Do you love the fair but feel like it always leaves you broke? Do you wish there was a more budget friendly way to visit and enjoy all of your favorite games, rides, and food? If so, take a look below at 7 ways to save money at the fair. With these simple tips, you will find that you can have a wonderful time with family and friends while still keeping some cash in your pocket!
Here is what you need to know:
1. Buy tickets in advance.
In many cases you can buy entrance tickets in advance, which saves you some cash up front. See if the fair company has an online site you can buy from, or see if any local businesses will be selling discount tickets in advance.
2. Go on wristband night.
Although this is one of the busier nights, it is a great time to save money. On wristband night you can usually ride all the rides you want for one fee. This saves you from having to buy tickets and you can ride anything you want as many times as you want. You can’t beat that!
3. Buy ride tickets in bulk.
Should you go on a night where you need to buy tickets for a ride, buy in bulk. A package deal is usually offered where you can save a few cents on each ride ticket if you buy a bunch at a time. This is a great way to get a few extra ride tickets free.
4. Eat at the local food stands.
The traveling food vendors typically cost more than local food vendors. If any local eateries are set up and selling food, you will most likely find better prices with them. Search local vendors out and you are not only supporting local but you are saving money too.
5. Choose the “every person wins” game.
If you are going to spend money on games, at least play ones where a prize is guaranteed for each player. This way you at least have a chance of walking away with something. If you are playing other games, skip the ones like basketball or shooting games where the games are often rigged making it difficult for you to walk away with anything.
6. Ask about entrance discounts.
Some fairs offer discounts for military, seniors, emergency care givers, police officers, etc. See if any sort of discount for these categories (or others) is being offered. You might also find that they offer certain discounts on certain nights (for example a kids get in free night) so be sure you check out a schedule. Often found online or in your local paper prior to the event.
7. Take advantage of free events.
While at the fair, be sure to take advantage of all the free events. There may be free magic shows, concerts, animal petting, and other fun displays. This is a great way to make the most out of your fair trip without spending any extra funds.
Keep these tips in mind before heading out to the fair, so you can make the most of the experience without going broke.
Let’s Discuss: What are some of the ways that you try to save money at the fair?
© 2016, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
We don’t have children, but my husband and I were (ironically) just discussing this yesterday, because the Hawaii State Fair is in town and we want to check it out, but the sticker shock is always so high — especially on food! These are great tips 🙂
These are great tips! We love going to fairs, but they will absolute you bleed you dry if you aren’t careful.
The last time I went to a fair I spent a bundle–mostly on the games and food. Although I did buy ride tickets in bulk (we had a couple of kids with us)-those games are killers-and guess what the kids wanted to do the most–besides eat everything in sight. Those are a really good way to possibly save money at a fair.
Back home we had such an amazing fair. I have yet to go to the one in the city I’m currently in but we were hoping to this summer. These are some great tips, with so many kids I could stand to save as much money as possible!
These are great tips. We try to go on BOGO days or wrist band ride all day days. Taking your own water and seeing the barns saves money too
We buy our tickets before the season when they have half price. I only play the everyone wins games, too. Great tips!
These are fantastic tips! The wristbands almost always save you money, particularly with teens who want to ride everything!
These are great tips. I am all about saving as much money as I can. I love to go on the armband days.
Fun fairs can be very expensive but not if you budget your money wisely. I think taking advantage of free events is a great way to save your money!
Fairs can get so expensive, especially the food! These are great ways to save money and still have a lot of fun!
Fairs really are so super expensive! I will take my children to the local church festivals because they are a bit more reasonably priced.
Oh, that’s an excellent alternative! Thanks for the idea!
I always get sticker shock when we go to the fair! These are some really great tips and I’ll keep them in mind next time we go!
Thanks for these tips. I agree with you about buying tickets in bulk or buying in advance because we get better prices if we go that route. I was not at all surprised about the shooting and basketball games. I always thought they were rigged too!
These are some great ideas. I’ve definitely overspent at fairs before. It’s good to have a plan!
I like these tips – my husband is a sucker for the games area. It makes me a little crazy to think we’re literally throwing money away, so I like the idea of playing an “everyone gets a prize” game so we don’t have to KEEP playing to win something. Because let’s be honest, we need to save money for the garlic fries 😉
The fair is in town this weekend. I wil have to use some of these great tips to save some money.
Great ideas! We go to the Fair once a year, and we also go to the Strawberry Festival (similar to the fair) once a year. We get into the Strawberry Festival for free because we take a few hours and volunteer at the information booth – we get free passes and free parking for that, so just another way to save!
We always try to get a wristband so we aren’t spending an insane amount of money on ride tickets. Fairs really do add up though if you aren’t careful!
My kids LOVE the fair – I love to see all the animals and other agricultural stuff, and my kids love the rides. We have a rule where they each get a certain number of tickets – we never seem to go on the bracelet days!
It’s not easy to stick with our budget in Fun Fairs especially when children is count. But, stay on our budget will help priorities which games, or rides or any activities you or kids want to enjoy.
I would probably skip the games completely, because I assume they are rigged. But I know there will be no money saved on food…and I will be the guilty party there, lol. I go nuts for fair food. Oh, corn dogs, how I love you!!!
We buy the bands because the kids always want to do more than 1 ride. Seems like we think alike. I have a 3 post series for the fair that I’ve scheduled for next week. 🙂
Thank you so much for these tips! I cannot wait to take my little ones to the fair this year. It is always such a fun time, but it can definitely get expensive, so money saving ideas are a must!
Buying tickets in advance is what we tend to do for a lot of events that we attend. It does save since you don’t pay the “door” price.
I really need to go to a fair this summer. I love the different ways to save I would def go on Wristband night and for kids a everyone win game is ideal.
My family does enjoy going to fairs! It can be costly though. Any help on how to save some money is always welcomed!
Good point on the local food trucks! Carnival food is so expensive. Sometimes a soda is $3! I couldn’t believe it, but, of course, I still spent it because I had no other drink option. Thanks for the tips.
I definitely needed these tips! I am saving your excellent post!