text: For full disclosures sake I work here I can however be unbiased since I do not work for the Faire itselfnnThe best deal is to take advantage of the for tickets that take place on opening weekend and Presidents Day Monday Be warned everyone else is doing the same thing and it is CROWDED on those days Presidents Day can be particularly badnnTo get your days worth I recommend going on those days where it looks like it is going to rain People generally stay away so it is not nearly as crowded You get walking space shorter food and drink lines and better access to showsnnIts better to go in the beginning of the run as opposed to the later weekends It can get hot those last weekends in MarchnnFood is pricey just like any other outdoor venue It is actually a better deal than the State Faire I pricechecked so I know Your best value is to get a bread bowl and get the large soda for a large cup Ask them to go easy on the ice The food is tasty and filling nnIf you do not want to buy the food invest in a good cooler Fill it with food and ice and put it in your trunk Go out and eat lunch Make sure you get your hand stamped first so you can get back innnYou cannot bring food and drinks in You are allowed to bring water plain unflavored water Please do not give the front gate tickettakers a hard time about it They are nice people who do not make the rules They do check bagsnnAlso unless it is a service animal leave the pets at home Only service animals are allowed into the Faire They will not let you bring in your puppy kitten cat dog iguana macaw alligator wooly mammoth etc There is a rudimentary kennel where you can keep your pet Yes the birds of prey will find your chihuahua puppy to be a tasty treat Leave it at home nnThere is a rental shop where you can rent electric scooters like rascals not razors wheelchairs strollers and wagons They are first come first served They do not take reservations and have a limited number of electric carts Make sure you get there first thing if you need one Also keep in mind that there is a weight limit on the electric scooters pounds If you are over that amount they cannot rent to younnThat having been said the Faire site is acres of walking There is a decent amount of seating and not a lot of shade we are in the desert after all Little ones will need lots of breaks and drinks Make sure you are drinking the occasional water to help soak up some of that beernnSpeaking of drinking there are both portapotties and flushies If you can hold it wait for the flushies nnThe shows are wonderful There is belly dancing and juggling and acrobatics and comedy and mystery and intrigue Some of my personal favorites are Hey Nunnie Nunnie Barely Balanced Zilch the Torysteller The Wild Men Three Guys and a Bunch of Drums Wine and Alchemy the Birds of Prey and probably others that I am forgetting nnDed Bob is a big draw as are the Tortuga Twins Get to those shows early because it can be standing room only some daysnnThere is an opening gate show that begins at about There is also a closing gate show that starts between and nnThere is a variety of shops from food to clothing to house tchotchkes to artwork to toys to candles You will find something that you want nnThere are rides for the kids Some are free some cost extra moneynThe butterfly carousel is free and is great for toddlers to about yearolds The other rides are about might be more I do not know the bungy jump is about and there are camel and elephant rides I think they are nnThere is also a Dungeon Museum It think it is to get in It is disturbing and fun I would recommend it for years and up maybe going a little younger if your kid does not scare easily I highly recommend dropping in on hot days because it is air conditioned nnTheres also a Storybook Museum I think this is also This is where you want to take your little princesses and princes There are little dioramas set up with fairy tale stories It is cutennThere is a petting zoo that is FREE You can have a little sitdown and pet some chicks and baby ducks and there are usually some border collie pups with their moms Visit the big hairy cownnI almost forgot the joust You have to see at least one of the jousts throughout the day there are so choose wiselynnI think that is everything You do not have to go in costume but it is much more fun that way