Kansas State Fair returns on Friday with crazy food, spinning rides and high divers
The Kansas State Fair made its big comeback last year after skipping 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic — but it saw mixed results.
Although people eagerly returned to Hutchinson for Pronto Pups, grandstand concerts and pig races, attendance was down over usual numbers by about 20% — a fact that second-year general manager Bryan Schulz attributes to hot weather and confusion over mask requirements (confusion that was cleared up after the first weekend.)
But Schulz said he and his staff are hopeful that the 2022 installment of the annual fair — which opens Friday and runs through Sept. 18 at the Kansas State Fairgrounds in Hutchinson — will be able to return to its pre-pandemic attendance numbers.
The mask mandates are gone. The weather forecast is calling for milder temperatures early in the week. And the schedule is packed with events and attractions designed to lure Kansans of all ages and interests, Schulz said.
“With our ticket sales for the Grandstand and everything there, we’re hoping we’re going to be back to our 325,000 to 350,000 range,” he said. “There’s a buzz out there about coming to the fair. People still want to get out. There are a lot of things going on, but this is one of those traditions that people have built.”
Fairgoers will find things much as they left them in 2021: Gate prices haven’t increased, and all of the fair’s favorite attractions — including the butter sculpture, the comic hypnotist, the birthing barn, the carnival Midway rides and the crazy state fair foods — will return.
But visitors will find a few things different this year, too. One of the most noticeable comes courtesy of a Senate bill signed into law in April that will allow fairgoers to carry beer and wine throughout the grounds rather than remain confined to beer gardens with their drinks. The change, Schulz said, will keep people from feeling like they have to quickly finish their beverages before leaving beer garden areas to join their families, and organizers hope it will also cut down on the number of people who camp out in beer gardens and send their kids off unaccompanied.
As part of the change, people who order adult beverages will be carded and get wristbands — the color of which will change each day. Adult beverages won’t be allowed inside certain buildings, including 4-H Centennial Hall, the Domestic Arts Building, the Oz Gallery, the Education Center, the Pride of Kansas building and the administration building.
The fairgrounds also have gotten some significant upgrades, though not all will be noticeable to the average attendee. The fair’s Expo Center, which is home to its equine events, just got a $1.3 million upgrade that included a new roof, new lighting and improved ventilation. And the Grandstand, where all the fair’s big-name concerts happen, has undergone $150,000 worth of improvements that sealed it against water leakage. A new stage also has been built at Lake Talbott, and it will feature free variety shows and concerts each day of the fair.
One other change: The fair is tweaking its policy of allowing free admission onto the grounds after 9 p.m. This year, those who come late will pay $5 to get in. Schulz said that big late-night crowds filled with underage attendees were starting to become an issue last year, and the $5 admission fee might help get that under control.
Schulz also listed a number of attractions — some new and some returning — that fairgoers will want to watch for this year:
Grandstand shows: The diverse lineup of nationally recognized performers includes Christian artist TobyMac on Sept. 14, hip hop stars T.I. and Chingy on Sept. 17 and comedian Gabriel “Fluffy: Iglesias on Sunday. The best-selling show this year, Schulz said, is Saturday’s concert by country star Parker McCollum.
The fair also made one money-saving change regarding Grandstand tickets. In the past, concert goers would get free gate admission to the fair if they bought their tickets by a certain date. This year, gate admission is included on all pre-purchased tickets, and each concert ticket will have two scan codes: one for the gate and one for the show
Crazy fair food: As always, the Kansas State Fair’s food offerings will range from beefy to deep fried to just plain strange. Although you can find a complete guide to strange fair food at Dining with Denise on Facebook, some of the highlights include deep fried pumpkin pie slices and an OMG Chicken Sandwich that features a cereal-coated fried chicken breast topped with bacon and syrup and served inside a doughnut.
Black Hawk helicopter visits: A U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter will be set up at the north end of the Midway all 10 days of the fair, and visitors will be able to get an up-close look at the aircraft as well as talk to some of its staff members. A climbing wall and other army equipment will also be part of the attraction.
The Flying Fools: The fair’s Gottschalk Park each year features some type of traveling performance group, and this year, it’s The Flying Fools, a group of acrobatic divers who jump from as high as 80 feet into a pool of water below. Shows will happen multiple times a day throughout the fair.
Roving acts: Among the entertainers strolling the fairgrounds and interacting with visitors this year will be a 9-foot robot named Max Power, who will be accompanied by his mini monster truck friend Nitro, as well as a roving motorized piano manned by a player who takes requests, and a contortionist who will perform near the fair’s interactive fountain.
Cool Zoo: This wildlife encounter experience at Lake Talbott will let visitors get up close with alligators, giant tortoises, snakes, kangaroos and exotic birds, and visitors will be able to adopt hermit crabs. The fair’s calendar also features daily Cool Zoo performances at the Lake Talbott stage.
Gubernatorial debate: It’s an election year, meaning that the Kansas State Fair will be home to a live debate between Kansas’ two candidates for governor: incumbent Laura Kelly and challenger Derek Schmidt, who will field questions from members of the media. The debate is from 10:30 a.m. to noon on Saturday at the Peoples Bank and Trust Arena.
Returning favorites: Fair-goers should check the schedule on the Kansas State Fair website to find times and locations for favorite annual attractions, including the butter sculpture, Dr. Goddard’s Lab, the pig races, comic hypnotist Ron Diamond, the petting zoo, the chainsaw artist, cooking contests, the big slide, the State Fair railroad, Ye Old Mill, the Sky Ride, boat rides, the giant pumpkins, free musical acts, Battle of the Bands and more.
KANSAS STATE FAIR
When: Friday-Sept. 18
Where: Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N. Poplar Hutchinson
Admission: Gate admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12 and for seniors 60 over, $4 for military members with ID. Those who buy tickets at www.kansasstatefair.com by the end of the day Thursday, Sept. 8, can get adult tickets for $7 and child and senior tickets for $4. Tickets are available at the gate, at Dillons stores and at www.kansasstatefair.com
Midway tickets: Midway ride sheets have 20 tickets per sheet, and most rides take two to four tickets a person. A sheet costs $25. There will be six “wristband” days during the fair: on Sept. 9, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 18. Wristbands are $35 and good for all rides all day. (Wristbands purchased at Midway Ticket booths on Thursday, Sept. 15, will cost $30.) Most rides will cost one ticket on Monday, Sept. 12.
Discount days: Dillons Dollar Day is on Monday, Sept. 12, and people who have Dillons Plus cards can get in for free. (One ticket per Dillons card.) Admission after 9 p.m. is $5 each day, and admission after 4 p.m. is $4 on Tuesday, Sept. 13. Tickets for ages 55 and older are $2 on Thursday, Sept. 15, as part of Young at Heart Day. And on Friday, Sept. 16, members of the PlayOn app can get in for $2 as part of Chiefs Red Friday.
Gate hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Sept. 17; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 18
For more information and a daily schedule: Visit www.kansasstatefair.com
