Guide to South Florida Fair 2024: What’s new, what’s back, ticket prices (and ways to save!)

The South Florida Fair is celebrating its 112th edition by going under the sea.

From Jan. 12 to 28 at the South Florida Fairgrounds in West Palm Beach, visitors can “Dive Into The Fun” (this year’s theme) with immersive activities including an underwater 3D projection, a sea lion show, shark and stingray encounters, plus some swashbuckling pirates swinging in for a comedic high-dive performance.

While there will be many new sights to “sea,” don’t worry, plenty of fair favorites are returning — from a midway full of rides, games and rows of fried-food vendors to a daily ice-skating show, five music stages and historic buildings opening their doors in Yesteryear Village.

Catch a parade featuring high school marching bands, take a shopping break, get hypnotized (if you’re brave enough), cheer on the racing pigs, and meet chickens and rabbits in the small animal exhibit.

“As a fair, we continue to give people, especially children, the opportunity to see live farm animals, something that is not as common as it was years ago in South Florida,” said Vicki Chouris, South Florida Fair president and CEO.

Let’s take a deep dive into everything you need to know — and some ways to save — if you’re planning a visit to the South Florida Fair this year.

A familiar theme

For more than three decades, the fair has featured a different theme every year. The moment visitors step through the entrance at the Expo Center, they become completely immersed in whatever world the fair’s organizers have created.

And this year is no different, Chouris said.

“‘Dive Into The Fun’ was selected because we wanted to highlight the beautiful ocean that surrounds us and also showcase the wonderful sea life,” she said. “South Florida has so many opportunities for ocean experiences, so we invited local organizations to join us at the fair to share their stories with the fair visitors.”

The Palm Beach County Film & Television Commission and The Palm Beaches TV partnered to install a 40-by-40-foot underwater 3D projection experience “that will make guests feel like they’re walking on a sea floor,” according to fair organizers.

“The underwater immersive experience is one that no one will want to miss,” Chouris said.

Head to the South Patio to watch trained sea lions shoot hoops, balance balls, dance and do handstands. Over at Expo East, take a seat to watch sharks swim in a specially designed aquarium, or for a hands-on encounter, safely view and touch stingrays.

What else is not to miss?

Wade Shows is bringing four new rides to the midway this year. The Venetian Carousel will make its fair debut, standing 35 feet tall and featuring two decks of animal figures to ride. At 210 feet long and 45 feet high, the Drag Strip Mega Slide is returning with eight lanes to race down. The fast-spinning Tesla has been updated with its arms twirling at high speeds. The Cyclops is also back, with its pendulum swinging high above the ground as the claw rotates.

“There are going to be several strolling acts that are part of the ocean theme, as well as a new comedy high-dive show,” Chouris said.

Fans of Meat Loaf, Elton John, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Toby Keith and Linkin Park can sing along to their favorite songs performed by tribute bands taking the stage throughout the fair’s run. There will be a 2024 Rock Tribute Band Competition at 1:30 p.m. Jan. 27, with the winner playing at 8 p.m. In addition to local bands, catch performances by Justin Lee Partin, Taylor Austin Dye and Rockland Road among the diverse entertainment acts this year.

“People of all ages love music, and there is nothing better than being able to sit out under the stars in January and enjoy the entertainment while eating some great fair food,” Chouris said.

Let’s talk about that food

Shockley’s Food Service has cooked up concoctions for the fair-food lover in all of us — including the Honey Bunny Curd Burger with melted cheese curds between two honey buns, and the Pop Rocks Pickle, which is wrapped in Fruit Roll-Ups then dipped in chocolate and rolled in either Pop Rocks, Fruity Pebbles cereal or Flamin’ Hot Cheetos.

The Cooking Channel’s “Carnival Eats” show has featured several of the fair food vendors that will be back, including Rosie’s Nachos with its sweet potato ribbon pie (envision deep-fried sweet potatoes topped with Marshmallow Fluff, pecan pieces, cinnamon sugar and toasted marshmallows) and its newest creation: banana cream pie nachos (with cinnamon-sugar tortilla chips, banana pudding, whipped cream, graham cracker crust and fresh banana pieces).

Some new indulgences this year will come from Big T’s Concessions, with its gourmet grilled cheeses, and Sparky’s Pork Rinds, featuring barbecue-, Old Bay-, dill pickle- and ranch-flavored pork rinds.

“Life is too short to count calories during fair time,” Chouris said.

Also on the schedule

Temple Grandin, professor of animal sciences at Colorado State University, author and autism advocate, will visit the fair from 7 to 8:15 p.m. Jan. 24 for her “Different, Not Less” presentation on topics including agriculture, living with autism and visual thinking in the Farm Credit Show Arena.

“Several years ago, Temple Grandin was the keynote speaker at our International Fairs Association meeting and her message had a profound impact on the audience,” Chouris said. “Our agricultural staff suggested inviting her to the fair to share her message with the local community. The response has been overwhelming.”

Advance tickets, before Jan. 11, are $45 for arena seating and $30 for bleachers. After, arena seating is $55 and $40 for bleachers. Grandin will have a meet-and-greet with book sales and signings for an hour after the presentation. Tickets are available online only at southfloridafair.com.

Ways to save

• Through Jan. 11, purchase advance general admission tickets for $10 at southfloridafair.com/tickets or at any Publix store in Palm Beach County. Admission is free for children age 10 and younger. Ride vouchers good for a wristband for unlimited rides or 30 ride credits may also be purchased in advance for $25. The Mega Saver package, which includes four any-day admissions, two ride vouchers and four $5 food tickets (valued at $199) is $99 and available only in advance.
• Can’t wait to climb into a bumper car? Check out the Ride-A-Thon preview from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 11, to try all the rides for $20 (includes admission and unlimited rides with some exclusions) with a coupon at southfloridafair.com/coupons. Just print the coupon and present it at Gate 2. Regular price at the gate is $25. Parking is $10. Buildings and other attractions will not be open.
• On opening day, Jan. 12, visitors who attend the opening ceremonies at 11:30 a.m. in the Ford Theater at the Expo Center will get free admission to the fair when it opens at noon. Gates open at 11 a.m. Use an advance discount admission ticket that day and keep the ticket to return for another day at the fair from Jan. 13 to 28.
• On $2 Tuesdays (Jan. 16 and 23), admission, rides and food specials are available for $2. Some rides are excluded.
• On Wednesday Bike Nites (Jan. 17 and 24), motorcycle riders who participate in the 6:30 p.m. parade may arrive at 6 p.m. and pay $5 for admission per person.
• Seniors (age 60 and up) get free admission from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 18. Senior Day on Jan. 24 offers free admission for fairgoers age 60 and up from noon to 4 p.m. Admission is $5 for seniors after 4 p.m. that day. ID is required.
• On American Heroes Day (Jan. 25), all active military, veterans, firefighters, law enforcement personnel and their families get $7 admission. Visit the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office booth in Expo West to purchase ride wristbands for $25. Valid proof of service with photo ID is required.

Safety policies

There’s a new policy this year for guests who bring bags. They must be clear plastic, vinyl or PVC bags that are a maximum size of 12-by-6-by-12 inches or small clutch bags (do not have to be clear) no larger than 6-by-9 inches.

Admission policy on Fridays and Saturdays after 7 p.m. requires that all guests younger than 18 be accompanied by an adult guardian age 21 or older with an ID when entering the fair. The maximum is four minors per guardian. The purchase of admission and a ride wristband is required for entry for guests age 11 to 17.

“The fair is implementing policies that many fairs, festivals, sporting events and concert venues have put into place,” Chouris said. “The fair is a family friendly event, and we want everyone to have an amazing, fun outing.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: South Florida Fair

WHEN: Jan. 12-28

WHERE: South Florida Fairgrounds, 9067 Southern Blvd., West Palm Beach

COST: Regular gate admission is $15 Mondays through Fridays (except for $2 Tuesdays) and $20 on Saturdays and Sundays. Kids age 10 and younger are admitted for free.

At the gate, ride wristbands are $30 on weekdays and $45 on the weekend. A Gold Access pass available at any ticket booth allows riders to move to the front of the line. Cost is $12 from Mondays through Thursdays and $20 on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and MLK Day (Jan. 15).

General parking is $10 and premium is $20. Cash or cards are accepted.

INFORMATION: southfloridafair.com