<div id="c3be0912bb716eee4ca644c1dfc4ecde4"></div>The 121st Annual Florida State Fair returns to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa February 6-17, 2025 and we can’t wait! While the fair food often grabs the headlines, it’s so much more than that, friends.
In fact, it’s safe to say there is something for everyone whether you are a thrill seeker, animal lover, live music fan, foodie…you name it, the Fair has something for you. Oh, and did we mention there’s a beer garden too?
Let’s put it this way–there are more than 150 live entertainment options during the 12-day event, making it the ultimate date night experience (or day date!). So, let’s dive into all the Fair Fun in store for you in 2025!
Our media partners at Tampa Bay Parenting are also sharing their favorite things to do with kids at the Florida State Fair!
But, first…Fair ticket prices and ways to save
Considering what you get, the Fair is a great deal with a weekday ticket starting at just $12 for adults. Your ticket includes access to live concerts, entertainment, animals, and more.
Ticket prices will vary depending on the day you go. The ticket starting price of $12 (ages 13-54) is for entry Monday through Thursday and then it’s $16 Friday through Sunday (still a bargain when you think about all that’s included).
More Ways to Save with Fair Promo Days!
- Heroes Day: Feb. 6, 2025: Free admission for law enforcement, first responders, active or retired military and veterans with valid ID
- Super Savings Sunday: Feb. 9, 2025: Free admission for law enforcement, first responders, active or retired military and veterans with valid ID ALL DAY. Free admission with purchase of an Anyday Ride Armband after 3:00pm.
- Senior Days: Any Monday-Friday. $11 admission for seniors 55+ online or at the gate.
- Hospitality and Service Industry Day: Feb. 10, 2025: $5 admission all day for service and hospitality staff with ID. Food and drink specials.
- $3 Thursday: Feb. 13, 2025: Enjoy $3 admission, $3 select food items and games, and rides for just 3 ride credits each after 3:00 p.m.
- Family Day: Feb. 14, 2025 from 10 am-6 pm: Persons 17 years of age or younger will receive free admission to the Florida State Fair until 6:00 p.m. with an admission paying parent or guardian, 21 years of age or older with a valid ID, for entry to the Florida State Fair.
- Kids’ Day: Feb. 17, 2025 from 10 am-6 pm: Persons 17 years of age or younger will receive free admission to the Florida State Fair until 6:00 p.m. with an admission paying parent or guardian, 21 years of age or older with a valid ID, for entry to the Florida State Fair.
You can pre-purchase your tickets at floridastatefair.com. Parking at the Florida State Fair is FREE!
Florida State Fair Hours
The Florida State Fair will be celebrated daily from February 6 – 17, 2025. Hours vary depending on the day of the week.
- Monday-Thursday: 11 am- 9 pm (Ride Midway opens at 1 pm)
- Friday-Sunday and Presidents Day Weekend 10 am-9 pm (Ride Midway opens at 10:30 am)
The Entertainment
With more than 150 live entertainment options, it’ll be a breeze to map out a curated date night that fits YOU! In addition to the daily live concerts, you can also expect shows like:
- Circus Hollywood: This live circus features 7 revolving acts with acrobats, trapeze, and animals!
- Aaron Radatz Magic: Daily at 1:00 pm, 3:30 pm, and 6:30 pm. Award-winning magician and Las Vegas headliner captivates with original brand of modern and unique illusions.
- Motor Dome: Watch as daredevil motorcyclists ride inside silo-shaped wooden dromes.
- Florida State Fair Sunny Nights: Dive into dazzling LED displays beginning at 8 pm with unforgettable moments with Sunny and his crew.
- Florida State Fair Fireworks: Feb. 7-8, Feb. 15-16 at 8:30 pm.
- Silent Disco: Feb. 7-8 from 7 pm-10 pm. Experience the unique vibe of a party where everyone’s in sync with the beat—without the noise! It’s a fun, unforgettable way to enjoy the music at the fair!
- Demolition Derby: Feb. 15 at 6 pm and Feb. 16 at 1 pm: An action-packed event of multiple drivers competing by deliberately ramming their vehicles into one another!
This is just a small portion of what you’ll experience at this year’s Florida State Fair, but it gives you a good idea of the wide variety of live shows and concerts you can experience. Most shows are offered daily, so be sure to check out https://floridastatefair.com/fair/entertainment/.
The Animals
The animals are one of our favorite experiences at the Fair because there are so many different opportunities and experiences! Where else can you watch racing pigs, feed a goat, or see a baby chick hatch?
Here are a few animal shows and experiences to look forward to in 2025:
- Giraffic Menagerie: Meet friendly animals up close! Feed goats, sheep, llamas, and more for a fun, hands-on experience.
- Petting Zoo: You can’t go to the Fair and not stop by the Hands-On Petting Zoo in the Salute to Ag area! For a small fee, you can also purchase food to feed the animals. And no, you do not have to be a kid to participate!
- Hollywood Racing Pigs: This is always a fan favorite and you can catch the racing pigs daily at 11:15 am, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7:00 pm. They are also in The Mall area across from the Circus Hollywood Tent.
- Camel Rides: Offered daily for a fee in the Mall area!
- Insect Encounter: Okay, so bugs aren’t really animals, but this is still a pretty cool exhibit to check out. Bugs may be creepy, but you’ll learn they’re actually pretty amazing, too. You’ll find Insect Encounter in the red barn
Again, this is only a glimpse of the animals you can experience at the Fair. There are even chances to ride a camel, support local kids as they perform in ag shows, walk through the livestock barns, and more!
The Fair is also a unique opportunity to learn about our state’s agriculture and livestock industry. There’s a cool Time Travel Through Florida’s Agriculture History Hologram Show offered every thirty minutes in the Ag Hall of Fame building.
This is also where you can meet a local farmer at the Thank a Farmer Experience from 3 pm-5 pm daily.
The Rides at the Fair
Did you know the Midway at the Florida State Fair is one of the largest in the country? Pretty cool, right? We’ve counted 84 rides so far on the ride line-up ranging from a more calm experience on the Ferris wheel and Sky Ride, to something more thrilling like a roller coaster!
Your best bet is to purchase an armband ahead of time if you plan to go on more than a few rides. Keep in mind, armbands do not include admission, so make sure to snag your ticket too! There are also options to buy tickets in the Midway if you only want to go on a couple of rides.
Advance Purchase Ride Armband Options:
- Advance Anyday Armband: $35 for one day only
- Advance Weekday Armand: $25 (Monday-Thursday, excluding President’s Day)
- Advance Anyday Armband + Fast Pass: $57 (Skip the lines on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday)
- You can purchase your advance armband here and learn about the rides.
Play Like a Kid at the Florida State Fair
The Fair is truly timeless. Think about it..it has entertained generations of families for 120 years in the Tampa Bay area. Sure, it’s a chance for fun adulting experiences like a stop at one of the two Keel Farms bars, but there are also some fun ways for you to let go and play like a kid!
While these activities were designed with kids in mind, they are open to guests of all ages:
- The Games: There are endless fair games, so keep some extra cash handy just in case you want to try your luck at winning a larger-than-life stuffed animal and other nostalgic prizes.
- The Foam Zone: Who doesn’t love bubbles?!? The Foam Zone bubbles up daily at 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm, and 7:00 pm with additional fun on Fridays and Saturdays at 8:30 pm. We are told the foam is quick drying.
- Visit Cracker Country: If you went to school here locally, you probably visited Cracker Country on a school field trip. Now you can step back into Florida’s past and tour this living history museum once again. There will also be live performances throughout the Fair dates.
- The Giant Slide: We absolutely love the slide near the Ferris wheel. Towering several stories tall, you climb the stairs and grab a mat for the ultimate slide down!
- 3D Chalk Art: Remember the lazy summer days of creating works of art with chalk on your driveway?
The 2025 Florida State Fair Food
And, finally we get to the sweet part…the FOOD! It wouldn’t be the Fair without deep fried everything and this year, you can expect some crazy new concoctions from food vendors! We’ve had a chance to speak with them in the past and we can tell you, there’s a lot of thought and preparation that goes into creating these unique new dishes. And sometimes, they even get ideas for guests like you!
Among the NEW additions this year:
- S’mores Chocolate Bacon at Bacon Stand: Crispy bacon coated in rich chocolate, drizzled with marshmallow cream, and topped with graham cracker crumbs for the ultimate sweet-and-savory treat!
- Strawberries and Cream Cinnamon Roll at Grandma Brown’s Cinnamon Rolls: Grandma Brown’s original fresh baked cinnamon roll topped with whipped vanilla cream and fresh strawberries.
- Strawberry Lemonade Donut at Fluffy’s Handcut Donuts: Hand-cut yeast-raised donut frosted with lemon buttercream, rolled in strawberry lemonade crunch, and garnished with lemon gummy candy and freeze-dried strawberry slice. Served with a strawberry lemonade-filled pipette to squeeze in more flavor.
- Soul Food Egg Roll at Egg Roll Love: A crispy, deep-fried egg roll wrap stuffed with tender grilled chicken, creamy mac & cheese, and savory collard greens.
- Pretzel Rolled Corn on the Cob at Miller & Co Concessions: Corn on the cob brushed with mayonnaise, garlic powder, paprika and other spices, rolled in crushed pretzels.
- Fried Pickle Mac and Cheese at Chester’s Gators and Taters: Loaded fried pickle mac & cheese with a drizzle of ranch dressing. Perfect for pickle lovers and mac & cheese fanatics alike!
If you really want to take the deep dive into all the deep-fried goodies, check out the full Fair Foodie Guide.
The Florida State Fair is the Ultimate Date Night Experience
Spending the day with your significant other at the Florida State Fair is not only a nostalgic experience, but it’s also a memorable one. It’s a chance to channel your inner-child as you play, taste, and ride your way through one of Florida’s most treasured traditions.
And speaking of treasured traditions, here’s a fun fact for you– the Florida State Fair used to be celebrated alongside Gasparilla!
With deep roots like that, you really can’t go wrong!