Ultimate guide to the 2025 Arizona State Fair: tickets, parking, and more

The summer season is winding down here in Arizona and that means that not only are cooler temperatures coming but also the beloved Arizona State Fair which runs Sept. 19-Oct. 26, 2025.

In fact, it’s so close you can nearly smell the funnel cakes covered in powered sugar. You can almost hear the screams and laughter of kids on carnival rides. And you can practically see the dazzling lights of the Arizona State Fair.

For 2025, the Arizona State Fair theme is “grow happiness” to pay homage to the State Fair’s start as an agricultural-based gathering. This year, the fair will dig into Arizona‘s rich pastoral roots while still providing the entertainment Arizonans have come to expect from the annual spectacle.

Here’s your ultimate guide to the 2025 Arizona State Fair including tickets, parking, rides, who’s playing the Coliseum Concert Series and what’s new this year.

What’s new at the Arizona State Fair for 2025

Something new this year is the addition of the “September Nights” experience that offers evening-only entertainment at a value price along with promotions that won’t be available in October.

Included with your September Nights fair admission are performances by the Shanghai Circus Acrobats, BMX stunt shows, Reverse Figure 8 Racing along with three nights of live wrestling, tribute bands performing nightly and a drone show lighting up the sky above the Coliseum.

September-only promotions

• Dream Pass: Includes 10 rides or games for $45, plus free fair admission when purchased online before Sept. 18.
• Munchie Madness: Get $16 worth of food for $10 starting at 10 p.m.
• Super Value Coupon Book: Packed with food and vendor discounts which also includes a Bounce Back Ticket to return in October.

Arizona State Fair 2025 tickets and rides costs

Admission Ticket prices:

• September Nights: $10.29
• General Admission: $17.50, children ages 7 and under are free.

Ride prices:

• 4 Tickets: $5.
• 16 Tickets: $20.
• 40 Tickets: $50.
• Fast Pass: $30
• September Nights Dream Pass: Includes 10 rides or games for $45, plus free fair admission when purchased online before Sept. 18.

Arizona State Fair 2025 discounts and free admission

Here are the ways you can save a few dollars at the Arizona State Fair:

• Unlimited Wristband Days: Enjoy unlimited rides plus two free games with a wristband purchase on Oct. 2, 9, 16 and 23 from noon-9 p.m. Wristbands must be purchased before 7 p.m. You can save an additional $10 when you purchase them online before Sept. 18.
• Feel Good Fridays: Presented by Sanderson Ford to benefit St. Mary’s Food Bank, guests can bring seven cans of nonperishable food items on Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24 from noon-6 p.m. to receive one free admission ticket.
• Food Flight Fridays: On Oct. 3, 10, 17 and 24 from noon-6 p.m. enjoy $5 tasting options from every vendor. Guests can also purchase the Food Flight Pass, which must be pre-purchased online, to receive Fair admission, five tasting vouchers and a souvenir lanyard.
• Friends 55+ Day: On Friday, Oct. 3, from noon-6 p.m. guests aged 55 and up will receive free admission with the password “FRIENDS” with a limit of two tickets per person.
• Armed Forces Day presented by USAA: On Friday, Oct. 17 from noon-6 p.m. military personnel will receive free admission with the code “USAAFAIR” with a limit of four tickets and military ID is required.
• Read and Ride: Kids can grow their love of reading and be rewarded with free ride tickets.

Arizona State Fair 2025 parking

The State Fair offers two official parking lots (North and West) for guests that open two hours prior to gate admission:

• North Lot: $15; enter off 19th Avenue and Monte Vista or Encanto.
• West Lot: $15; between 19th and 20th Avenues, enter off Encanto.

The Arizona State Fair also offers a free park and ride shuttle option for those who are able to park at the Phoenix College. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 5-9:40 p.m. on Fridays, noon-8:40 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays, and the final shuttle back to Phoenix College leaves the Fairgrounds at 11 p.m. every night.

Arizona State Fair 2025 concerts

The Arizona State Fair Coliseum Concert Series is returning for 2025 with a massive lineup of big artists.

There’s truly an act for everyone this year including a beloved local indie group, a country music star, Latin pop sensation and metal mavericks.

Can you bring bags into the Arizona State Fair?

Yes, you can bring bags into the Arizona State Fair but you’re encouraged to bring a clear one for faster entry.

Upon entry, all bags, backpacks and diaper bags will be subject to inspection and guests will be required to go through a metal detector and could be subject to pat-down searches or magnetic wand searches.

Things not permitted in the fairgrounds include outside food and drink; firearms and ammunition; pepper spray or mace; any kind of taser or stun device, knives and anything else that could be considered a weapon; and illegal substances, marijuana and alcohol.

Guests will also need to leave glass bottles, laser pointers, selfie sticks and tripods, sharpies, coolers and stickers at home.

Any surrendered items will not be returned.

What kind of food is at the Arizona State Fair?

If carnival rides and games aren’t your thing, that’s OK. Because the other big reason to go to the fair is for the food. You’ll find fair classics like funnel cakes, turkey legs, kettle corn and corn dogs, but you’ll also find some more interesting fare like crepes, an entire vendor making creative mac and cheese creations plus loaded up donuts and much more.

Meredith G. White covers entertainment, art and culture for The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. She writes the latest news about video games, television and best things to do in metro Phoenix.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ultimate guide to the 2025 Arizona State Fair: tickets, parking and more

Reporting by Meredith G. White, Arizona Republic / Arizona Republic

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