STATE FAIR: Having Fun While Saving Money
More than 1,000,000 people are likely to attend the Iowa State Fair in 2012. For many, $10 tickets and $8 turkey legs will eat away at those entertainment dollars.
Fortunately, there are ways to eat and see all of the attractions on a budget. It starts before you walk through the gates.
Gary Slater is the Manager and CEO of the Iowa State Fair and part of his job is keeping it affordable for families.
“You can get here and have a great time and even do some things that cost on a small budget,” said Slater.
First, he recommends visiting the website at http://www.iowastate.org.
There, you can save $3 per ticket between now and August 8th by printing them at home. It’s deal that will also cut the cost of your shuttle ride in half.
“If you buy your tickets in advance, it’s only $1 round-trip,” Slater told Channel 13 News.
The website also lists more than 100 food and drink items priced at $2 or less, including frozen lemonade and the popular fair square.
“That’s a big rice Krispy treat on a stick for $2,” Slater said.
When you’re inside the gates, Slater says you don’t have to spend a single dollar to have a great time.
Five stages of entertainment, the world famous butter cow, and its new competition can keep a family entertained all afternoon.
“We have a new chocolate moose. It’s 11 feet tall, 9 feet wide, and is the biggest chocolate moose I’ve ever seen.”
So when it comes to saving some money at the state fair; visit the website, make a plan, and keep some cash in your pocket.
If you’re planning to attend the fair’s opening day on August 9th, you can get in free between the hours of 6 and 9 AM with a coupon that can be found in Wednesday’s Des Moines Register.
Half price tickets are available on the final day of the fair on Sunday, August 19th.
