FULL SCHEDULE | 2024 South Texas State Fair returns with more than a week of rides, food, fun
The fair is happening at Ford Park from Thursday, March 21, 2024, through Sunday, March 31, 2024.
The fair is making its return for 2024 bringing Southeast Texans the rodeo, food, rides, games, and all the fun that make up the South Texas State Fair.
General Info
The YMBL South Texas State Fair is happening at Ford Park from Thursday, March 21, 2024, through Sunday, March 31, 2024.
Parking at the fairgrounds is FREE
Admission Prices
- Kids (4 & Under) FREE
- All others (5-64) $10
- Seniors (65+) FREE with valid I.D.
You can buy tickets to the fair at FordPark.com. or at the fairgrounds.
At the fairgrounds you can buy tickets using a credit card but the carnival and many of the vendors may only take cash. Several ATMs are available on the fairgrounds.
The carnival rides cost anywhere from $3 - $5 per ride. Wristbands for unlimited rides are available for $40 on many days of the fair. Here's a list of all the rides that will be at the fair along with their cost in $1 tickets.
New rides this year include Slime Buckets, a three ticket ride, for the kiddies, Flying Tigers and Sooper Jet Coaster, also three ticket rides and bigger rides such as Storm and Super Shot which require five tickets each.
You must be 36" tall to ride many of the rides.
A big feature of the South Texas State Fair is the YMBL Rodeo which runs for three days from Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24 followed by bull riding on March 29 & 30.
Here's where you can find directions to the fair based on what part of Southeast Texas you're coming from.
Thursday - March 21 Grand Opening Ribbon Cutting
Day 1
- Gates Open: 6 p.m.,
- FREE Admission to all attending the ribbon cutting at archway entrance
- Afterwards all tickets sold at regular $10 price
- Wristbands: $40 for unlimited carnival rides. (none sold after 9 p.m.)
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 10 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Friday - March 22 YMBL Rodeo Night at the Fair
Day 2
- Gates Open: 5 p.m.
- YMBL Championship Rodeo: 7 p.m.
- FREE General admission with fair ticket
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Regular ride prices apply. NO ride wristbands sold today.
- Exhibit Hall closes at 11 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Saturday - March 23 YMBL Rodeo Matinee at the Fair
Day 3
- Gates Open: 12 p.m.
- YMBL Championship Rodeo: 5 p.m.
- FREE General admission with fair ticket
- Regular ride prices apply. NO ride wristbands sold today.
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 11 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Sunday - March 24 H-E-B Fair Share for Hunger Sunday / YMBL Rodeo Matinee
Day 4
- Gates Open: 12 p.m.
- Fair Share for Hunger Sunday: Free admission till 9 p.m. with six non-perishable H-E-B canned vegetable items
- The canned foods will be donated to the Southeast Texas Food Bank.
- Fair visitors without cans pay regular $10 entry price.
- Wristbands: $40 for unlimited carnival rides. (none sold after 9 p.m.)
- YMBL Championship Rodeo: 5 p.m.
- FREE General admission with fair ticket
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 10 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Monday - March 25 Provost Umphrey Free Fun Night
Day 5
- Gates Open: 5 p.m.
- Provost Umphrey Free Fun Night: FREE fair entry until 9 p.m.
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 10 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Tuesday - March 26 Education First Family Fun Night
Day 6
- Gates Open: 5 p.m.
- Education First Family Fun Night
- $25 unlimited ride wristband & free entry with coupon until 9 p.m.
- Coupon quantities limited & available on a first come, first serve basis
- Without coupon regular $10 entry, $40 wristband fees apply (no wristbands sold after 9 p.m.)
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 10 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Wednesday - March 27 $2 Carnival Ride Night
Day 7
- Gates Open: 5 p.m.
- Regular $10 entry fees apply
- Carnival Rides: $2 each ride. ALL evening. No Coupon required.
- Exhibit Hall closes at 10 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Thursday - March 28 "FORD Salutes Those Who Serve" Military and First Responder Appreciation Night
Day 8
- Gates Open: 5 p.m.
- "FORD Salutes Those Who Serve" Military & First Responder Appreciation Night: FREE admission till 9 p.m. for...
- Active, retired, reserve military, National Guard, disabled veterans & their dependents
- Active first responders & their dependents.
- Valid military I.D., badge or valid first responder I.D. must be shown at the admission gate.
- Regular ride prices apply. NO ride wristbands sold today.
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 10 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Friday - March 29 Ride Wristband Day
Day 9
- Gates Open: 5 p.m.
- Ride Wristband Day: $40 wristband for unlimited carnival rides. (none sold after 9 p.m.)
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Exhibit Hall closes at 11 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Saturday - March 30 Kid's Day
Day 10
- Gates Open: 12 p.m.
- Kid's Day: All kids 17 and under admitted FREE until 3 p.m.
- Regular ride prices apply. NO ride wristbands sold today.
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Exhibit Hall closes at 11 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
Sunday - March 31 Coca-Cola / Dr. Pepper Cantastic Sunday
Day 11
- Gates Open: 12 p.m.
- Coca-Cola/Dr Pepper Cantastic Sunday: FREE entry with...
- empty "six-pack" of 12 oz. Coca-Cola / Dr.Pepper product cans
- Coupon for $35 unlimited ride wristband (None sold after 9 p.m.)
- Carnival Ride Tickets: $1 ea., Rides require 3 - 5 tickets each
- Kiddie rides: $3/ea using tickets
- Intermediate rides: $3-$4/ea using tickets
- "Adult" rides: $4-$5/ea using tickets
- Wristbands: $40 for unlimited carnival rides. (none sold after 9 p.m.)
- Exhibit Hall closes at 8 p.m., carnival will close nightly based on attendance.
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