While the Colorado State Fair may be a 153-year-old Pueblo tradition, new attractions and excitement await visitors at the fairgrounds at 1001 Beulah Ave.
This year's fair runs from Aug. 22 through Sept. 1. It's the first fair with General Manager Andrea Wisenmeyer at the helm following the departure of former manager Scott Stoller. Wisenmeyer told the Chieftain that she remains in the "observing, listening and learning phase" while her team has stepped up to put together a "really great fair" in 2025.
"The Colorado State Fair is special every year," she said. "It's really an opportunity to celebrate Colorado, all of the great things that happen throughout the state and the people of the state. This year, we are really focused on a number of ag education pieces that we continue to expand and grow on."
Free, family-friendly attractions at the new "Agventure Ag-tivity Land" will include a library, daily hands-on educational activities, the immersive Cam's Classroom, the Magic Bean comedy magic show, an inflatable corn maze, and kids' pedal tractor pulls.
What else is new at the Colorado State Fair?
Other new additions to the Colorado State Fair were implemented with the goal of making the fair accessible to everyone. Through a partnership with the Autism Society of Colorado, the fair will host its first "full-fledged" Sensory Day on Sept. 1.
"We want to make sure, when we're putting things out there like that, that we're partnering with somebody that understands and can help us do what we need to do, to make sure we're doing it right," Wisenmeyer said. "We're taking bits and pieces of the fair, toning that music down, turning those lights off, and finding some quiet spaces so that people with sensory issues are able to spend and enjoy the day just like we would."
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association Exceptional Rodeo, another new addition to the Colorado State Fair, will allow children with special needs to enjoy the sport of rodeo. The safe, adaptive event will be hosted on Aug. 25 at 9:30 a.m.; activities will include stick-horse barrel racing, stuffed bull riding, stuffed bronc riding, fake calf roping and fake steer roping.
This year will also be the first to host the State Fair Foundation Cornhole Tournament. The tournament will be hosted at noon on Sept. 1.
How much do Colorado State Fair tickets cost? When is the fair open?
Until Aug. 21 at midnight, discount gate admission tickets, discount carnival passes and MegaPasses are available for purchase online at a link accessible through coloradostatefair.com. Discount gate admission is $9, while a discount carnival pass is $34. A $162 MegaPass gets you 11 days of gate admission and access to carnival rides.
Typically, gate admission for a single day of the fair is $15 for individuals 13 years old and older, $7 for children ages 5 to 12, and free for children 4 and under. A non-discount carnival pass is $40. Admission and carnival prices vary on certain discount days over the course of the fair.
Hours for the fair are from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Monday through Thursday, from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday through Sunday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. on Labor Day.
What other deals and discounts are available?
Aug. 22 and Aug. 29: Free admission for seniors 60 and older will be offered on these two Fridays. There will also be a "$5 'til 5 Friday" promotion sponsored by T-Fiber, allowing $5 admission for non-seniors until 5 p.m.
Aug. 24: United Rentals is sponsoring an "American Heroes Day" offering $8 off admission.
Aug. 25 and Sept. 1: Children 12 and under can get into the fair for free on these days.
Aug. 26: On "Two Can Tuesday," two cans of donated food gets a visitor into the fair for free.
Aug. 27: "One Price Wednesday" allows fairgoers access to a ranch rodeo, Ned Ledoux concert and carnival rides with the price of admission.
Aug. 28: Free admission and a $25 carnival ride wristband will be provided to those with a student voucher or coupon on "CSU Pueblo Pack the Fair Day."
Aug. 31: Non-winning lottery tickets get fairgoers $3 off admission during the "Colorado Lottery Special."
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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at [email protected]. Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com.
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: When is the 2025 Colorado State Fair?
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