This is always a solid county fair. Parking is $8 and there is plenty. Once inside the fair there are numerous vendors with food, drinks, and all kinds of merchandise. The weather is usually really good. The fair has three main buildings. Thurber Hall which is loaded with commercial vendors - clothing, candy, pop culture items, Tupperware, gadgets, etc. Always some good deals in there. Pima Hall has more vendors and some entertainment acts as well. This year they had Brad's World of Reptiles with multiple animal displays and Nancy Riegler's Bird Show at the other end. The name of the third building escapes me, but it is where they show off art from locals and schools in the area. They also have 4-H displays, a giant model train display, many active art displays with rocks, model ships, yarn, etc. Great rides and games every year from RCS. Pony rides, camel rides, and a petting zoo. Fun foods with new ones each year. Really good concerts - free with admission. Definitely worth making the trip from Mesa each year. If you are nearby - make the trip. read more

Food, games, people, music, so many experiences all in one place! The weather was perfect and cannot wait until 2027! read more

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This year's fair ended last night and it was my first time at this multi-day event. I've been to other fairs in different cities but this one surprised me with the variety of food choices. It ain't all funnel cakes here. The rides are cool and I found another oddity. I watched many people actually win at the carnival games and walk around with monstrously large stuffed animals. Although there were no exotic animals here, the usual assortment of pigs, rabbits, chickens, and goats were here as contestants. Cows were pampered and looking fresh. The weather was idyllic, too. If someone was here visiting the area for the first time, I wouldn't be surprised if they fell in love with this bit of Southern Arizona. read more

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Review from 4/19/2026: The Pima County Fair has gotten way too expensive. What used to be a fun, affordable outing now feels overpriced, especially when you compare it to Cochise and Santa Cruz County fairs that have the exact same rides for much cheaper. $50 for 40 tickets is steep, and when most rides cost 4-5 tickets, you're burning through money fast. Add in the fact that parents are required to ride with younger kids on many rides, and suddenly you're paying double for a single experience. The rides themselves were also very short, even though many of them were sitting empty and it really stood out was how empty many of the rides were, even on a Saturday night during opening weekend. That says a lot. The pricing is clearly pushing people away. On top of that, even basic food and drinks are overpriced; something like a root beer float was $14. I guess this is pretty normal for a fair, so I can't complain too much about this, but it was pretty funny, considering that a real beer cost 9 dollars a cup. The food overall was hit or miss. My wife had a teriyaki chicken with fried rice that was pretty mid, and I had a $25 lobster roll that, while closer to standard pricing, was also pretty underwhelming. The regular corn dog and the root beer float were actually pretty good though. The shows were actually enjoyable (the pig races and sea lion show were highlights), but overall, it's just not a great value, especially for families with younger kids (3-5), where they can ride, but usually require a parent to go with them due to height restrictions. Unless prices come down, it's hard to recommend this fair over other local options. They are the exact same rides that they have at the Cochise County and Santa Cruz County fair, but the ticket prices are just really high in my opinion. I have been going to the Pima County fair since I was a kid in the 90s, so it's kind of disappointing how expensive it has gotten for what you get out of it. I highly recommend the other local fairs, where you will probably spend half of what you spend at the Pima County Fair for the same rides, food, and in general it will be way less crowded. read more

Rides way too expensive, did 1 ride and 1 game (we had fourth tickets) and we only had 5 tickets left.

We went as a family of 5 with 3 kids. The weather on Saturday was perfect and it wasn't too crowded, especially when we got there at 3. There are a lot of rides and attractions for younger kids which mine enjoyed. There was lots of good food to be found (we loved our turkey leg, lobster roll, pulled pork Mac n cheese, etc). Adult drinks were a bit harder to spot but we found the bar area where they made me a great mango margarita with watermelon chamoy/tajin rim. We had a good time but we spent a lot of money. My biggest complaint is the cost. $12 entry + $8 parking plus $1.25 per ticket. With rides costing 3-6 tickets per person it adds up so fast. Why is everything so expensive?! We blew through $100 in a very fast time on what seemed like few rides. Wristbands were not available but I wish they were. I think we will go again but will probably be more choosy with rides since the tickets go fast . read more

Pima County Fair - Fair fare - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Is is our third year going to the fair, since we moved to Tucson. And we always enjoy it every time. We mainly come here for the food, not much for the rides. So much food to enjoy and drinks all over the place. Entrance fee has gone up, as well as the parking fee. Food is priced very high, but it's all about the experience. Listening to the music as you walk around the park makes a big difference! Lots of games to win cute stuffed animals. We're definitely going back next year! read more

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Fortunately it was free admission with 3 cans of food day because this fair is expensive! Normally $12 entry fee, $8 parking fee, bought 40 tickets for rides and games $50, all kids rides were a minimum of 4 to 5 tickets. Small bag of stale popcorn $8, "Tucson" burger and fries $18. Deep fried snickers $9. read more

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My boyfriend and I went to the Pima County fair on a Friday evening. When we got there it wasn't too packed which was nice but as the evening went on it got completely crazy with the amount of people. We could barely move without getting run over by bunches of kids and famlies rushing to get to where they wanted to be. We wanted to move at a slower pace to enjoy but couldn't. We only did one ride on the ferris wheel...the rest of the rides did not entice us. We only played a couple of the games as well. Where they get people the most is the outrageous prices. Parking is $7 and tickets are $11 each for adults. So right of the bat we spent almost $30 before we even got inside! The food prices are ridiculous for what you get but the worst of it was the prices for rides and games. They have set numbers of tickets you can buy at kiosks, but the purposely make the games and rides available for more tickets than what you can buy at the kiosks. So you have to buy more tickets than what you actually need because it's not an even amount. I can only imagine how much money people with kids and families spent on tickets. Not sure if we'll be going back next year. read more

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As far as the rides go expensive like always which isn't really the issue. The problem here is that the food is extremely expensive which would be fine if it DIDNT TASTE LIKE ABSOLUTE GARBAGE. I found a worm in my f****** burger. The funnel cakes were stale and the strawberries ice frozen which was not appetizing at all. As for the lemonade I don't know if they washed their hands of if they missed something but it definitely did not taste like lemonade.. the way poop smells if like what it tasted... I'm disappointed, if you come to the fair I suggest you eat before or after you come. NOT worth eating here, I spend more than $50 on a little bit of food just for it to taste like hot garbage. read more

Pima County Fair - Cheese Burger with worm - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Have to rate this 1 star for 2024 based on the now even more outrageous prices. $8 parking. Food quality down but prices way up. For soggy fries, 1 small nachos and 2 soft drinks it was $71.30. 2 corn $20. 3 seniors entrance fee $24. Grand total: over $123. That was with no rides. We won't be back. Ever. read more

Fun time, be ready to blow 100 bucks, crowded, go with friends that'll be entertaining to stand in line with for hours, decent concerts, unhealthy tasty food, corn dog and cotton candy was great, surprisingly helpful staff all around, petting zoo area, fast pass is worth it if you're going for the rides, activities available for all ages. What do ya expect, it's the fair read more

Pima County Fair - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I come to this fair every year, they always have animals to see, this year the Budweiser horses are here!! Sealion show, white tiger show, frisbee dogs. And 4H kids have their animals. I love the 2 areas for the kids to play in, free. The kids have their own rides and games. The adults have theirs. The fair is really secure. I walk around comfortably without worrying, that makes it more fun. I can focus on goofing off, hearing concerts, and eating my Greek salad. I love that option too. Healthier food choices. Not judging the cotton candy eaters, I had ice cream too. I'll be back next year. This was a great fair!! read more

Pima County Fair - My scrumptious Greek salad, yes at the fair!! From the Sleek Greek. Traveling vendor. - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

Did you SEE that pig? Now, I'm not talking about any 4H swine. I'm talking about that pig on the spit at that BBQ place? Holy drool, pigman. Besides that, the Pima County Fair is FUN x 10. The fairgrounds are pretty much 30-40 minutes from the furthest point in Tucson so it's an easy drive and I loved how organized and well marked everything was when I got off I-10. Plenty of barricades and PCSD personnel keeping traffic moving smoothly. Parking was only $5 and lots of parking. Just make sure you remember which aisle and lot you're in otherwise, you'll be wandering for a while. Seriously though, did you see that pig? All the employees I encountered were super helpful and friendly. We went on Saturday around 4pm so the lines for rides were minimal. Lots of big kid rides and plenty of stuff for the wee ones. **Tip for parents of little ones that need to let them unwind a little in a safe environment - go to Pima Hall and let them have fun in Kiddie Kingdom. It's free. Speaking of free, I know that pig wasn't free but damn I wanted to reach in and grab a piece of that blistering, smoky, crisp skin off it's back and.... We managed to catch the last part of Tanya Tucker's performance. I know, I was shocked that she's still alive too!!! Food at the fair is plentiful and you can find just about anything that meets your heart or stomach's desire. My stomach desired that pig to be quite honest. All in all, the Pima County Fair is a fun, annual event. Maybe next year when my granddaughter is a little older and more patient, we'll go through the exhibit halls and check out everything the fair has to offer. Yeah, right. I have a mission for next year. That pig will be MINE. Mine, I tell you, ALL MINE!!! read more

Pima County Fair - That pig!! It's all I can think about!! - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

You gotta love the fair. We come to the fair every year. I like arriving in the evening around 4:00 it's not so hot and the sun will soon be setting. Love the animals in the barn, baby goats are my favorite. Free concerts with price of admission (last night was Josh Turner). Lots of choices for food and snacks, some pricier than others. From another yelpers tip I'm gonna try the 4H stand next year. It's a great way to get out of the house and have a really entertaining night (or day). Tip: you are allowed to bring in your own water bottles (no outside food will be allowed through security). read more

Pima County Fair - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

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Well, it's hard to review this fair when you have regularly visited one of the two largest fairs in the country, the Texas State Fair. We did not do any rides, but I can see that that would probably be the biggest attraction. Not a lot to see and do otherwise. But I do give it a big thumbs up to food choices. There were tons of choice, whereas Texas felt like it was the same choice in all the areas. read more

Pima County Fair - Giant Pinata - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

I love going to the Fair because I didn't get to do so when I was growing up. It is very pricy because of the admission, tickets, and food but a fun treat for a family! Unfortunately, there are too many people in the evening time so lines for rides are super long! I didn't go on any rides this year but I did get some good food. The chicken-on-a-stick is delicious! Perfectly cooked and flavorful. The ribs, though a lot, are dried and not as flavorful. I also had a funnel cake and deep fried reese's cup. Delicious food! read more

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My friend and I went to go see Jefferson Airplane just known jefferson starship They played about 10 songs some eighties and some seventies songs they played white rabbit we built this city on rock and roll and Jane I guess are a band from San Francisco Me and my friend John have a great time at the concert the reward to run on the fair I looked out the cool stuff. It cost $2 for parking and $2 get in and the concert was free Have a good time at the fair this year read more

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First time visit to the fair. A good amount of traffic control by Pima County's finest. Plenty of parking at $5 a pop. The fairgrounds are well laid out with paved promenades. Lots of rides for all ages. Lots of carnival food to clog all arteries. Lots of kitschy vendors. Especially enjoyable were the pavilions with the juried arts and crafts and food. read more

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I was just there for the food, I don't do fair or carnival rides! I've heard too many stories. There were actually a lot of food options, so many that I felt like I couldn't choose. This place was huge, so many avenues and turns to walk down but absolutely no signage, not an arrow, a person standing around. We finally found a low key information booth near the concert stage and she gave us a map but that still didn't help because everything looked the same in my opinion. I had a pork corndog because the beef was too small or too large imo, it was ok, kind of stale. Next I had a cone of curly fries, way too many damn fries but I was determined... Couldn't do it, my mouth became so dry. They were decent but could've used more salt. The way they were fried and stuck together, you were forced to eat it like cotton candy. Next, I had a cup of cookies with ice cream (chocolate/vanilla) from the bucket of cookies truck. The cookies were good but I like soft cookies and these were crispy. Lastly, I had the fried cheesecake which didn't look appetizing at all but it was pretty good but only when hot! I couldn't finish it, way too thick, the cheesecake balls would've been a better idea. Overall I had a good time walking around and people watching, even played a few rigged games lol and walked through one of those mirror houses but only because I wanted to slide down the slide the Pharoah exhibit was trash, stop calling it that! I wanted to see the illusionist show but never found it or him. Wasn't the least but interested in any of the animal shows because well...I've heard stories. Anywho, great fair, last night (4/22) was discount night so $5 to park and $2 to get in but note where you park! Finding your car is a needle in a haystack! SN:. Shout out to the officer from Pima County Sheriff's Department, Danny that helped me find my car! Lol read more

Mother Nature decided to ruin Vail Pride Day. But thankfully it wasn't a monsoon type downpour. Still was a great community event to gather everyone around for some fun. They had this event called "passport " to promote getting ppl to move to every main event and get stamps , so upon leaving you could get a one of a kind item. Well after busting our butt at the end, we see the workers just hanging them out to everyone leaving. So the "passport " was pointless for those doing it. I would have liked to see an area for adults that has the most recent county,city news. Like the town meetings that are attempted but never convenient for anyone to attend. This venue could have served as getting out additional information. read more

Pima County Fair - Front entrance - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The exhibits are nice, but that's about it really. Everything is atrociously expensive though. $15 for a little burger and $10 for a small batch of fries that most likely won't have you feeling full. I can cook a feast with those prices. You're better off starving yourself or eating before hand. $20 for 16 carnival tickets also. The big rides only go for about 45 seconds to a minute. Save your money and check out the free concerts and exhibits instead. read more

Very surprised with how this fair was! My first time and I expected chaos and that was from the truth. Very clean and appropriately placed porta-potties and has hand washing stations. Lots of room to move except when the people were everywhere. Only thing I would mention that should be improved is that they should have designated lines for the rides. Seems like people just made their own lines and got in the way of the flow of traffic. Unless that is the whole fair experience lol then Ok lol. In any event very cool and glad I had the opportunity to experience it. read more

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Okay so, I was too broke to go to the fair last year and I'm so glad I was able to go this year. I literally wish I would have been able to eat so much more because there is so much delicious food. I went twice the day it opened and on a Saturday. I noticed the difference between going on a week day and a weekend because it was super packed on Saturday and it was hard to find a good spot to sit and enjoy my amazing food. the only thing i didn't like was the parking area. There were too many weeds and rocks. if you are looking for something different to do the fair is really awesome a lot of rides, a lot of food, and the music is pretty great. read more

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This is the first year in about two decades we went to the fair. Our granddaughter's school orchestra was performing. It's sad the fair has become so expensive. It would be a challenge for the average Tucson family to spend a day without having to put out more than hundred dollars. You pay to park, $5, $9 for each adult. A ride pass is a good value at $35 for unlimited rides. Drinks, food and games add up quickly. We spent over $100 for one ride pass, some game tickets, five drinks and a snack for the little one before she boarded the bus. read more

Pima County Fair - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

The Pima County Fair is your typical fair... fried food, vendors selling random stuff, carnival rides, animals...etc. They do a good job in having different promotions to get people there, support the local community, and they have been getting really good concerts in. The animal shows and exhibits they have been getting have been getting better and better. They have had a Bengal tiger show and a sea lion show I really enjoyed. They little zoo that they had this year, each year having a new theme - this year's being the bayou, is always interesting and fun to walk through. Next to the camel rides they also had a 5 month old camel named Eli that they were allowing people to meet and pet who was absolutely adorable. I. Honestly thought he and my puppy could easily get along. Now for the negatives which sadly is mostly the food. There is only your standard food choices. There is nothing really inventive, exciting, or creative like you would find at a lot of fairs around the country. The flavor is standard - not bad, just overpriced. They do have Indian Fry Bread - which is a Southwest staple (walk into a fair or festival without it being there, it is not worth you being there). For those who might not know, Indian Fry Bread is kinda like a funnel cake, but denser, thicker, richer, and more open for numerous flavor avenues. This year they have finally started to add new flavors besides the traditional beans, meat, lettuce, cheese, and salsa, though they are still not inventive flavors. The big negative is the fact that there are NO water fountains ANYWHERE!!! We are in the middle of the desert. I know that it is difficult for that kind of venue, but being forced to pay $6 for a drink that is not enough to help with a windy, 90 degree day is forcing people to leave the fair early. If there are going to be no water fointains, they need to have more shade which is also little to none. So not cool. read more

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I preface this review by admitting that I spend all 11 days out at the Fair every year. Their opening weekend I take my own poultry exhibits out, and then the remaining week of Fair I am out there with 4-H for Pigeon and Poultry events. In terms of what the Fair does for 4-H, they get a stellar 5 stars. But for the Fair itself--one star. I am mainly concerned with the fact that each year the Fair just gets more and more expensive. I am to the point where I will no longer purchase any kind of ride passes, because you are throwing money away. A decent package of tickets gets you one ride. For all the people that say get the pass books at Frys, still you do not get much with that. And wristband night--well, enjoy the lines because you end up with almost no rides due to length of ride time. BUT... I can live without the rides. No big deal, I can be entertained by 4-H events. If you get hungry or thirsty though, you are screwed. The prices just continue to increase for food out here. I remember when burgers used to be $7 (and at the time I thought that was decent). But now burgers are up to 17$ at some stands?! For that I can have a lavish feast at any Fast Food place--because the food here is NOT better than any McDonalds nearby. Ice cream for $8 a cone?! I understand having to mark things up but this place just gets more and more out of my price range. That being said... I'm out there 11 days straight and need food. So even being thrifty, I dropped a lot of cash out here. What gets me most irritated is the rude vendors that act like you're not important for even a smile as you hand them $60 for dinner for three people. Rude, short, snappy, and don't you dare mention they are out of forks or a condiment because then you're ruined their day. I also notice that a lot of the vendors are not local. I've heard a lot of people asking about it. Many years ago there was an amazing coffee booth (coffee, fraps, other drinks) that was local and had an area at the Fair. His last year, he mentioned how much the Fair was charging him to vend there. Clearly, with the prices being forced down both sides, it makes it so that local vendors probably do not have the ability to vend here. Which SUCKS. I would much rather see local people, who can at least act nice when you pay them, then all of these mean cranky out of towners that are charging an arm and a leg. I love the 4-H aspects of the Fair. Anything in the barn area, wonderful. Step beyond that, and beware. read more

This is Monday, senior day, come for lunch. Right. Nothing opens until 1PM. That little tidbit of information would gave her nice to have before we left early to get there for lunch!! Plus, the only entrance early is on the far north end and the parked us on the far south end. Senior Day?? read more

Carnies!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The modern day gypsies who make kids smile as you pray their hangover has worn off from the night before as you make the poor decision to ride the gravitron placing your life in their hands and your clothing you hope the day drunk beer swilling patron next to you does not projectile on. This is a sterotype. Besides the sea lion show and giant 12 ft. gator inside a tractor trailer- both of which are incredibly inhumane.... it's a great fair. They even get some big ticket artists like Nelly, Salt n Pepper, Blue Oyster Cult, Ratt, etc. Download the app on your phone. It includes a listing of discounted days, concert times, events, and a find your car feature with gps. The petting zoo was a hit. Not really sure baby goats, chickens, ducks, lamas, alpacas, cows, kangaroos, pigs, and donkeys should really free roam among each other but my toddler was in heaven. Giggly, adorable, heaven. One goat was particularly aggressive. The petting zoo is free and skip paying for the food to avoid the goat aggressor. Next up- also not very humane- the pony ride. My kid was a natural and at 930 pm, hours past her bedtime, I wanted to call an equestrian center right then and there to sign her up for lessons as I looked for horse properties on my phone. Bonus, I did not get charged. Poor morals I know. After that we had to feed the child. I was thinking Dominios was a safe bet but my partner in life wanted her to try the finer fair offerings such as a corndog and cotton candy. The corn dog was a hit until she was using it as a drumstick playing along with Quiet Riot on a grungy table. And she refused to even try the cotton candy- ahhhh life with a toddler. I personally tried some Greek fries. Fries, feta, and tzatziki for 8 bucks. The fair's slogan was "deep fried fun" and one booth was selling deep fried butter- I am not kidding. All but the carousel and one other kiddie ride are nestled together in one corner. However, the majority of the rides are for 36 inch or taller children even with a parent. Only two rides were for kids 32 inches- the equivalent of most two year olds- fyi. There was also livestock shows, antique farm equipment auctions, hot tub peddlers, craft shows, a beer fest (which was hosted by Budweiser-um personally that is a turn off as I want craft beers not the king of beers at a festival) just to name a few other offerings. Parking was five bucks unless it is a discounted day. Entrance is free for the under five and cash only for the rest of us. The fair runs for almost three weeks... it's worth a stop out. read more

This a run of the mill fair. They only really have a select amount of rides. However, the biggest ride they at least have two. The games are ok, the prizes suck. It's only teddy bears. I have been to fairs and carnivals that have a wide selection. The games are expensive and the prizes are cheap. I love the animals and the petting zoo. They also always have animal competition and people looking to win the next award. I was able to see a 1000 pound pig. read more

Pima County Fair - Festivals Near Me - Tucson, Arizona

We visited the Pima County Fair today and had a fun time. The fee is $8 per adult, $5 per kid, and children under 5 years have free admission. They don't open until 10AM on Sat.-Sun. and won't open until 1PM on weekdays. Be prepared to spend more money for ride tickets (sold separately) and food/sweets. There was plenty of parking ($5 per car) but I suggest arriving early before it gets packet around 1PM. The fair closes around 11PM so you get plenty of time to play. This fair is small compared to a state fair but there is plenty of entertainment. They had tigers on display, monkeys on display, a petting zoo (goats/ sheep, pigs, and llama), a livestock show (for teens and kids), a (barrel racing) horse show, lots of rides for kids and adults, and lots of food. The bungee jump was great and so was the rock wall. They had a historic section of the fair reserved for old tractors. The rides were ok. They had a carrousel, playground slides, small teacup ride, and so forth. If you are willing to dish out the cash for the games then you have that option too. There were some displays of art but if you have ever been to a bigger fair somewhere else then you might feel something is missing. There are a lot of vendors. Some of them will get in your face and push a sale, so be prepared and put your game face on. There were a lot of vendors trying to sell the same thing like sunglasses, cheap purses, hair accessories, incense, hats, leather wallets, costume jewelry, and stuff that will just collect dust on your shelf at home. Some vendors were selling the common "seen on TV" stuff. Really there wasn't much interesting or different to buy at this fair. A hand full of the vendors were the rudest I had come across in a long time (could it have been from the 100 degree heat?) so that was the only big pitfall about this fair. The food sold was mostly hotdogs, corndogs, fry bread, burgers, and the meat-on-a-stick variety. Of course you can't pass up the caramel apples, cotton candy, and other common fair sweets. There was kettle corn, funnel cakes, specialty fudge, slow cooked meats, jerky, spices, popcorn, dips, specialty candy, deep fried foods, gyros, baked beans, corn, jellies, and other mouth watering yummies. There are a few bars there too that sell beer or margaritas. So after you have walked five or more miles all over the fairgrounds you can't treat yourself to something fattening or unhealthy. We didn't walk out of the fair without spending around $150.00 on our parking, entree fee, ride/game tickets, food, petting zoo feed, sweets, a professional pic of our family at the fair, and some shopping. Bring a hat, your suntan lotion, and a camelbak to save you from the sunburn and paying through the nose for a small bottle of water. We had a great time but will go on a day when the heat isn't so bad. read more

Lots of great times here for over 30 years. The price seems to be jumping up a lot higher than the salaries in the area, though, so whereas we used to go 2-3 times each year, we now go once. Make sure to get the kids out before dark as the crowd gets a bit rough some nights. read more

I've always loved the fair. My family and I have been going since my adult children were very small. The smells, the fun rides, the 4-H and the food! Wonderful memories. So why am I giving it one star? Because the prices of EVERYTHING (with exception of the 4-H) has skyrocketed. I mean, come on, $9 to get in and then once you're in it's $30/bracelet? And the food has skyrocketed as well. If you're thirsty, you gotta pay a 1/2 hours wage to get something to drink. And the food? Between $15-$20 just for a burger and fries. Even the 10 rides you get at Fry's has gone up to $15. It used to be 10 for 10. I got thirsty and there were only sporadic water fountains with gross, warm water available to drink. None of the venders offered water or free ice and the lowest bottled water was $3!!! My suggestion is you get local venders to come in and sell food at local prices and consider bringing those prices back down to a decent place. Otherwise, our family won't be the only family who will no longer be making memories at the Pima County fair. read more

I am a fan. To be honest, I came for Silversun Pickups (SSPU) alone. I could not possibly care less about the dumb fair. And it is with those expectations -- and level of (dis)interest -- that I found myself thoroughly enjoying the entire fair and wishing we had the equivalent somewhere in Nevada. (Even our state fair sucks pretty badly, according to all accounts.) Must try: SSPU (Or whichever artist is performing that night, naturally.) The set-up is wonky with an area with folding chairs set up with seating in the front, which is fenced off from the GA area. Anyone who purchases entry to the fair can go to the concert. The upgrade VIP ticket gets one inside the seated area. I killed it playing some dumb die game at a local radio station booth, so I won tickets even though I did not know what I was playing (to the chagrin of the station employee). Must try: The horse stables There was an elderly cowboy that must have lectured for hours on all he knew about horses and the personal history of his magnificent stallions. We simply met him when he noticed us taking interest in his animals. This is the type of gentleman that one just does not come across too often, and indicative of being at a true, bona fide fair and not some commercial shitfest. Must try: The monkey trailer Those little bastards are a riot! Worth the 2$ or whatever the hell it cost. They deserve a pay raise. (Or to be set free ....) Skip: Deep fried treats No, this is not a public service announcement about how you're going to get your foot amputated and how you are going to die, et. cetera. (All that is true though.) This is a review of how shitty they are. They simply are shitty. Overpriced, and not good. Nathan's at Mermaid's Casino on the Fremont Street Experience in Las Vegas, Nevada sells 1$ treats that put this nasty shit at the fair to shame. Skip it. How can it be that a County Fair in Arizona be superior to our State Fair? Battle Born State, get your shit together. read more

Range! No mention of the fact that this venue has a nice gun range, it's probably politically incorrect to post huh? Only $8 for a lane and they have plenty so you rarely wait. Rangers are friendly and experienced. Saw people shooting pistols, rifles, shotguns, slingshots and bow. read more

The fairgrounds are pretty awesome! I rarely met a fairgrounds I didn't like. This one is nice and far out of city limits but isn't so far away that it is a ridiculous drive. You just hop on the I-10 and head out until you find it. During huge events like concerts, I have found it very difficult to get in and out of here, so be prepared. Saw Metallica years back and what a zoo, took 45 minutes to get off the freeway and in there. Parking seems handled well enough by competent staff during shows and the fair. There is a bar here during the fair, and a nice concert area with plenty of port-o-potty restrooms (I pay close attention to restrooms). Lots of beer to get your drink on, and vendors everywhere. They do a good job here. The 4-H buildings great and lots of animal stables. The best fair to attend is in Phoenix in terms of size and quantity, but they do a good job here at a good facility. read more

Went here Saturday on the last weekend that the Pima County Fair was opened. Definitely a place to stop by for those who need something to do on a free weekend. Ample parking space though you're corraled into spots. Be careful of who you park next to as my girlfriend's car was dinged by a rude old woman who seems to have forgotten her manners. Anywho, loads to do for a flat entry fee but doesn't include the tickets you need to buy for rides. Rides are typical of what you would find at a fair and they have many attractions such as a central area where they had a bug fair and a hay maze for the kids. Also there are plenty of food stands and it seems they discovered that just about everything can be fried. Definitely heavenly and if I haven't eaten earlier I'll be 20 lbs heavier. read more

Went here to pick up my packet and run the Kiss Me Dirty Mud Run with a group of YELPERS! It was awesome; we got down and dirty and had loads of fun! This place was quite a drive for me; about 20 miles from my place but it was well worth the trip. This place may not look too big from the main entrance but it is pretty spacey. Normally, a general ticket for admission is $8 -- so not too bad. I guess if you got to check out Tucson places; this got to be one to put down on your list. It's been open since 1911 and they celebrated their 100 year anniversary two years ago, 2011. A historic place; check it out. read more

I hadn't been to a county fair in over a decade, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect. I was relieved to learn not much changed since I was a teenager (aside from the fact that it was new teens now making out in front of the tilt-a-whirl instead of me). I love animals, so stopping by the petting zoo and 4H barn was a must. While there, we had an exciting moment where there was a runaway cow in the barn! The image is exactly like you're picturing it, complete with men in cowboy hats brandishing lassos and trying to catch her before she escaped into the fairgrounds or knocked over the chicken and rabbit cages. Unfortunately, I didn't stick around to see if they caught her, as visions of being trampled flashed through my thirty-something-year-old mind. We went through a funhouse for nostalgia's sake, and then we hit the real gem of the county fair: the food! I decided it would be a full-on cheat night, so we indulged in deep-fried Oreos (which sound better than they taste), a literal brick of curly fries, a foot-long hotdog complete with grilled onions and peppers, and the grand finale, a double-chocolate-dipped swirly cone of soft-serve. The food was delicious, but I might be biased, as it was the first time in over 3 weeks that I had eaten carbs (nomnomnom). Overall, it was a great date night. Just be sure to bring a full wallet, as pretty much everything other than the entrance fee is steeply inflated in price. read more

Had a great time last night at the fair, as always. As others have mentioned, the food is very overpriced but hey, it's only once a year! The deep fried treats are a must at any price. As far as ride tickets go, try to get them at Fry's beforehand. $10 gets you 10 rides. It's a much better deal than waiting and purchasing tickets at the fair. My only problem is that people seem to have lost all common courtesy. When did, "excuse me" or "I'm sorry" disappear from the vocabulary when you nearly knock someone over? How about "thank you" when someone holds a gate open for you? Other than that, a wonderful time was had by the whole family. read more