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Located only minutes from Tacoma and 35 miles from Seattle, the Washington State Fair (formerly known as the Puyallup Fair) is the state's biggest annual event.

Every year, it attracts some 1 million visitors to fun, food, and entertainment at the 160-acre Puyallup Fair and Events Center.

First organized by a handful of families in the early 20th century, the big event became known as the Puyallup Fair in 2007 before changing its name to the simpler Washington State Fair in 2013.

Today, the Washington State Fair in Puyallup remains one of the state's most popular early fall attractions combining a concert lineup with state-of-the-art amusement rides. That also includes old fashioned bronco busting, folk art and farm animal exhibits .... and lots and lots of deep fried fair food!

This year, the Washington State Fair kicks off on Labor Day weekend and ends on Sunday, September 22, 2024.

As usual, the fair will be closed each Tuesday throughout its three-week run.

2024 Washington State Fair concert lineup

Another spectacular concert lineup is planned in 2024 that in the recent past has included such names as Carrie Underwood, Kane Brown, Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Willie Nelson, Martina McBride, and Tim McGraw.

Usually, ticket prices range from $30 - $75 and includes general admission to the Fair.

Here's the complete lineup for this year's concerts on the Grandstand:

Aug 30 • 7:30 PM Foreigner
Aug 31 • 7:30 PM Lauren Daigle with guest Blessing Offor
Sep 1 • 7:30 PM Wiz Khalifa with special guest Travis Thompson
Sep 2 • 6:30 PM Happy Together Tour
Sep 5 • 9:15 PM Sawyer Brown Dancin' In The Dirt Party
Sep 6 • 9:15 PM Nate Smith Dancin' In The Dirt Party
Sep 7 • 9:15 PM Ernest Dancin' In The Dirt Party
Sep 8 • 7:30 PM Parmalee
Sep 9 • 7:30 PM Theory of a Deadman with guest Black Stone Cherry
Sep 11 • 6:30 PM KIDZ BOP
Sep 12 • 7:30 PM Walker Hayes with special guest Tanner Adell
Sep 13 • 7:30 PM Matchbox Twenty and guest Beauty School Dropout
Sep 14 • 7:30 PM Ne-Yo with special guest Gym Class Heroes
Sep 15 • 1:00 PM Fiestas Patrias
Sep 16 • 7:30 PM TobyMac with guest Leanna Crawford
Sep 18 • 7:30 PM Alabama with guest Alex Miller
Sep 19 • 7:30 PM Thomas Rhett with guest Elvie Shane
Sep 20 • 7:30 PM Gabriel 'Fluffy' Iglesias
Sep 21 • 7:30 PM Bryson Tiller with DJ Nitrane
Sep 22 • 7:30 PM An Evening With Steve Miller Band

What else to see and do at the Fair

For a unique blend of entertainment, also check out a very popular hypnotist act guaranteed to amaze and delight kids of all ages.

For more local wizardry, don't leave the fairgrounds before taking in the Hobby Hall — featuring wood carvings, egg art, ceramics, stained glass, hand crafted dolls, doll houses, and all manner of operating whirligigs and doodads.

While the Washington State Fair features the familiar cotton candy, lemonade and deep fried everything, it's also often recommended that visitors find their way to the Young Life Pie Booth for a warm smile and a fresh slice of "the best pie on earth."

For roller coaster fans, don't miss a climb aboard the antique wooden roller coaster built in 1935, offering old-fashioned clickity-clack turns, spins, and thrills.

As one recent fair goer put it, "I wish the Fair was open all year round!"

Have fun!

Giving fair-goers a chance to get silly, eat hearty, and be entertained "generation after generation."

DID YOU KNOW? Washington State Fair fun facts

• Opened on a vacant lot (near the present location of Pioneer Park), the "Valley Fair" first opened from October 4-6, 1900. Admission was $1 per family for all three days.

• The Fair had its first carousel in 1923 featuring a Wurlitzer band organ. Today, the restored antique carousel is now valued at $1.3 million and located in its own building in front of the Exposition Hall.

• In 1991, the Puyallup Fair was the first major fair in the United States to feature the latest craze, bungee jumping.

• Fisher Fair Scones (dripping with honey butter and jam) celebrated their 100th Anniversary by serving their 100 millionth scone during the 2011 Puyallup Fair.

• By 2016 the Washington State Fair became so popular than it extended its schedule from two weeks to its present three-week run.

also see -> Washington Beaches | Washington State Fall Foliage

This Christmas in Washington State

More information about the Washington State Fair around the Web:

TheFair.com - This is the official site of the Washington State Fair with a complete guide to dates and schedules, concert lineup, ticket prices and information, major attractions, photos, maps and directions.

Washington State Fair- Check out the Wikipedia guide to the annual fair including a brief history, attendance records, photos and related resources.

The Puyallup Fair Photography Collection - Fun facts, history and photos covering the entire history of the fair from the 1900s to the present, courtesy of the Tacoma Public Library.