2009 New Mexico State Fair on the Cheap

Yep, the 2009 New Mexico State Fair is just around the corner. In fact, it runs September 11-27. And there’s no reason to pay full price for any of it. We’ve got the skinny on all the ways to get free or cheap gate admission (tickets) to the State Fair, plus discounted rodeo tickets, discount ride passes, and much more!

1. Half Price Admission (Almost): Purchase a Family Package and get almost half-price State Fair tickets. This package includes 5 gate admissions (tickets) to the fair and costs just $20. That’s only $4 per ticket! With adult admission running $7 per ticket, you save up to $3 off each ticket. (Buy the Family Package at the New Mexico State Fair Box Office; see below.)
2. Free Gate Admission: Buy concert tickets in advance (before August 31, 2009), and receive FREE gate admission! The State Fair concert lineup includes Montgomery Gentry and Huey Lewis & the News.
3. 15% off Rides: Purchase a Discount Mega Ride Pass before September 10, 2009, for $70 and save 15% off the regular price, plus get FREE gate admission!
4. 25% off Rodeo + Concert Tickets: Act quickly! Buy a bottle of Robert Mondavi Private Reserve wine, then enter the password included with your purchase to score 25% off the $18 PRCA rodeo and concert tickets through Ticketmaster. This promotion expires 8/31/09.
5. Third Way to get Free Gate Admission: Buy full price PRCA Rodeo and Concert tickets at any price point (from $13 to $21 each) and receive free gate admission — worth up to $7 per ticket!
6. Save Up to $1600: At least, that’s the claim. Buy a “Fair Deal” coupon book for $5 when you pick up your tickets at the Box Office and save on all kinds of fair-related stuff, including Rail Runner transportation, rides, vendors, sponsors, and much more.
7. Cheap Transportation: Parking on the fairgrounds will cost $5 per day, and the private, outlying lots will be equally expensive. And, frankly, ABQ Ride’s Park-n-Ride service will save you the traffic and parking headache, but at $4 per adult (roundtrip), it won’t save you much dough. However, you can buy an ABQ Ride 1-Day Pass for just $2 for adults and get unlimited rides. You can also buy a 2-Day Pass for $4 or a 3-Day Pass for $6. It’s probably the cheapest way to get to the fair and back. Plus, you can buy the passes directly from the bus driver, so it’s convenient. Kids age 10 through high school with a valid school ID can ride for just 35¢ each way, and children under age 10 ride the bus for FREE!
8. Free Pageantry: The annual State Fair Parade will be held Saturday, September 12 (2009), and it’s absolutely FREE! Be sure to stake out your spot along the route early. The parade begins at 8:45am at the corner of Louisiana and Central. It then travels east on Central Ave for approximately two miles. Our favorite viewing spot is at Roper’s Restaurant just east of Central and Wyoming. Get there early, park in the restaurant’s parking lot, enjoy a fantastic cooked-to-order breakfast, and then retire to the curb to watch the parade pass. Most importantly, you can make a quick (and relatively painless) getaway by exiting from the south side of the parking lot onto Zuni. Buh-bye traffic congestion.

Mega Ride Passes, concert tickets, and PRCA Rodeo and Concert tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster using the links above.

Tickets for gate admission and the Fair Deal coupon book may be purchased now at the State Fair Box Office. To get there, enter through Gate 3, at the stoplight on San Pedro between Lomas and Central; at the stop sign inside the fairgrounds, turn left; look for the turquoise awnings; park and walk to the awnings to buy your tickets. The Box Office currently is open Monday through Saturday, from 10:00am – 2:00pm, but hours will be extended as fair time draws closer.

You can find out each day’s schedule, special events, and gate hours at the NM State Fair website. When you attend the fair, don’t forget to take (and drink!) plenty of water, apply sunscreen, and use other sunblocking tactics, such as hats and umbrellas — especially for the little ones. Have a great time and stay safe!

–Elizabeth Hanes