PALMETTO — Manatee County Fair lovers can purchase deeply discounted tickets and wristbands during a four-day sale beginning Black Friday, Nov. 29.
During this weekend's Black Friday sale event, an adult ticket and wristband combo can be purchased for $25, a $10 savings. Tickets can be purchased online at www.manateecountyfair.com.
The sale ends at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 2. The weekend sale event is also the only opportunity to purchase midway wristbands online.
From Dec. 3 through Jan. 15, visitors will be able to purchase adult admission tickets for $8 apiece or children’s tickets (12 and under) for $6 apiece. Online adult admission tickets during the Fair dates (Jan. 16-26) online or in person at the gate will be $10 for adults and $6 for children.
Regular daily admission and parking prices are unchanged from recent years with adults 13 and older, $10; active duty military, $6; children ages 6-12, $6. Children 5 and under are admitted free.
Parking near the Fair is available in several locations for $10.
The 11-day fair begins Thursday, Jan. 16 when gates open at 5 p.m. Daily hours are listed on the Fair’s website. This year’s Fair theme is “Keeping Agriculture Alive in 2025.” The Manatee County’s Distinguished Citizen of the Year will be announced on Jan. 9.
The online sale celebrates the new partnership between the Manatee River Fair
Association Inc. and the James E. Strates Shows, one of North America’s leading outdoor amusement providers. Strates Shows will serve as the carnival midway provider for the Manatee County Fair in 2025.
“We look forward to partnering with the Strates Shows in providing a new midway
experience for our guests,” said Danny Alfonso, Manatee County Fair CEO-Fair Manager. “The Strates family are highly respected in our industry, not only for their deep generational history but more importantly for their excellence in professionalism as they truly partner with each fair, to provide a unique, safe and exciting experience for their guests.”
The carnival midway at the Manatee County Fair will feature a collection of state-of-the-art carnival rides, games, and concessions. The lineup includes a dedicated Kiddieland for young children, along with midway favorites such as the “Claw,” “Dream Wheel,” and “Sky Flyer.”
“Being part of the Manatee County Fair is an honor as the Fair celebrates and highlights the community’s rich agricultural traditions, diverse talents, and cultural heritage,” said John Strates, a third-generation carnival owner and Director of Operations. “Strates Shows is dedicated to providing a safe and exciting carnival midway experience, where families can relax, have fun, and create treasured memories to last a lifetime.”
For over a century, James E. Strates Shows has been a trusted name in the world of carnival midways, bringing world-class entertainment to fairs and festivals across the Eastern Seaboard.
Each year more than 100,000 people attend the County Fair making it one of Manatee County’s most popular annual events. The 2025 Fair features daily livestock shows with students competing from around Manatee County. There will also be fun activities for families of all ages including a petting zoo, a one-man band and a one-man circus, live wrestling, blacksmith demonstrations, a magician, Jurassic Kingdom dinosaur show, Barnyard Cackle Review, Pirate Man Dan, Les McDowell and more.
Fans will also love the main stage entertainment lineup:
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