Critical Thunk: The Florida State Fair 2005

We took the family to the Florida State Fair again this year. This was our 3^rd Florida Sate Fair trip in 4 years. Even though we were only there for about 5 hours, we all had a really great time. Both kids wanted to stay when it was time to leave. I’m writing this so I can remember the best things to do (and not to do) for next year.

14 Florida State Fair tips:

If you can, buy your tickets ahead of time to save money. We intended to do this; Publix sold them for $6, but you had to buy them before the fair started. We unfortunately went to Publix a day late – no tickets – and we ended up paying full price, $10, at the fair gate. If you fell like giving blood when you go to the fair, I believe you can get a significant discount ($10?) off of the regular admission.
Check the weather report before you go and be prepared. We were expecting it to be a little cooler than it was and ended up making an extra trip back to the van to unload everyone’s jackets. Last year, I think we ended up in the rain without ponchos or umbrellas.
Bring your 2-way walkie-talkies. These things are perfect for the fair. We just got some for Christmas, but of course forgot to bring them to the fair. We often found ourselves needing to remotely triangulate on a location at the fairgrounds and the walkie-talkies would have been perfect for this.
Bring a camera to remember the good time you are going to have and to allow yourself to savor the unique sites there are to see at the fair. Take lots of pictures.
If you are bringing kids that may tire easily after walking around a lot (yes, you all will inevitably have walked miles before the day is done), bring in your own stroller. They rent strollers there for a daily rate, but why bother if you have your own.
Bring plenty of cash. Most things at the fair cost money and in general, nothing is very cheap. Bring enough for admission (if you did not get tickets ahead of time), food/drinks, ride tickets, carnival games, paddle boats, tolls, and souvenirs. Don’t get stuck, like we did, having to use the ATM at the fair with a $2 surcharge. Note that kids 5 and under are free; so this was our last trip to the fair with our kids “totally free.”
Always buy your ride tickets in bulk. They pretty much make it pointless not to do this. Ride tickets cost $20 for a 40-ticket sheet OR $1 per ticket. The rides we saw ranged from 2-6 tickets per person per ride. So if you pay $1 per ticket, the rides become very unreasonable. Oh yeah, buy at least your first set of tickets when you walk in the gate. That way, when you walk by a ride you or the kids want to do, you don’t have to go scrambling to find a ticket booth, although they are everywhere.
Also when you enter the fair gate, grab a map and decide what shows or other entertainment you might be interested in. Plan to show up at the popular shows a little ahead of time to get a seat. It would also be a good time to scope out the many free things there are at the fair. Don’t forget to scope out the bathrooms as well.
Enjoy those parts of the fair that have no cost. Usually these things are indoors where you can sit down, cool off, and take a break. The more time you spend away from money vacuum areas of the fair, the less you will spend.
If you can take it, ride the big Ferris wheel because it gives you an awesome view of the entire fairgrounds and it is one of the rides that does not appear to be overly nauseating.
Eat lots of food…

Find a good location to eat your fair food. If you can, scope out a spot, have one person save it while the another gets the food. Find some live music or a nice shady spot with a view. We always like the live stage by the Budweiser tent near gate 3, in the heart of the fair food court.
Don’t forget to grab plenty of napkins when you get your food because (a) you or at least your kids are going to need them and (2) they do not have any at the picnic tables.
Don’t forget to eat some dessert before it’s time to go. There are plenty of tasty treats to try at the fair.

People watch. There is always quite a wide assortment of interesting folk to see at the Florida State Fair.
Rent paddle boats. This had to be the best deal the fair had going. For $2 per person, you get to cruise around in the pond there for as long as you would like. Now there were 6 of us, including the 2 boys, and the guy let us paddle for only $10! I bet this would be fun at night (we were there during the day).
Have fun and enjoy yourself!