Attending a Fair as a Senior or with an Older Loved One

The Washington State Fair, hosted annually in Puyallup, begins this August 31^st and continues until September 23^rd. For any seniors or those with senior loved ones looking to attend the annual get-together, here are a few tips and tricks to save money and prevent any complications that may arise with increased levels of activity.

All of the information provided by this blog post has been sourced directly from the official Washington State Fair website.

Daily Fair Hours

Fri, Aug. 31: 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sat, Sept. 1: 9:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sun, Sept. 2: 9:30 am - 10:30 pm
Mon, Sept. 3 (Labor Day)​: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm 
Tue, Sept. 4: CLOSED
Wed, Sept. 5: CLOSED
Thu, Sept. 6: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Fri, Sept. 7: 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sat, Sept. 8: 9:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sun, Sept. 9: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm
Mon, Sept. 10: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Tue, Sept. 11: CLOSED
Wed, Sept. 12: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Thu, Sept. 13: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Fri, Sept. 14: 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sat, Sept. 15: 9:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sun, Sept. 16: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm
Mon, Sept. 17: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Tue, Sept. 18: CLOSED
Wed, Sept. 19: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Thu, Sept. 20: 10:30 am - 9:30 pm
Fri, Sept. 21: 10:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sat, Sept. 22: 9:30 am - 10:30 pm
Sun, Sept. 23: 9:30 am - 9:30 pm

Parking

From Monday – Friday, the fair offers all-day parking passes for only $10. Over the weekend, prices for parking increase to $15. If you plan on driving to the fair and parking in their lots, also be sure to make note of which entrance you use. The entrances to the fair are color coded: gold, blue, red, and purple. The orange gate is for vendors only. Taking note of where you entered the fair will be important when it’s time to leave, saving yourself the confusion of navigating back to your car.

Save money

Most state and county fairs offer reduced prices for seniors in attendance, the Washington State fair is no exception. Be sure to tell the entrance attendant if you’re 62 or older, as the admission to the fair will be reduced to only $11. To maximize your savings, take advantage of the $10 parking offered on weekdays or use public transportation to get to-and-from the fair.

Dress comfortably

Depending on which day you plan on attending the fair, it’s never a bad idea to check the weather ahead of time and plan your wardrobe accordingly. Nothing ruins a fun day out like overheating or being uncomfortably cold. One thing many people overlook is their choice of footwear. At fairs, it’s common to be walking around for multiple hours, to mitigate the implications of this we recommend you choose comfortable shoes that you don’t mind wearing and walking in for long periods of time.

Hydrate

As we recommend for any physical activity, it never hurts to hydrate properly before, during, and after the event. To avoid the high prices of fair beverages, don’t hesitate to bring your own water bottle with you around the fairground. Drinking water has an infinite number of benefits, including preventing strain on your joints, allowing you to maintain a comfortable body temperature, prevent sweating and sunburns, and reducing the chance of strokes, exhaustion, and headaches.

Wear sun protection

A fair, like any other activity outdoors, can force people under the sun without the protection of a roof or shade to cover their skin. If the weather forecasts a sunny and hot day, make sure to apply sunscreen before entering the fair, or at least bring it in a bag in case it becomes necessary.

Bring the right equipment

Depending on you or your loved one’s level of mobility, bringing the right equipment to a fair can prevent exhaustion and increase the duration you comfortably attend. This type of equipment could be anything like a lightweight transport chair, walker, or cane. One of the most popular transport aids we carry and recommend is a dual function wheelchair walker, allowing the user the versatility of having both a walker and a wheelchair in any situation. If these mobility aids are not available to you, consider taking breaks as needed on the many benches that line the walkways of the fair.

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