PUEBLO — The 2019 Colorado State Fair is just a few weeks away with plenty of delicious food, rides, concerts, and family fun. So, here is everything you need to know before you head out to the annual event.
The festivities will start on August 23 and end on September 2. The fair is also celebrating 150 years of horse events this year.
Fair hours:
Monday-Thursday: 12 p.m.-11 p.m.
Friday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Labor Day: 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
The price for youth dropped from $7 to $6 dollars, while the admission price for adults increased from $10 to $12.
“As minimum wage has increased, which I think most people know over the last five years that’s gone up a significant amount, that obviously has impacted the cost of promoting the fair,” Colorado State Fair General Manager Scott Stoller said.
Ticket admission cost:
Adults (13 and older): $12
Kids (ages 5-12): $6
Children 4 and under are free
Box office hours:
Monday-Thursday: 12 p.m.-showtime
Friday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-showtime
Labor Day: 10 a.m. until showtime
Carnival hours:
Monday-Thursday: 2 p.m.-midnight
Friday-Sunday: 12 p.m.-midnight
Labor Day: 12 p.m.-midnight
Family Fun Zone Rides are open when the Fair opens and closes at 10 p.m. daily.
Carnival prices:
Mega Pass: $125 includes general admission and 11 days of unlimited rides
Unlimited Ride Band: $35
Individual Ticket: $1.25
(Some specialty rides and games not included)
Parking information:
Public parking is available in the Colorado State Fair lot, which is south of the Fairgrounds between Mesa and Northern Avenue.
Parking price: $10
Pueblo transit courtesy shuttle:
It will run from the city's Main Street parking garage, at 110 South Main Street in Downtown Pueblo, to the Street Fair Gate on Beulah Ave.
Shuttle will run every 15-30 minutes.
The shuttle and parking in the garage are free.
Shuttle service hours:
Monday-Thursday: 4 p.m.-midnight
Friday-Sunday: 10 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
Labor Day: 10 a.m.-12:30 a.m.
For more information call Pueblo Transit at 719-553-2727.
Handicap access:
Handicap parking and access to the Fairgrounds is available from designated areas along Beulah and Arroyo Avenues.
Please be aware that the Arroyo gate is not open to the public.
Ground rules:
No coolers will be allowed
No knives, guns or objects to be construed as weapons will be allowed
No dogs or pets except for handicap assistance animals or animals competing at the Fair.
No outside food or drinks
Smoking of any sort is prohibited in buildings per state law. Smoking includes e-cigarettes, joints, cigarettes, pipes, cigars, etc.
Things will be a lot more sloppier this year with several new events and attractions.
The fair will now host the World Slopper Eating Championship. The competition will be hosted by Major League Eating, the same group that hosts the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest.
Another new attraction will be platform divers. The performers will be diving into pools from an 80-foot platform.
“The Colorado State Fair, I think, is going to be one of the best ones we’ve had in recent history,” said Stoller. “The lineup is going to be diverse and I think anybody from the littlest one to the oldest one in the family is going to find a lot to do at this year’s fair.”
For more information, click here.
The full concert lineup has been released and there are choices for the entire family across a range of genres.
Mexican musician, composer, and songwriter Ramon Ayala, known as the “King of the Accordion” will kick off the shows on August 23 at 6:30 p.m. at the Southwest Motors Events Center.
That same night, country singer Aaron Watson will be on stage at the Bud Light Grandstand. The concert starts at 9:30 p.m. following the PRCA Ram Rodeo.
Saturday, August 24, you can see country singer Granger Smith at the Bud Light Grandstand. The concert is at 9:30 p.m. following the PRCA RAM Rodeo and Concert at 6 p.m.
You can learn about farm animals on Sunday, August 25 at 7 p.m. from Colorado State University Professor Temple Grandin. This is happening at the Southwest Motors Events Center.
If you have been wanting to see The Beach Boys, you are in luck. They will be performing at the Southwest Motors Events Center on August 29. The concert starts at 5:30 p.m.
Halestorm will be at the Southwest Motors Events Center on Friday, August 30 at 6:30 p.m. The next day, you can catch country star Brett Young perform. His show starts at 5:30 p.m. and goes until 7 p.m.
If you love Southern Rock, we’ve got a great way for you to spend Sunday, September 1. When you purchase $20 worth of Powerball, Mega Millions or Lucky for Life (all on one ticket), you’ll get a voucher for free gate admission to the State Fair to spend the day, and a concert ticket to 38 Special to wrap it up (while supplies last)!
Finally, on September 1 you can catch Celebracion de los Charros with Banda Machos that same day. The concert starts at 6 p.m. at the Bud Light Grandstand.
Concert tickets must be purchased by August 22. To purchase tickets, click here.
For all the featured entertainment, click here.
News5 will continue our tradition of bringing you live events from the fair and you’ll have the opportunity to visit us at our booth.
