The Washington State Fair closes at 9:30 p.m. most nights and 10:30 p.m. Fridays/Saturdays; final day is Sept. 27, 2026.
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The answer to When Does the Washington State Fair Close? depends on the day you visit. For the 2026 fair in Puyallup, the posted closing time is 9:30 p.m. on most operating days and 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The Washington State Fair runs Sept. 4-27, 2026, and it does not open on Tuesdays or Wednesday, Sept. 9. The schedule matters if you are planning an after-work visit, a concert night, or a final Sunday trip, because a Friday or Saturday gives you one extra hour on the grounds.
Washington State Fair Closing Times: What Changes By Day
Washington State Fair closing times vary by weekday, with later hours on Fridays and Saturdays. The fair closes at 9:30 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, and at 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
The official fair schedule lists the 2026 operating dates, closed days, and daily hours on the Washington State Fair dates and times page. Use that page as the final check before you go, since weather, staffing, or event-specific changes can affect parts of the grounds.
| Day Or Date | Posted Fair Hours | Closing-Time Takeaway |
|---|---|---|
| Mondays | 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | Good for a lower-key evening visit after the weekend rush. |
| Tuesdays | Closed | Do not plan a Tuesday visit during the 2026 fair. |
| Wednesdays | 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | Open on regular Wednesdays, but closed Wednesday, Sept. 9. |
| Thursdays | 10:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | A solid choice for dinner, exhibits, and a shorter night. |
| Fridays | 10:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. | One of the two latest regular closing nights. |
| Saturdays | 9:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m. | The longest posted day, with an early opening and late close. |
| Sundays | 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | Earlier close than Friday or Saturday, but an earlier start. |
| Sunday, Sept. 27 | 9:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. | The final posted day of the 2026 Washington State Fair. |
How Late Is The Washington State Fair Open By Day?
The Washington State Fair stays open latest on Fridays and Saturdays, when the posted closing time is 10:30 p.m. On every other operating day in 2026, the posted closing time is 9:30 p.m.
Friday is the better late-night pick if you want to go after work and still have time for food, rides, exhibits, and a show. Saturday gives you the longest total window because the fair opens at 9:30 a.m. and closes at 10:30 p.m.
Sunday can work well for families because the fair opens at 9:30 a.m., but the night wraps one hour earlier than Friday or Saturday. Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday are better for a shorter visit, especially if your main plan is dinner plus a few favorite stops.
Days When The Fair Does Not Open
The Washington State Fair is closed every Tuesday during its 2026 run. The fair is also closed on Wednesday, Sept. 9, which is the extra closure that can surprise people planning a midweek visit.
The closed dates are the main trap in the schedule. A traveler looking at the Sept. 4-27 date range might assume every day is open, but the posted schedule removes Tuesdays and Sept. 9 from the calendar.
Planning tip: If your Puyallup trip has only one open evening, avoid building it around a Tuesday or Wednesday, Sept. 9.
Late Entry And Tickets
Late entry works best when your ticket plan matches your goal for the night. A general admission ticket is enough for the fairgrounds, while concerts, rodeo, and reserved events can have separate ticket rules and start times.
For a short evening visit, buy or compare tickets before heading to Puyallup so you are not spending your first 15 minutes sorting out admission. If you are attending a grandstand event, read the event listing carefully because your show time may not match the general fair closing time.
Compare available Washington State Fair ticket options before choosing your night:
Ticket prices and release dates can change by event type. For 2026, treat the fair’s posted ticket page or your event listing as the source for current admission, concert, rodeo, and parking details.
What Changes Near Closing Time
The posted Washington State Fair closing time is the outer planning line for the grounds, not a promise that every booth, ride, or food stand will operate until the exact minute the fair closes. Arriving too close to closing can leave you with fewer choices.
For a smoother night, plan your last hour in this order:
- Eat before the final hour if a specific food stand is on your list.
- Ride earlier if you care about a specific attraction or line length.
- Save low-stress browsing for the end, such as shopping rows or outdoor displays.
- Set a meeting point before dark if your group splits up.
- Leave extra time for parking-lot traffic after concerts or Saturday crowds.
Friday and Saturday nights have the most room for a late plan because the fair closes at 10:30 p.m. Still, the difference between arriving at 7:00 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. is huge if you want more than food and a short walk.
Where To Stay Near The Fairgrounds
Puyallup is the easiest base if your main reason for visiting is the Washington State Fair. Staying nearby matters more on a late night because Seattle, Tacoma, and airport-area hotels add driving time after the fair closes.
Fair visitors who want the shortest ride back should compare hotels around Puyallup first, then widen the search toward Tacoma if local rooms are too expensive or sold out. A Friday or Saturday overnight can be worth it if you plan to stay until 10:30 p.m.
Use the map to compare fair-area stays before the strongest dates fill:
What Time Should You Arrive For A Night Visit?
A night visit works best if you arrive at least two to three hours before the posted closing time. That means arriving by about 6:30-7:00 p.m. on 9:30 p.m. closing nights, or by about 7:30-8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday nights.
Use a later arrival only if you have one clear purpose, such as a concert, a specific food stop, or a short walk through the grounds. For rides, exhibits, animals, and dinner in one visit, an earlier arrival pays off.
- For families: Arrive by late afternoon so you are not rushing meals, rides, and exits with tired kids.
- For date night: Friday or Saturday gives the most relaxed schedule because of the 10:30 p.m. close.
- For a concert night: Build the visit around the event time, then use fair hours for food and walking before or after.
- For the final Sunday: Treat 9:30 p.m. as the hard planning edge, since Sept. 27 is the last posted fair day.
Your Closing-Time Plan
Use the closing schedule to pick the day first, then buy the ticket that matches the visit. Choose Friday or Saturday if you want the latest close, choose Sunday for an earlier start, and avoid Tuesdays plus Wednesday, Sept. 9.
- For the latest night: Go Friday or Saturday, when the fair closes at 10:30 p.m.
- For a normal evening: Go Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, or Sunday, when the fair closes at 9:30 p.m.
- For the final day: Go Sunday, Sept. 27, 2026, and plan around the 9:30 p.m. close.
- For tickets: Use general admission for the grounds, and check separate listings for concerts, rodeo, parking, or reserved events.
- For fewer timing headaches: Arrive two to three hours before closing, earlier if rides or exhibits matter.
The simple answer is that the Washington State Fair closes at 9:30 p.m. most nights, 10:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays, and 9:30 p.m. on its final 2026 day, Sunday, Sept. 27.
References & Sources
- Washington State Fair Event Center.“Washington State Fair 2026 Dates & Times.”Lists the official 2026 Washington State Fair operating dates, closed days, and daily closing times.