What the Washington State Fair Is
The Washington State Fair is a 20-day late-summer fair in Puyallup that has run since 1900. The most recent edition ran September 4 to 27, 2026, the fair's 126th year, and the fair welcomes more than a million guests each September. It combines a midway, free entertainment stages, grandstand concerts, prize-winning crops and crafts, and a large animal program with cattle, goats, pigs, sheep, horses and longhorns.
Ways to Take Part
| If you want to | What the fair offers |
|---|---|
| Meet farm animals | The Fair Farm petting zoo with bunnies, goats, chicks and sheep, and The Farm at SillyVille, a 1.5-acre hands-on farm with a dairy barn, a combine to drive, a garden and a pollinator station |
| Learn about cattle | A Cattle Birthing Exhibit (about 23 calves were expected in 2026, its third year) and a Cattle Education Exhibit comparing dairy and beef breeds, September 23 to 27 |
| See unusual animals | Animals of the World in Barn H, September 10 to 14, with mini zebu, emus and sugar gliders |
| Learn gardening | Urban Farm and Garden demonstrations in Barn H, September 4 to 6 |
| Ride and play | ThrillVille for thrill rides and SillyVille for younger children |
Visit the barns earlier in the day for more active animals and lighter crowds.
Admission and Prices (2026 Edition)
- Weekday online admission: $15 for ages 13 to 64; $13 for seniors 65 and over and children 6 to 12.
- Weekend online admission: $18 for adults; $15 for children and seniors.
- Children 5 and under are free every day. Gate prices run slightly higher than online prices.
- Season pass: $59.50.
- Free days: opening day, September 4, from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a non-perishable food donation (benefiting the Puyallup Food Bank), and September 11 from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with school supplies for Communities In Schools.
- BECU Free Kids Weekend, September 4 to 7: free admission for youth 18 and under.
- Military Appreciation Fridays: free entry with valid military ID.
- Dizzy Pass (unlimited rides in ThrillVille and SillyVille plus two free games): $60 weekday, $70 weekend; it does not include gate admission.
- Official parking: $15 weekdays and $25 weekends.
Hours in 2026
The fair was closed every Tuesday and on Wednesday, September 9. On Fridays the gates ran 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Saturdays 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.; Sundays 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. (opening weekend ran to 10:30 p.m.); and Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Fireworks lit the sky at 10 p.m. each Friday.
Rodeo Parade and Cattle Drive
A free Rodeo Parade and Cattle Drive moved through downtown Puyallup at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 11, with horses, cowboys and cattle. Gate admission was free that afternoon.
Concerts and Shows
Grandstand concerts in 2026 included Gretchen Wilson, Chase Rice, Jon Batiste, Ice Cube, Lauren Daigle, Hardy, Chicago and Twisted Sister. New attractions were the America250 exhibits and the K9 Kings Flying Dog Show. Free entertainment stages are included with admission, and the Fair History Experience is a free interactive museum.
Where
Washington State Fair Event Center, 110 9th Avenue SW, Puyallup, WA 98371, about 35 miles south of Seattle off SR-167 and I-5. Weekend traffic is heavy, and the Sounder commuter train runs from Seattle during fair season. The administrative office phone is (253) 845-1771; the event office is open Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Questions
Is it worth going on a weekday?
Weekday admission and parking cost less, and the Fair Value Menu offers $12 meals and $8 deals Monday to Friday at select vendors.
Do kids get in free?
Yes for ages 5 and under every day, and for ages 18 and under on the BECU Free Kids Weekend over Labor Day weekend.
Can I bring a food donation for free entry?
On opening day, a non-perishable food donation brought between 10:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. earned free gate admission for all ages.
When is the next fair?
The most recent edition was September 4 to 27, 2026. Check the fair website for the next dates.
Official Links
- Washington State Fair
- Do the Puyallup at the 2026 Washington State Fair
- ParentMap: Washington State Fair guide
- KIRO 7: Washington State Fair is back
- Explore Washington State: fairs
Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows: The Essentials
Washington's fair season runs from spring youth fairs to the Central Washington State Fair in Yakima, September 25 to October 4 in 2026, per a fair calendar. The Washington State Fair in Puyallup ran September 4 to 27.
Who can show
The state 4-H handbook requires members to be eight by October 1 to compete in livestock shows or sales. Cloverbuds, ages 5 to 7, cannot compete.
Rules to know
Animals sold at a junior livestock auction cannot be leased. Market steers must be polled or dehorned. Washington 4-H recommends YQCA training. Ownership dates vary: San Juan County's 2026 auction guide lists beef by April 15 and swine, lamb and goat by June 14.
Next steps
Ask your county WSU Extension office for your fair book. Dates, weights and sale rules change, so confirm with the organizer.
Read the full guide: Washington County Fairs and Youth Livestock Shows
Other Upcoming Events Nearby
- Washington State Spring Fair
Held each year in Puyallup over two spring weekends; the most recent dates were April 9-12 and April 16-19, 2026.
Puyallup, WA Official event details - Pierce County Fair
Held each year in Graham at the Pierce County Fairgrounds; the most recent dates were August 13-16, 2026.
- Washington State Fair Rodeo
Held each year during the Washington State Fair in Puyallup; the most recent dates were September 10-13, 2026.
Puyallup, WA Official event details - Washington Cattlemen and Cattlewomen Annual Convention and Tradeshow
Held each year; the most recent dates verified were November 12-14, 2025, the 100th convention, at the Wenatchee Convention Center.
Wenatchee, WA | Organizer: Washington Cattlemen's Association Official event details - Kittitas Beef Pre-Show, Weigh-In and Judging Contest
Spring day where 4-H, FFA and Grange members weigh and tag fair steers (1,150 lb minimum), compete in a beef judging contest and show heifers. Most recent date: March 21, 2026.
Ellensburg, WA | Organizer: Kittitas County 4-H Official event details
Listing checked Nov. 11, 2026 against this source. Details can change; confirm with the organizer.