How Much Is Fair Admission?

For many families, the New York State Fair is a beloved tradition. It brings music, competition, carnival rides and games to our local area.

Tickets may be purchased online on the fair website or at self-service kiosks located at each gate.

Admission to our event is just $3 per person, with children 12 and under admitted free! Seniors and students also enjoy special discounts!

General Admission

General admission (GA) tickets are the most sought-after type of ticket to purchase for live concerts and music festivals. These typically standing areas come on a first come, first served basis and provide you with an up close view of the artist performing, though they may be difficult to navigate and not always guarantee you access in front of the stage. GA tickets offer great value but may not guarantee you entry to see everything that’s going on.

If you want a great time at a concert or festival, it’s essential to know what kind of tickets you need before purchasing them. This will help determine how much to pay for admission and how to maximize your experience.

General Admission tickets tend to be cheaper than Reserved Seating tickets, since they do not require reservations and are sold on a first-come, first-served basis. They’re also more budget friendly for larger events such as music festivals or sporting matches that take place over multiple days.

General Admission tickets can be sold as a stand-alone purchase or packaged with food and drink items to make them more appealing to potential attendees. For instance, a concert General Admission ticket might come with a bottle of beer or box of pop corn in addition to the show itself.

When purchasing concert or festival tickets, it’s best to arrive at least a couple hours early in order to secure your preferred seat on the floor. This will give you the best opportunity to interact with artists performing onstage.

General Admission tickets may include a Section, Row or Seat Number for inventory purposes only; these do not correspond to actual seating locations but instead serve only to facilitate organization.

Seniors (65+)

Every weekday of the fair features a special day, offering visitors great savings on admission. Seniors (65+) and children 12 and under are admitted free on all special days.

Fairgoers have many opportunities to save on midway rides and games. You can purchase ride tickets in advance for cheaper than purchasing them at the gate.

The Fair offers discounts on Grandstand shows as well. Simply purchase and print a pre-printed event ticket before coming to the fair, then present it at the gate to save up to $8 in entry fees!

Save on parking during the fair with exclusive discounts! Pay with credit cards or EZ Pass Plus, an add-on to EZ Pass which allows you to pay at many public lots within the fairgrounds.

You can purchase a lunch card for $10 at the gate, granting you access to all vendors at the Fair and its restaurants for lunch. After enjoying whatever food is available at the Fair, simply return your lunch card by 1:30 p.m. for a refund of $10 cash.

On Thursdays, The Fair offers a free program for military members and veterans with valid ID. Plus, bring canned food donations to donate to the food pantry on Monday and receive free admission and an exclusive discount on admission!

On Wednesdays, the fair has a special senior social with pancake and sausage breakfast provided by North Dakota Coops, vendor booths, games galore and an ice cream social. Furthermore, on Tuesdays there is free senior day with Bojangles biscuits and coffee served on Dorton Arena Patio near the Waterfall.

Military

Military and First Responders can get free admission every Thursday with a coupon. Redeem it online or present it along with valid ID at the ticket booth to redeem your deal.

Teachers and other educational professionals can receive discounted rates. Simply present their EDD debit card, unemployment check stub or Golden State Advantage card at the fair gate to take advantage of these offers.

Parents/Guardians can get $4 off regular admission when purchasing a “Free Student Admission” ticket online with a promotional code attached (limit 2 tickets per coupon). The discount is valid any day except $5 Days: March 16, March 29 and April 5.

On Tuesdays, children age 12 and under are admitted free with an adult who purchases a general admission ticket. A photo ID is required to purchase a single-day child admission.

Seniors 62 or better and those with disabilities can take advantage of discounted admission. The fair offers free entry until 1 p.m. and half-price after that.

On Mondays and Wednesdays during Pepsi $2 Monday and Senior Day (55+), all seniors 55 or older can enjoy discounted outside gate admission, $2 “Little Book of Big Deals,” $5 Sky Eye Wheel ride tickets and $2 carnival rides (excluding non-mechanical special attractions) for just $2 each! No Pepsi cans are necessary to take advantage of these deals!

On Wednesday, the Elk Grove Food Bank will benefit from donations of canned food. Visitors who bring up to five cans to the Fair gates before 3 p.m. will receive a return ticket and an opportunity to donate more food items.

For further details, please visit the Fair website or call (530) 634-3343 for assistance.

Students

Many parents and students find the college application process to be overwhelming, with an abundance of schools to choose from. Fortunately, the Department of Education has implemented policies designed to simplify this step and assist families in selecting the ideal college for their child.

One such policy is the high school fair, which allows students to visit hundreds of participating colleges and receive priority admissions offers. Unfortunately, it also contains many oversights and false promises; for instance, a Chalkbeat investigation revealed that some schools weren’t aware of certain admissions-related rules and instead used the event to promote other initiatives that weren’t actually valid.

Admissions to top universities is often seen as a milestone for high school students and their parents. To make the process smoother, families should be informed about the school’s admissions procedure. Most importantly, make sure both student and parent understand what’s expected of them so that they can ensure they receive an optimal education.

Kids Under 12

Kids under 12 get free admission every day of the fair, making this an ideal summer activity if your school-age kids are looking for an exciting outing. Additionally, military veterans and families with discounted ride passes are offered special programming on Saturday morning. Anyone 65 and older can buy tickets for $3 – a significant savings over paying $10 at the gate. Plus, with an 18-day Mega pass for just $50 you’ll save 80% over daily rates!

Tickets to the fair can be purchased either online or at the gate for just $5, and parking is complimentary. For further inquiries, contact the Fair Office at 315-724-2922 for further assistance.