Went to the Missouri State Fair and what a scene. So much to do and see. The tractor trams going all around for a 50 cent fare was great. The fair food - though I'll give the fair itself a 5 star rating - the food was a bit of a rip to say the least. Jambalaya was the best dish, but that's relative. At $21....sure was plenty for a dish made of rice and only 1 piece of smoked sausage. It did however, have plenty of shrimp....but the smallest cocktail type shrimp. Drink at a stand: $8. Gee, how much margin do we have to have. Texas Twinkies: I've had plenty of jalapeño poppers....these were lackluster. The bacon was candied. But the filler was straight cream cheese and not seasoned or hopped up. And at $12 for (3) poppers...come on. The Pork Place was a clean, big, air conditioned place, with plenty of staff working the room. The pulled pork sandwich....I got nothing out of it. Decent quality pork used. The execution of turning into a pulled pork sandwich, did nothing for me. This was on special for $5. So, at least this place had some level of value. read more

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Fun Fun Fun hadn't been to the State Fair since early 1980's which Willie Nelson was the evening entertainment. We started at the FLORICULTURE building, Fine Arts building, Poultry & Rabbits which there was a Rooster crowing contest and some mighty fine looking birds. Amazed at the Midway Carnival packed with people, rides and Vendors. Last leg we visited the Swine Barn, those pigs are characters. Then over to the sheep barn where the FFA was having a contest, the sheep were sheared very close and wore white robes to keep them clean until the competition. And finally worn out with huge smiles we headed home. read more

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First time going to the State Fair, all my life never had a chance to check it out. But we made it happen and it was worth it. I got to say, it's a lot of walking from the parking lot to the entrance, but the fair as well is very widespread. We didn't get to check out the whole place, we may missed some thing but we did the majority like the farm animals, horses/mules, petting zoo, carnival rides/games, and of course the fair food. Can't go wrong with freshly squeezed lemonade, footlong corn dog, funnel cake, hot dog, and dippin dots. So good! Cost is $15 for adults to get in. It's better to get a bundle/wristband prices. Make it worth it. Lots of shows, activities for all ages, shopping, food, and candy! read more

This is one of the best state fairs in the Midwest. The 2021 Missouri bicentennial edition had even more of something for everyone. Sure there's a lot of commercialism--a lot of vendors hawking cookware and toys and geegaws of every sort, color, and size. Some of that vending has educational benefits. But, around that is a lot of free entertainment: musicians, comedians, story tellers, magicians, and speakers. Just watching a tweenager--or younger--give a brief explanation on prepping a sheep for show is entertaining and informational. There are also spots all over the place serving every flavor, texture, and type of food. COVID concerns this year seemed, well, nothing people were concerned about. Fair workers might be masked but there was little--no--social distancing, especially in restaurants and some entertainment venues. read more

Had a great time. Great fair food . Cool shops and stands to buy gifts. The Bands that played were very good too.

I usually don't leave reviews but I hope this gets to someone who can make some changes. First off there is a group of 4, myself and 3 kids, who have spent the summer going to races. We have been to several tracks this summer and all I can say is holy shit!!! I guess it's get rich off every sale at the concession stand under the grandstand. I'm sorry, I don't mind spending money, I really don't. But $6 for a fountain drink?? $10 for a cheeseburger, $6 popcorn, and something like $20 for loaded nachos. The prices at the fair are stupid anyway but these prices are double any track we have been. What a joke. What a disappointment. What a rip off. Maybe they should think about handing out Vaseline on the way in the gate. This is the Missouri State Fair. I didn't know we stood for ripping people off just because we can. It's things like this that make it hard to come back next year. read more

The Missouri State Fair is a not-to-be-missed event. You can see 4-H and FFA member's fruits of their labors. This is where Missouri's youth can showcase their talents. The carnival is terrific, it's clean and safe. The concert lineup is always varied. read more

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First time here, HUGE venue, bring ou walking shoes. Come early to get the closest parking and bring your walking shoes. Bathrooms seemed hard to find and lots of cops outside the fairgrounds but hardly any inside unless they were undercover. Prices are your usual over the top for food and drink but it seemed very well planned out. Traffic is horrible outside, be prepared. read more

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You must visit Jackson's at the Missouri State Fair for the best BBQ smoked meats to be found. I have eaten lunch and dinner at their building at the Missouri State Fair for the more than the past 10 years and it never disappoints. In fact, seven years ago, on Aug. 11, 2016, I had the best smoked prime rib I've ever had in my life at Jackson's! It also comes with au jus, baked potato, texas toast and a big salad! It just melts in your mouth. Plus, you get free refills on your fountain drinks. No other vendor I know of at the fair offers free refills like that! I coordinated the MoDNR State Fair displays in the Woman's Building for the past 25 years until I retired in 2022. Don't forget to visit the State Fair Museum downstairs inside the Woman's Building, too! They have some great memorabilia from past State Fair events! read more

Missouri State Fair - Melt in your mouth smoked prime rib from Jackson's at the Missouri State Fair, Aug. 11, 2016 - Festivals Near Me - Sedalia, Missouri

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Great day at the Missouri State Fair! Lots to do at this huge fair. Sure, it was humid but there are lots of shaded tented eating areas to chomp fair treats ( we enjoyed funnel cake galore & we even tried the red velvet Oreos) and got in line in front of Jacksons a few minutes before 11am (we beat the crowd- lines out the door by 1120am.). Besides the typical fair fare, (hand dipped corn dogs, burgers, nachos, etc) we spied turkey legs, fried gator, jambalaya and crawfish. Rides cost between 3-4 tickets ($1/ticket) And air conditioned buildings have restrooms - there is even a young kid zone at the Family Fun Center which is perfect for little ones to play and cool off in with large checkers, connect four, fishing and fun toys. Highlights include petting the animals and admiring the Budweiser Clydesdale horses. We only stayed a couple of hours, but could easily spend all day/night here. read more

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About an hour and a half from Kansas City. So far the weather for 2016 is being kind to the fair goers. Parking free. Adult tickets $10 or after 5pm $5, children $5, ages 5 and under free. Carnival rides are 3-5 tickets, tickets are $1 or unlimited band for $30. Family friendly, shows and activities for all ages. Lots of shopping, food, wine tents, beer halls, agriculture, concerts, rodeos, motorcross, tractor rides, car derbies, and lots of walking. Perk of driving out to Sedalia for fair is the 1.89$ a gallon gas compared to the 2.19 KC price. Their website has a line up list of acts and activities at each arena and stage. Facebook page was helpful to. At entrance is booklet with the same information too. Once inside an arena we found food and drinks were cheaper. Funnel cakes were $5 compared to the $8 + add $2 for a topping. Beer was $6. It seems the most pricey in the carnival area. This was my 5th time going and it gets a little easier to navigate each time. It helps that they seem to set it up the same each year and their are permanent landmarks like the barns that house the different animal categories. read more

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I loved my experience here! There were many booths from all across the state with many fun and interactive activities and shows. The Mizzou area and the Dairy Tent were some of my favorites. Many carnival rides (they are expensive), animal shows, and wide selection of food to choose from. All in all a lively atmosphere and good weekend activity. read more

This was my first time at the Missouri State Fair and it was fun. Parking is free and admission is $10. Parking: There is plenty of room to park but be prepared to walk for a minute. The traffic directors aren't much help especially the lady working near gate 5 on her cell phone around 430pm. We pulled in and she pointing in front of her, while looking down texting on her phone. Never looked up once, so we drove down to the second director and she was more helpful. Food: There's quite a few places to eat. Prices vary by vendor or building. GET A FUNNEL CAKE! Rides: They had a large selection of rides but we didn't ride any. Prices are a little steep. Animals: There are sooooooo many animals too see it's amazing. If you're a animal lover, it's a must! read more

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4th State fair. I would rank this one 2nd behind Iowa but ahead of Nebraska and Kansas. Ag and animal buildings were really neat. Learned a little about cows. Food options in the stands weren't that great but I did like the beef, pork and chicken restaurant options but they were too busy to get into. Fun couple hours with neat facilities. read more

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This is where the "Show Me State" shows it off! The Missouri State Fair showcases the best that Missouri has to offer. This important state has a diverse array of agriculture, arts and technology to educate and entertain! When I went, I got to catch a demolition derby! It was awesome- a bunch of sedans smashing into each other to the ooohs and aaahs of the crowd. When one car ended up on top of another, the crowd rose to its feet. Superb! They offer so many different fried foods and vendors selling stuff. My favorite area was the agricultural stuff, where you can sample Missouri wines! I had no idea that Missouri made wine until the State Fair. There's rows and rows of prize winning pigs, cows, chickens, and other livestock. The arts area was nice, with a lot of statewide schools submitting their students' finest paintings and drawings, often with Missouri themes and scenes. I ended up getting tons of free swag, bumper stickers, pencils, bookmarks and other memorabilia! Love it. Another perk- free parking! My main complaint is that I don't like how they have live animal acts, and they lose a star for forcing tigers to dance and roar for the crowds. The tiger doesn't look healthy or happy, and I think it's a travesty that they keep it locked up like they do. It's inhumane. read more

The past few years the fair has gone down hill. The corn dogs are salty and underdone. The Mexican food nasty. Where are the horses? I have gone since the 50's and the grounds have improved but the vendors , food and shows all are not worth going anymore. So sad. read more

5 stars for people watching! Wow! 1 star for the rest of the event. While I sadly did not spend the day, was only there for a the concert and a few hours, I saw enough to turn around and head west, or east, or north, or wherever, just put it in my rear view! read more

What comes to my mind first is, hot. It's always hot. It's a fair. It's dirty. It smells like shit. Rides hodge podged together in about 12 hours by toothless individuals who could care less. I've never really enjoyed the fair except for those times as a teenager when it served as a social peer networking location. We didn't have cell phones or twitter at the time. We had to actually see each other. When you live in Sedalia, sadly, this was were it was done...for two weeks out of the year anyway. As a child my parents drug me through the heat and dirt shoving cotton candy and corn dogs at me. Hot. Now I go once. Dollar day. Hit the corndogs and pineapple icecream for a buck. Get in for a buck. No other day is worth it. I love the fried green tomatoes but I'm not paying $6.50 for a green tomato. Just eat more $1 corndogs. Children's barnyard, the fine art exhibit, petting zoo, and the ag building are all must sees if you have children. Don't forget to admire the hog's balls. Art is for me. Then those hideously over priced rides at $25 a wrist band. It's a great day. read more

I have been going to the Missouri State Fair for as long as I can remember and there's nothing like a great weather day to walk the fairgrounds. Its not a bad drive, no matter where in Missouri you are coming from. There is ample parking and lots of gates to park at. If you cannot walk distances, there is a tram that you can purchase a ride on OR if you're part of the older generation you will get a free ride. I love all the exhibits from all the various establishments throughout the fairgrounds. There is always something for everyone, with a little hometown mixed in. Make sure you visit each of the livestock areas because none are the same. We avoided the midway as it was chaos with nowhere to go. However if you have little ones then you will benefit from visiting that section. BBQ is a must at the fair and the place for that is Good Time Charlie's. For as long as I can remember, I have always eaten here and I have always been well fed. Their sandwiches are huge, their fries homemade and their drinks nice and cold. If you're lucky you'll get to hear live music which sweetens the deal even more. If you've never been, you must make this a stop at some point in your life. I promise you, you won't be disappointed! read more

I have lived in Missouri my entire life and my first time at the fair was this year. Sedalia is not a bad drive from St. Louis. I enjoyed seeing all the competitions and got a show with the daredevil experience. People watching is always fun at an event like this. Can't wait to go next year! read more

I have been attending the Missouri State Fair since I was a toddler. My family used to camp out the entire week of the fair on the fair grounds and show livestock. Over the years not much has changed. Some food stands have come and gone and different livestock barns gain and lose popularity, but the overall sense of the fair stays the same. The Pepsi Grandstand is still home to regular concerts throughout the fair, the Midway is still crowded and overpriced, and there are not enough places to cool off on a hot day. I would recommend the dairy shack for ice cream. Check out the Pork Producer's food stand for a hearty meal. The Cattlemen's Association also serves great burger's and are my favorite pick for on the go food. Also, make sure to check out the Missouri Conservation Department's building for lots of fun fish and wildlife to look at. I recommend avoiding the midway all together because everything is so overpriced. I am also more displeased with the admissions cost for the fair. $8 a day seems a bit much just to walk in and spend more money. read more

I love the fair!! Grew up in Sedalia so it's always a must for me. All the usual fair fare: corn dogs, turkey legs, funnel cakes, and ice cream in many iterations, great pork and great beef from the producer venues. Also the the more normal exotics fried green tomatoes, blooming onions, and fried Twinkie. This year also saw fried Oreos. One place even had a special going for a mix of 2 each fried Oreos, fried snickers, and fried cookie dough for $10! I know I'm overly familiar but it kinda seemed like there were slightly fewer vendors and new products/foods on offer but years go by and the fair is always fun. So all in all I love the fair and love going! read more

I go to the Missouri State Fair for the funnel cakes, the horse shows and to people watch...not necessarily in thar order! read more

Missouri State Fair - Here at the Missouri State Fair with two good friends! - Festivals Near Me - Sedalia, Missouri

The State Fair was good but the organization for parking left a bad taste in our mouths. The entire parking was structured so that all areas were gated into sections. Our family left the fair at 9:30PM and every gate we tried to exit was not only closed, but also locked!! Finally after driving the perimeter and trying several gates, we approached an employee who kept telling us we needed to try gate 4. We, and a few others who had gathered up at this point trying to get out, kept telling this guy we HAVE tried other gates, including gate 4 but it was closed and locked as well. He then said "You will have to wait until someone comes back to man the gate then. They'll be back around 10Pm". My fiancé, being an ex-Deputy Sheriff told the guy that he needed to contact the Highway Patrol to come in, because that meant the gates would then be opened, or he was going to call 911 & tell them there was a hostage situation. Once he said that, they had the gates opened in less than 5 minutes. read more

Good Fair! Have been every year since I was born and always can't wait to come each year! So much to do!

The fair is over. We are in the campground with one other RV. Plenty of flies but grassy area for parking and electricity, etc. for $18.00

First time for the MO state fair, smaller than the MN but just as much fun. Wish they had more divers food vendors, the only thing on a stick was the corn dog. Tasty but hard to go wrong with deep fried hot dog and yellow mustard. Only 8 dollars to get in and free parking, great way to spend the day. read more

$4.50 - $5.00 for beer. Corn dogs were about the same. $5.00 to ride a ride for two minutes or $25.00 dollars for wristband to get unlimited free rides, unfortunately half the rides don't except the wristbands. Everything is just really expensive. The one thing that I did like was that there was lots of different kinds of bars. Mexican, country, classic rock, new rock, etc. read more