Florida State Fair, one of Tampa’s biggest annual events, returns in February

People at a fair

One of the biggest, wildest and most enjoyable events in the region is set to make its grand return to Tampa this spring. The Florida State Fair is taking over the Florida State Fairgrounds (4800 US-301) February 6-17, bringing with it nearly two full weeks of amazing entertainment, food, and family-friendly fun.

Tickets are available now, and attendees can save up to 30% on admission by purchasing only before February 5. This year’s fair is expected to be the biggest one yet, packed full of free entertainment, a huge selection of classic and new fair foods, one of the largest ride midways in the country, shopping, animals, exhibits, and much, much more.

The 2025 Florida State Fair features seven first-time attractions on the fairgrounds, as well as an incredible lineup of tribute bands (we’re already eyeing Blank Space, the Taylor Swift tribute band, on February 7). And in addition to all the usual foodie favorites (we’re always suckers for a good corn dog), there are 27 brand new food items this year. From the pretzel-rolled corn on the cob or the “Southern Comfort Funnel Cake” to the BBQ stuffed waffle or the baked ziti on a stick, there are some truly wild and mouthwatering eats on deck this year.

Plus, a new service offered by the Florida State Fair will make the experience easier and more enjoyable to navigate than ever. The new Florida State Fair App (available in the App Store or Google Play) gives you access to a detailed daily schedule, a full list of available foods (including all the new menu items), and more tips and information to help you plan your visit and make the most of your time on the grounds. For those who want the most out of the two week experience, this app will be a gamechanger.

For the young (and young at heart), we always recommend a ride armband to enjoy all the wild rides the fair has to offer. The fast passes make hitting as many rides as possible an even easier experience.

And speaking of experiences, organizers have gone all out this year with new forms of entertainment. New to the entertainment lineup this year is a wild Demolition Derby, which will be sure to bring high energy to the crowd. There are also new magic shows, four nights of fireworks, frisbee dog shows, and a live-action “Jurassic Park” dinosaur show taking place every day. You can check out the full entertainment list here.

As you make your plans, we also highly recommend checking out the fair’s list of promo days. From $3 Thursday and Super Savings Sunday to kids days, seniors days and even a hospitality and service industry day, there are ways for everyone to save.

The Florida State Fair is not only one of the biggest annual events in Tampa, but it’s also one of our personal favorites. The food is always a huge draw for us, and we love exploring the grounds to see the different exhibits, enjoy the live entertainment, and hop on a ride or two once that corn dog has settled. For kids, adults and everyone in between, it really is one of the rare events that has something for everybody.

Learn more about the 2025 Florida State Fair and get tickets here.

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