became obvious to me then that state fairs are only fun for people over 21 or under 12.
In 2008, I came with some friends who bought a $6 hamburger at one of the tents, took one bite, and threw it in the trash. One of them remarked later that it was the only time in his life he'd spit food out in disgust. While this was happening, another friend and I asked a toothless Vietnam veteran manning another tent where we could find the nearest restroom. His reaction suggested that we were insane for asking such a ridiculous question; we surmised that perhaps, due to some bizarre war injury, he had not taken a piss since 1973. Bottom line, customer service is not high on the priority list at the state fair. Nor is edible food. -
Review from kate c.
Phoenix, AZ
10/18/2008
I have to say the food is gross, but the concerts are fun, and the beer in the concert venue is cheaper than on the grounds, but either way- no beer for me. We went on the ferris wheel which only suceeded in scaring me. This fair gets 4 stars for the free on street parking, some guy who gave us free tickets to get in, and for inspiring my fiance to adopt a chicken. Yup. You heard it here first- we're officially urban poultry keepers.
Its a hen actually. I'm from the midwest, were County fairs and the Quarter Horse Congress are more my speed. I will say a big thanks for the little 4-H ers who do a great job! -
Review from Jim S.
Tempe, AZ
10/26/2010
Oh, the good old Arizona State Fair! How many years of great memories you have provided me with. Hell, when I was a lot younger, I saw one of Nirvana's last concerts at the fair. Only paid 3 bucks for it.
Things have changed since then, especially pricing, but being an Arizona Native, I look forward to this every year.
The highlights I always look for deal mostly with the people watching:
-The gorgeous NASCAR mullets present. Saw my first Winger style mullet within 5 minutes of entry.
-The lack of dental hygiene.
-Getting my feet run over several times by strollers from people looking at everything except where they are walking. Last I checked I wasn't invisible.
-The extremely liberal use of the "F" and "N" word. It was like I was listening to the movie "American History X" Last I checked, saying "Damn bitch, what up, ho?" isn't the greatest pick up line. Bring your young sons down so they can learn how to run game.
Now, this year I went on opening day. 1 dollar entry fee. Of course I got hosed for parking, but that is to be expected. The lighting is terrible in the parking lot but all the broken glass in the parking lot illuminates off the parking lights to help you find your way.
The food here always rates a high score from me. Of course, this is without a doubt the worst food you can be eating (there is actually a stand or two that sell deep fried twinkies) but who can say no to Indian fry bread?
Free concerts most nights (of course, not on the night I was there) but did get to see figure 8 racing. A bunch of people crashing cars into each other just screams America. And where else can you spend 30 dollars winning a 40 cent stuffed teenage mutant ninja turtle?
The petting zoo sports a decent amount of animals you can pet and take your picture with. I pet a goat and a wallaby. The goat looked at me. I was happy. The pens seemed relatively free of vast amounts of goat shit. That is a plus. You can also buy some food and hand feed them too.
This year, while enjoying a ride on the people mover (I forget the actual name of it, but it is the ride that is what you find at a ski resort that takes you to the top of the hill) and my friend pointed out a gang fight below us. How fortunate of us to get a birds eye view of the violence.
Before leaving, I want more fair food. Walking back to get a slice of pizza, much to our fortune guess what we get front row seats to? Could it be, why YES! Another gang fight! Awesome! Round two, FIGHT! Snapped a picture of that one.
After the cops broke this one up, an older gentleman viewing the previously mentioned violence, looks at me and says "I think it is time to get the fuck out of here."
I concur and made my way towards the exit. -
Review from Jennifer B.
Oakland, CA
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Review from Micah D.
Tempe, AZ
10/19/2007
We rolled up to the state fair on a fine Sunday afternoon. I was well hydrated and ready for an evening of debauchery involving barnyard animals, deep fried GARBAGE, shitty domestic beer in a plastic cup, and "amusement" rides. Zed and Nickels were on the buddy system, I was their backup buddy, the third wheel on the tricycle of fun, 3-dub for short.
Is it sad that the best thing I can say about the State Fair is that with enough beer it becomes tolerable? I discovered that I am not a big fan of deep fried sweets. Maybe I'm just not in the right space for it, but most of the food options at the Fair looked uniformly gross. Nickels went gaga over the bunny rabbits while I had a staring contest with a turkey. Man turkeys are a lot of ugly to pack into one bird. I'm not sure I can continue to eat something that ugly, because if you are what you eat, well let's just say it's not going to be pretty and leave it at that.
You would think the funhouse type attractions would be more fun with a few beers but honestly they just weren't. I wanted them to be, but there was nothing scary or really all that interesting about them. The sky rail thing was a little fun altough I felt a little silly sitting up there without skis on and you can imagine my disappointment when the ride did not end at the top of a mountain.
We successfully avoided a Doughtry concert, which made me happy, but there was some sort of frightening pre-teen dance troup trainwreck that we ended up in front of at some point. We tried to make light of it. I tried to remember the hilarity of Donnie Darko's little sister's dance troup. I made a half hearted attempt at telling Zed that sometimes I doubt his commitment to Sparklemotion but it was no use. Nickels brought up the fact that somewhere in the audience there was probably a pedophile or two taking in the show and it was all down hill from there. We walked away skeeved out at a society that thinks it's cute to paint up 11 year olds like $10 whores, throw them in sparkly boyshorts, teach them to shake their asses in some semblance of coordinated effort and call it entertainment. -
Review from Denis S.
10/17/2009
As others have noted, it's not a fair, it's a carnival. I've always imagined State Fairs to be where people from the actual State get together and show off their produce, have pie contents, biggest pig, biggest tomato, talent contest, etc... This is a bunch of private creepy carnival companies coming to town and milking you for everything you're worth.
The games are stupid. They're designed for you to lose, but so you don't feel bad, if you pay enough, most will guarantee a stuffed toy. I'm sorry, if I want a guaranteed stuffed animal, I'll go to the store and pay market value for it.
Then they have their tricky ticket system, $5 get you 10 tickets, $20 gets you 40. So there's no benefit to buying bulk. Each game is 7-10 tickets, and it's usually for only one try. So you're literally paying $5 to try to throw a single ball into a random basket. But you feel better because it's tickets instead of money, so you do it.
The photo booths don't work, but they refuse to put "out of order" signs on them. So we spent 20 minutes on a bunch of different booths that didn't work before getting our money back and leaving.
The food is probably the worst part. Not only is it ridiculous prices, but it's also not food any more. Fried burritos, fried burgers, fried ANYTHING. There are places where you can't take a breath without getting a lung-full of fried.
The only good part was the Ferris wheel -
Review from Deb L.
Updated - 10/16/2009 4 photos
Once again the fair as entertained, enchanted and amazed my family. We now have gone so many times over the years we have certain traditions and expectations.
Turkey Leg for Daughter -check
Frozen Banana for mom- check
Walk thru exposition hall buy some tacky item --check
Visit Baked Goods -check
Ride tilt a whirl -check
Eat curly fries-check
Observe the Livestock -check
Yup it's all good . In fact this time it seemed cleaner and nicer than normal . Way to go AZ Fair.Listed in: Fun for Kids of all ages
3 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/15/2008
An update ! My daughter and I won first place for chocolate chip cookies !
My daughter also won… Read more »
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Review from Jenn H.
Los Angeles, CA
10/20/2007
OHMYGOD... FRIED SNICKERS BARS and FRIED TWINKIES and FRIED OREOS...and maybe even FRIED SHOES or UMBRELLAS OR FRIED SMALL CHILDREN or something. Yes! Yes! Yes!
Oh - but the rides suck. So -2 for sucky rides. And for only having goats in the petting zoo. Yick. -
Review from Michael C.
Scottsdale, AZ
10/18/2008 1 Check-in Here
Had a great time here last week with my daughters. It's good to go soon after they get set-up (less stinky). The rides were fun, the food AWESOME, and the games were the same old trickery - though now you pay for them with a pre-paid game card instead of cash which helps keep them legit.
You HAVE to try feeding the baby Giraffe and Camel in the petting area!
Going to Weezer concert here tonight - hoping to avoid a stabbing. -
Review from Lucky P.
Dallas, TX
11/7/2009
This is why you're fat.
You've got huge fairgrounds and plenty of walking to do inside the fair (work those legs), plenty of sprinting to get to your car safely at night in the sketch neighborhood (increases heart rate) and plenty of laughing at those less fashionable than the rest of us (work those abs!) and the ratio of places to buy overpriced, deep-fried, tasteless food dripping with grease vs. RIDES and ATTRACTIONS, what the fair was originally developed for (not to mention the animals and 4-H projects) is about 4:1.
People... come on, now. -
Review from Marty F.
Glendale, AZ
10/28/2010
It's been about 10 years since I last stepped foot on the "Madhouse on McDowell." Ahhh those were the days.. I'm talking about the Arizona State Fair. The place where families from all walks of life come together and join hands to eat tons of fried goodness, play impossibly to win games, and enjoy rides that only a carnie could love.
This year was no different.. well actually, there was some things. I met up with my girlfriends sister who was taking her kids along with my girlfriends kids to the fair this year. I thought it might be cool to join them since I was leaving work early.
First thing I notice is the lame "CASH ONLY" parking for $10... It's 2010.. you'd think the booths might take debit cards by now, right? Wrong. I had to flip around, go to Circle K and get cash out. I finally get there and ahhhh there it is.. the smell of filth, food and family fun.
Since I have some time to kill before the kids show up, I decide to walk down the restaurant row, if you will, to see what fried goodies they have to offer. "Fried Butter" read one sign... I tell ya, it was so tempting to just see what the hype was, but I know Id hear about it if I did partake. So I kept on. I hadn't eaten lunch yet, so I was pretty hungry. I saw the sign "Giant Corn Dog" enough said.. I had one.
One of my favorite things to do at the fair is people watch; and with the huge mix of types, you could literally spend all day there. AFter wolfing down my corn dog, I sat by the first stage to listen to some elementary school kids play band and sing. I could tell that most of them wanted didn't want to be there.. it tends to show through their playing.
My family shows up and we hit the strip and rides..
My girlfriend told me "Go to the fair with kids and you'll have a totally different experience." I've always been one of those people who have bashed the fair for being so ghetto (which it 100% is) and dirty (which it is...) and would just have a hay day ripping on various things. But ya know what? She was right. The joy you get on kids faces when they get off that ride, eating ice cream, running around.. is just priceless. It made my fair experience this year, all that better. That's where I gave it three stars. They alone, made the fair great for me this year.
One more thing on the food.. I realllly wanted a giant turkey leg, but paying $9.25 for one, I just couldn't see that.
Tips:
* Bring money... everything is cash. Occasionally a food vendor will take visa/mc though.
* Walking shoes.. if you dont have them, good luck to your feet.
* If you are meeting people, make sure you are parking together. I parked on the opposite side of the people I was with.
* Be prepared to spend a couple hundred dollars.
* Check for ways to get in free.. I heard if you brought chapstick in, you got a discount. (depending on the day).
* Eat at your own risk.. enough said. -
Review from Michelle A.
Phoenix, AZ
11/5/2007
BABY GOATS BABY GOATS BABY GOATS!!!
It's all about the baby goats.
And fantastically revolting carnie food.
Rides? Meh.
I will gladly continue to rub elbows with the seedier side of life to see more baby goats. -
Review from Calie W.
Chandler, AZ
11/4/2009
The family and I headed out to the fair on a Tuesday night in November. This is not the home grown state fair you remember growing up. While they may try to make it seem that way, this one is a corporate venture for sure.
Thankfully, we went early enough that there really weren't alot of people and the kiddos could get their ride and games in before dark.
Parking at the Fair grounds cost us $10 - which we gladly paid to not have to walk down McDowell after dark. We had free tickets to get in, so that saved us $40+.
Typical foods available - fried twinkies, mondo fries, Chinese food, pizza ... even scorpions. No - we didn't try them, but hear they taste just like chicken :)
We actually picked this particular night to go so we could see David Cook in concert.
Here's the great part of the Fair ... general seating is FREE with fair admission. Sure - you can buy a reserved seat (for something like $15 - $20) to sit a little closer, but we chose the free seats.
GREAT concert! The opening band, The Script, were from Dublin, Ireland and did a good job. This was their first opening for David Cook (and in America?) and their energy really showed their excitement.
David Cook was awesome! The best part - he sounded pretty much just like he does on his CD. He was joking around with the audience and having a great time performing. Really enjoyed his singing and the overall performance. I hope he has a really long career ahead of him.
If you're planning a trip to the fair and would like to save some $$$, definitely read the other YELP reviews before going. There's at least one or two for cheapskates that don't want to spend alot.
Will we go back to the Fair? probably.
Will we go back for the concert series? Absolutely!
Suggestions?
1) Check out their website for discount days.
2) Unless you want to, don't pay full price (see above)
3) Set a budget and stick to it.
4) Check out the concert series.
5) Allow plenty of time to have fun.
6) There is a free shuttle from somewhere to the fairgrounds ... it would be worth it to research this a little more & find out from where. I didn't have time or we probably would have done this too :)
7) If you're on twitter - so are they. http://twitter.com/azs...
8) Their website is http://www.azstatefair...
Have a good time! -
Review from ben h.
11/3/2009
A GUIDE TO THE STATE FAIR FOR FUDDY DUDDIES AND CHEAPSKATES SUCH AS MYSELF
First and foremost, the score for this event is based upon one thing: the fried pickles. As a Southerner, the idea of frying a pickle is not so alien to me as to many of my more urban, east-coast elite friends, but the idea of dipping a big ol' honking spicy dill in cornbread batter and frying it on a stick?
Where I come from, we bread and slice our pickles. At the risk of never being able to go home again, I must say, the Arizona Method blew my mind.
You have to try one. Unless you hate fried food. In which case, you probably hate life in general and won't enjoy the fair no matter what.
PRICE/WHEN SHOULD I GO?
First off, there are a ton of discount opportunities to get in. Going early on a weekend, going to certain grocery stores, certain days, happy hours, etc. - $10 is not what you should pay unless you go on an absolute whim. Same goes for tickets inside - you can usually find discounted tickets somehow with a little advanced planning.
Second, even if you do end up paying ten bucks, you can assuage your wallet-guilt by going on the night of good music or other cultural fun times. There are a bevy of performers/events to choose from. For me, there's always at least one performer worth checking out for ten bucks. This year, Bob Dylan. Past years, Weezer, Beck, Weird Al, random old school hip hop folks. There's also demolition derbies (!!!), and roller-derby, and other stuff.
PARKING
October and November in Arizona are beautiful! Take advantage of the cool night weather, park down McDowell somewhere, and bring along a coke bottle with a little special whiskey inside.
OTHER FAIR ISSUES
Again, check the schedule! Some nights are more country-riffic, with cows and livestock and crops. I really do think most people who were dissatisfied with their fair experience coulda had a better time if they did a little upfront work. -
Review from Tiana G.
McKinney, TX
11/5/2009
I just got back from the fair a couple hours ago. We had a girls night and eh it was fun. My company was better than the fair. Tickets were only ten dollars. Since it was a wed. it was dolla rides and games night.
First thing we did was get the party started was gab some beers...for a whopping 7.50 Large being like at the most 16oz, but I expected that. My lady friends got some bratwurst which were 8.50 and came with chips...I decided to stay away from babe. aww oink oink...I had a potbelly pig named Goose soooo yup. Anyways enough with my righteousness. I got the fried zucchini for 5.50. I swear it was like 3 whole zucchinis it looked like and delicious. We ate while watching some hypnosis guy. Not so much a believer, but it was amusing. Some dude in a pink wig pretending to be pink...later followed by 5-50 year old folks get down to baby got back.
My friends went on a couple rides, which I didn't partake in. I had a bad experience with a carnival ride...my harness came undone and I had to go 30 seconds dangling by a tiny seatbelt. Longest 30 seconds of my life, and scared shHhtless. Anyways after a while they convinced me to go on one and it was the freefall...I must admit FUNas soon as I was able to breath again. I don't get it amusement parks I'm all for higher, faster, flippy-er. Carnival rides not so much...didn't go on anymore. Wait I went on the smaller ferris wheel and no seat belts and no door just a rail with two big openings on the side for me to fall out of...and of course we're taking pictures and I'm the one who had to jump from one side to the other. I swear I'm not a baby...but I don't recommend doing that.
We played the silly games that seem impossible to win. The staffs cool though. We rarely left empty handed and they gave us a couple free tries. I know the secret to throwing the ball in those buckets...the only disturbing thing was the guy working the booth kept telling me it was like making love...nice and easy with just a lil oomph. UHHHHH then he jumped over to show me how to throw it, guess I'm a little rough? He bumped into me and proceeded to dust off some imaginary dirt he got on my top. And all I got was a lousy bulldog...
Best part of the night PHOTOBOOTHS...I love them! We squeezed are asses into the tiny booths and spent a good 30 dollars on memories that will last a lifetime.
I'll be back next year...friends say I need to grow some balls though and go on the rides. We'll see. -
Review from Kerri K.
Mesa, AZ
8/16/2008
The Arizona State Fair is more like a carnival. Maybe it's because I'm from the Midwest, but I think the focus of state fairs should be on agriculture, animals, exhibits, etc.
The best things about the Arizona State Fair are the inexpensive concerts and the salt water taffy.
They get two stars from me for the ferris wheel where I got engaged. -
Review from Penny Lane X.
Glendale, AZ
10/8/2009
The food is greasy and fun...each year you wonder what else are they going to deep fry on a stick?
Parking is expensive. Rides are ok. Junk food is diverse.
Animal exhibits are the same stinky walk-thru every year. Just wander thru the cow exhibits--watch out for cow poop piles or chance catching e-coli on your shoe bottoms.
You feel like you need to wear sunglasses and headphones to avoid aggressive shammy sales people in the commercial building.
The State Fair still feels ghetto. It's not as bad as it once was 20 yrs ago (I remember going on the same day someone was murdered and stuffed in a trash can). It's still old, dirty...and gross.
The AZ State Fairgrounds needs to be badly updated. I wish they would just sell the land and build a bigger and better location outside of town....save your money and drive over to Anaheim/Buena Park in California if you want fun. -
Review from Sheila B.
Phoenix, AZ
4/2/2008
It's fun to go to every 2-3 years.
I do like the ferris wheel and riding the camel and stuff like that.
I also like funnel cakes a lot and having one every few years sounds perfect to me. -
Review from Linda W.
10/25/2010
Happy Hour plus a free concert, think the AZ State Fair. If you go on Fridays before 6PM, they offer $1 food item(s) per a booth, $1 per game, and $1 ride. Not a bad deal! They have $5.00 parking if you park at 18th Ave and Encanto at the golf course parking lot. Admission was 1/2 off. The best $1.00 deal was the Indian fried bread with powder sugar for me. If you do go on a Friday, I suggest start from the food row near the McDowell Rd. & 19th Ave entrance. They have better discounted food items and cheaper drinks. To finish off with the night, I got to watch Colbie Caillat for free with great seats. I might need go back to try their fried butter. Anyone tried that yet?
