🎡 The Washington State Fair Closes September 27: Your Final-Weekend Plan

The biggest event on the South Sound calendar is almost done for the year. The 2026 Washington State Fair runs through Sunday, September 27 in Puyallup, which makes this your last week to go.

If it has been on your list, do not let it slide. The final days still have the full Fair: thrill rides and the classic midway, the animals and the barns, the giant vegetables and the exhibit halls, the concerts, and of course the food, from Fisher scones to whatever deep-fried thing you talk yourself into. It is the same Fair, just with a ticking clock.

A couple of planning notes. The Fair does not run every day this week. It is closed on Tuesday, September 23, then open Wednesday through Sunday to close things out. Hours run late, generally opening at 10:30 in the morning on weekdays and 9:30 on the weekend and running into the evening, so you can make a half day of it after work or school.

The final weekend, Friday to Sunday, is the busiest stretch of the whole run. If you go then, buy your tickets online ahead of time, arrive early, and plan your parking. Kids five and under get in free, which makes a family trip easier on the wallet.

Details:

• Final days: closed Tuesday Sep 23, open Wednesday Sep 24 to Sunday Sep 27, 2026

• Location: Washington State Fair Event Center, 110 9th Ave SW, Puyallup

• What to expect: rides and midway, animals, exhibits, concerts, and fair food

• Tickets: buy online ahead at thefair.com (kids 5 and under free; gate prices are higher, so confirm before you go)

Real estate note: there is a reason "do the Puyallup" is a regional rite of passage. The same fairgrounds anchor a community calendar that runs all year, from spring fairs to fall festivals, and that steady drumbeat of things to do right in town is a real part of why Pierce County families put down roots in Puyallup and stay.