This year, the Colorado State Fair is celebrating 150 years of Colorado statehood! Here’s your 2026 guide to the food, rodeos, concerts, attractions, and more.
What do apple pies, baseball, drive-in movies, roller skating, and state fairs have in common? They are all quintessential American things—places and pastimes full of nostalgia and American pride.
State fairs, in particular, are uniquely American, celebrating everyone from the farmer to the musician, politician, artist, and each person in between.
What started as simple agricultural competitions has evolved into what journalist Douglass Wissing calls “the confluence of the garnish and the profound.” It’s a place where you can eat a deep-fried Oreo, walk 10 steps, and see a multigenerational family proudly showing the livestock they’ve raised all year. It’s the coming together of the American people to celebrate the absurdity, beauty, and enduring traditions of our country.
This year is especially significant for the Colorado State Fair. Not only is 2026 America’s 250th anniversary, but it also marks Colorado’s 150th anniversary of statehood. To celebrate, Colorado’s 11-day state fair will feature a number of exciting entertainment acts, educational exhibits, and special events.
Here’s everything you can look forward to at the Colorado State Fair, happening August 28–September 7 at the Colorado State Fairgrounds in Pueblo.
The Basics
Before diving into the fun that awaits fairgoers, we should go over the basics.
When: The 2026 Colorado State Fair takes place August 28–September 7, open 3:00 p.m–11:00 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11:00 a.m.–11:00 p.m. Fridays through Sundays, and 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. on Labor Day.
Where: The Colorado State Fairgrounds are located at 1001 Beulah Ave., Pueblo, CO 81004. For information on parking and transportation, click here.
How much: Admission costs $15 for adults, $7 for kids (ages 5–12), and free for children 4 and under. For the carnival, an Unlimited Ride Band costs between $34 and $42 (depending on date of purchase), while a Megapass costs between $162 and $202. Individual credits cost $1 each.
Celebrating Sesquisemiquincentennial
Sesquisemiquincentennial? I know it’s a mouthful. It’s a made-up word defining the simultaneous events of America’s 250th year and Colorado’s 150th year. Colorado is the only state that can celebrate both anniversaries! Here are the unique state fair happenings specifically to celebrate sesquisemiquincentennial and this year’s fitting “Fairitage” theme.
Drone Show
Happening on September 1, 3, and 7, Stories in the Sky—a series of nearly 150 community drone shows—is coming to the Colorado State Fair. The series began in September 2025 and will continue through December 2026. If you miss it at the fair, there will be plenty of other opportunities to catch a show.
Freedom Truck
The Freedom Truck is for all the history buffs out there. There are only six in the country, and one of them is coming to the Colorado State Fair. Hop aboard this museum on wheels to explore the story of America’s founding. You’ll find the Freedom Truck at the State Fair Plaza.
Ag Mural
State fairs are, of course, rooted in agriculture. To honor Colorado’s unique agricultural heritage, the Colorado State Fair is one of the many stops for Thomas “Detour” Evans’ traveling Ag mural. This mural tells the visual story of the state’s interconnected agricultural systems. It explores Ute and Plains Indigenous communities, the San Luis Valley, agricultural innovations, multigenerational farms and ranches, Rocky Mountain snowmelt, and so much more. It weaves together the past, present, and future through bold colors and vibrant storytelling.
Westernaires 250/150 Celebration Exhibition
On September 1, enjoy a free show put on by the Westernaires, a local drill organization made up of youth ages 9–19. The show features everything from horse acrobatics and daring trick riding to trick and fancy roping, liberty riding, dressage demonstrations, and much more. Catch the performance at the Big R Arena.
1st Colorado Top Hands Drill Act
Add another free show to your Colorado State Fair to-do list. On September 2, the Colorado Top Hand Drill Team will perform during the Mountain States Ranch Rodeo at 6 p.m.
American Heroes Day and Rodeo
What’s a state fair without a rodeo? The PRCA Rodeo takes place over four nights, from August 28–31. On August 30, the fair will also host American Heroes Day and Rodeo, featuring a special tribute to veterans as part of that evening’s rodeo. If you’d like to nominate a veteran to be recognized, you can do so here.
Fairitage Contests
On Labor Day, you can enjoy a blast from the past with the Fairitage Contests. The fair will have a number of old-fashioned competitions designed to celebrate the traditions and nostalgia of state fairs. You can expect everything from Best Beard Contest to a Most Beautiful Baby Contest, along with a handful of other classic fair competitions
Colorado Fifty Artist Canvas ‘Quilt’ Project
The fair will display the Colorado Fifty Artist ‘Quilt’ Project. To celebrate 150 years of Colorado, fifty artists have come together and painted what they love most about Colorado on a 10”x10” canvas that is put together to create a large “quilt.” This quilt celebrates the beauty of Colorado alongside the importance of connection and community among Colorado artists.
Setting Colorado’s Table Coffee Table Book
While you’re at the fair, you’ll also have the opportunity to purchase a copy of Setting Colorado’s Table, a limited-edition coffee table book exploring the history of Colorado agriculture. Through five core themes—water, land, life, resilience, and celebration—the book tells the story of the state’s agricultural heritage, blending past, present, and future. Its cover features a reproduction of Thomas “Detour” Evans’ Ag Mural, which you can also see on display at the fair.
150 Tables Across Colorado
On September 1, the fair will host the Governor’s Harvest Table. The event is part of the larger 150 Tables Across Colorado initiative, in which organizations, individuals, and communities across the state celebrate 150 years by bringing people together for a meal and connection.
Other Things To Do
In addition to the special anniversary events, you can expect other fun happenings and things to do.
Food
Everyone knows one of the best parts of the fair is the food. This year, you can choose from nearly 50 food vendors serving everything from kettle corn and baklava to spicy bacon tots, green chile, fresh-squeezed lemonade, hot dogs, and so much more.
On Fridays during the fair, each food vendor will offer a $5 menu item until 5 p.m.
And if you’re looking for something a little lighter, you’ll also find a number of healthier fair foods, like fruit cups, yogurt parfaits, veggie burgers, and more.
Music
Music lovers, rejoice! The Colorado State Fair has five different music venues featuring free concerts included with gate admission. From country and cover bands to gospel, bluegrass, dance music, and more, there’s something for every music lover, no matter your preferred genre. You can find the schedule for free shows here.
In addition to the free concerts, the fair will also have ticketed performances with popular artists like The Fray, Ian Munsick, Dylan Scott, Neal McCoy, Jordan Davis, Vanilla Ice, C + C Music Factory, and more. Tickets for those concerts can be purchased here.
Attractions
There will be a number of fun, unique attractions to discover every day at the fair. From a Stilt Circus strolling the fairgrounds to sand sculpting, duck races, “Mighty Mike” juggling bowling balls and performing other absurd tricks, mini golf, a petting zoo, corn hole, and more, there’s something new to see every day and around every corner. You can find the full list of attractions here.
Rodeo
Yee-haw! The Colorado State Fair will host four nights of PRCA (Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association) Rodeo from August 28–31. Rodeo fans can expect classic events like bull riding, barrel racing, and timed competitions where cowboys and cowgirls showcase their skill, speed, and horsemanship. There’s also the option to go on a “Chute Tour,” where you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at the rodeo, learn more about the sport, and discover what it takes to compete as a professional.
The fair will also host a special Mountain States Ranch Rodeo on Wednesday, September 2. This event will feature a five-man hybrid scramble, where teams of five compete in a combination of ranch rodeo events, along with open ranch bronc riding, a challenging event where riders attempt to stay on a bucking horse. This event is included with gate admission.
For Kids
The fair is the perfect place for family fun. While the fair as a whole is family-friendly, there are also several activities designed specifically with kids in mind.
At the Colorado Proud Farm Trail, located in the Small Animal Building, kids can learn about Colorado agriculture through hands-on activities like picking Palisade peaches, harvesting Pueblo chiles, and searching for a San Luis potato. For even more agricultural fun, there’s Agventure Land, which features interactive activities where kids can learn about farming, livestock, and more. And, of course, one of every kid’s favorites: the petting zoo; children can pet, feed, and interact with pigs, goats, sheep, and other animals.
The fair carnival is another family favorite. Hosted by Amusement Midway Providers, the carnival features 39 rides to explore. Some rides have height restrictions, which you can check here.
