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The Arizona Wine Experience highlights the state’s diverse
vintages, pouring tastes from high-desert varietals to valley
blends, paired with educational tastings that celebrate
the landscape’s influence on flavor. Live music echoes
from the Community Stage, featuring Arizona’s talented
residents in everything from folk ensembles to youth mariachi
bands—applications for performers were open earlier this
year, ensuring a fresh lineup of homegrown acts. For
adrenaline seekers, the Grandstand Series delivers non-stop
thrills with heart-pounding events like monster truck rallies,
rodeo showdowns, and demolition derbies, where dust
flies & engines roar under the desert sky. These spectacles,
scheduled throughout the run, will capture the Fair’s spirit
of bold action and communal cheers.
No Fair would be complete without the midway’s whirlwind
of rides and games, courtesy of a massive 67-attraction
carnival lineup. For the final week (October 23-26), a
game-changer promotion offers unlimited ride wristbands
every day— a first-time perk valid until 9 p.m. when purchased
before 7 p.m. at Midway Ticket Boxes. Classic thrills like
the Ferris wheel’s panoramic Valley views mingle with
stomach-dropping drops and spinning coasters, while a
$15 five-game pass lets groups test their luck at ring tosses
and balloon darts. Safety and fun go hand-in-hand, with
height requirements clearly marked and staff on hand to
guide the excitement. Foodies, meanwhile, will drool over
the Fair Food Map’s bounty: stick-bound indulgences like
bacon-wrapped pork belly, birria baked potatoes, colossal
curly fries, and deep-fried novelties that defy gravity and
good sense. From savory corn dogs slathered in chili to
sweet churros dusted with cinnamon, the offerings span
global flavors with an Arizona twist—think prickly pear
margaritas and Navajo taco towers. Outside food and
drinks are prohibited (save for one factory-sealed water
bottle or empty container per person, with free refill stations
scattered throughout), ensuring the focus stays on these
guilty pleasures.
Practical planning elevates any Fair visit, and the organizers
have streamlined it all. General admission tickets start at
accessible prices (exact figures via https://azstatefair.com
with the limited-time Family Four Pack bundling four entries
for unbeatable value—perfect for multi-generational
outings. Parking is $15 at the two official lots (North and
West, opening two hours before gates), but savvy fairgoers
opt for free shuttles from the State Capitol Lot (1400 W.
Washington St.) or Phoenix College (Thomas Road & N.
13th Ave.), running from 5 p.m. (no Thursdays) until the
last ride at 11 p.m. Rideshare drop-offs enter via Monte
Vista and 19th Avenue for smooth access. Bag policies
encourage clear bags for faster entry, with inspections,
Photography courtesy of: Arizona State Fair
Photography courtesy of: Arizona State Fair