by The Nebraska State Fair, held in Grand Island, is a celebrated annual event that brings together agriculture, entertainment, local traditions, and community excitement over 11 dynamic days each summer. From livestock showcases to thrilling concerts, family attractions, thrilling rides, and more, the fair is designed to delight visitors of all ages. Here are the complete details –
Venue
The Nebraska State Fair takes place at the Nebraska State Fairgrounds, part of the Fonner Park campus in Grand Island, Nebraska. This venue includes diverse facilities such as the Heartland Events Center (Eihusen Arena), outdoor arenas, exhibit halls, and fairground spaces. Fonner Park, which hosts thoroughbred horse racing, forms a significant part of the fairgrounds infrastructure.
- Location: Grand Island, Nebraska
- Core venues: Heartland Events Center (Eihusen Arena), outdoor arenas, exhibit buildings; integrated with Fonner Park facilities.
Dates & Timings
The 2025 Nebraska State Fair runs from August 22 to September 1, 2025
- General fair hours: 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., except closing at 7 p.m. on Labor Day (September 1)
- Hours for specific buildings:
- Nebraska Building, Pinnacle Bank Expo Center, 4-H/FFA Building, Bosselman Conference Center: 9 a.m.–8 p.m., with early closures (5–7 p.m.) on September 1 depending on the building
Tickets
A variety of ticket options and discounts are available:
- General gate prices:
- Adults (ages 13–59): $12
- Seniors (60+): $6
- Youth (ages 6–12): $6
- Children (5 and under): Free
- Special promotions:
- Opening Day (August 22): Free admission until noon
- $3 Tuesday (August 26): Gate admission just $3 for ages 6 and up
- Lunch Bunch (August 27–29, 10 a.m.–2 p.m.): $12 adult admission includes $12 food voucher; seniors/youth pay $6 for $6 voucher
- Kids’ Night (August 27): First 250 kids after 5 p.m. receive a free gift
- Veterans Day (September 1): Veterans with ID receive free admission
- Senior Discount: Seniors (60+) pay just $6 every day
Food
The fair features a wide selection of food vendors and culinary options.
- Food & vendors are available throughout the fairgrounds offering fair classics and local specialties.
- Lunch Bunch promotion includes a food voucher equal to admission value on select days.
Rides
- The Wade Shows Carnival operates on the midway with rides and games:
- Carnival Wristband (Weekday): $37 for unlimited rides (Monday–Thursday)
- Carnival Wristband (Weekend): $42 for unlimited rides (Friday–Sunday)
- Ride Cards: 8 tickets for $12; 20 tickets for $25; 50 tickets for $50 (plus fees)
- On Labor Day (last evening), rides cost 1 credit from 5 p.m.–7 p.m.
Entertainment
The fair offers both ticketed headline shows and numerous free attractions:
- Ticketed headline acts include:
- Aug 22: Ultimate Bull Riding (US Foods Outdoor Arena)
- Aug 23: Ultimate Bull Fighters (US Foods Outdoor Arena)
- Aug 24: Matthew West w/ Josiah Queen (Heartland Events Center)
- Aug 24: Crossroads Chaos Figure 8 Showdown (Motorsports Park)
- Aug 25: The Righteous Brothers
- Aug 26: Brian Regan
- Aug 27: The Marshall Tucker Band
- Aug 28: Sawyer Brown (FREE)
- Aug 29: Skillet and Theory of a Deadman
- Aug 30: Forever Young Tour
- Aug 31: Nebraska Bush Pullers Truck and Tractor Pull; La Arrolladora
- Sept 1: Nebraska Demolition Derby Championship
- Free performances and attractions throughout the grounds:
- Canine Stars Stunt Dog Show, Sea Lion Splash, Oakley the Tree Man (walking tree), Touchdown Circus Show, Cowboy Circus, HypnoFX, Kevin Horner (comedy & ventriloquism), Circus Science Spectacular, Family Fun Zone with jumping pillows, Foam Zone at ACP Park, and more.
- In addition, various showcases across fairground venues — including equine, livestock, 4-H exhibits, demos, and open-class competitions — provide free educational and visual entertainment.
Additional Features
- 4-H Day (August 24, 1–3 p.m.): Celebrate youth contributions with ice-cream from UNL Dairy Store, a “Showcase Your Fair Face” photo booth, volunteer honors, and the launch of Nebraska 4-H’s “Beyond Ready” initiative.
- Raising Nebraska and Outdoor Encounter (Nebraska Building): Highlights include a 6,000-gallon Nebraska aquarium, archery and pellet-gun ranges, a Niobrara River diorama, sky fort, mock campsite, natural playscape, picnic area—all designed for interactive learning and relaxation.
- Agri-competitions and exhibits: Livestock shows, open-class categories (arts, food, textiles, photography, horticulture, etc.), educational displays, and agricultural demonstrations take place across multiple halls and pavilions.
Conclusion
The 2025 Nebraska State Fair, spanning August 22 through September 1 at the historic Fonner Park fairgrounds in Grand Island, promises an unforgettable blend of concerts, fair food, thrilling rides, agricultural exhibits, youth showcases, educational attractions, and engaging performances. Whether you’re coming for the livestock, live music, family fun, or unique features like the Sea Lion Splash or the Foam Zone, there’s something for every fair-goer.
