Spokane County Interstate Fair
Ten days of rides, rodeo, barns and concerts every September in Spokane Valley.
The Spokane County Interstate Fair is a classic American county fair: a carnival midway, livestock barns, exhibit halls, grandstand shows, and an enormous amount of fried food. It runs for about ten days each September at the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center in Spokane Valley, and the official site lists the 2027 fair as September 10 to 19.
The grandstand is the big draw for visitors. The program has included a PRCA rodeo, truck and tractor pulls, demolition derbies and a multi-night concert series. In 2026 the headliners were Gretchen Wilson and The Band Perry, Daughtry, and Nate Smith, and new attractions that year included a butterfly exhibit, a stunt show, a pirate and parrot show and a canine circus.
If you want to see what the Inland Northwest does for fun when summer ends, this is it. It is a day for families, 4-H kids showing animals, and anyone who wants a corn dog and a Ferris wheel.
What to see and do
A PRCA rodeo, truck and tractor pulls and demolition derbies fill the grandstand through the fair. The lineup changes yearly, so check the official program.
A multi-night concert series has run at the grandstand, with shows starting at 7 p.m. in 2026. Concert tickets are separate or bundled depending on the year; check current details.
Kiddie rides open around noon daily. Other rides open at 3 p.m. on weekdays or noon on weekends, according to the fair's hours page.
Livestock barns, exhibit halls and youth competitions are the traditional heart of the fair. Walk through in the morning when the animals are most active and the crowds are lighter.
Outdoor booths and barns stay open until about 10 p.m. Pick your battles; the lines at the best stands move slowly on weekend evenings.
The 2026 theme was "Spokane's Legacy and America's Spirit," tied to the national 250th birthday. Expect a new theme each year.
Local tips
- Arrive in the morning if you want to see the barns and exhibits without a crowd. Evenings are busiest for rides and concerts.
- Buy admission tickets in advance if the fair offers them online. Pre-fair and group discounts have been available.
- Plan for parking. In 2026 it was $10 per car per day (and $5 cash on Senior Day). Check current prices for 2027.
- STA has run a fairgrounds shuttle in past years. Check Spokane Transit's site for the current year to skip the parking.
- Do not bring pets. Only legitimate service animals trained for a disability-related task are allowed, and misrepresenting a pet carries a $500 fine.
- Bring comfortable shoes, water and sunscreen. The grounds are large and mostly outdoors.
- ATMs are on the grounds, but bring some cash anyway for parking and food booths.
- Check the official schedule for the rodeo and grandstand shows before you buy tickets or plan your day.
A little history
The fair traces back to the Spokane Industrial Exposition of 1900, which grew into the Spokane Interstate Fair and ran through the 1920s. Stockholders voted to end it in 1930, thinking it had become out of date, and the fairgrounds were sold to the city.
After a few years without a fair, the Spokane Valley County Fair was incorporated in 1941, and the Interstate Fair name returned in 1945. The fair association signed a lease on the Havana Street site in 1950, and the first fair there ran in August 1952. In the 1980s and 1990s annual attendance often topped 250,000.
Have a great photo of Spokane County Interstate Fair? Share it
We'd rather show the real thing than a stock shot. Send a photo you took or have the rights to and we'll credit you on this page.
Questions visitors ask
When is the Spokane County Interstate Fair?
It runs about ten days in September. The official site lists the 2027 fair as September 10 to 19.
How much does it cost?
In 2026, adults paid $15 Monday to Thursday and $17 Friday to Sunday. Youth ages 7 to 13, seniors 65 and over and military with ID paid $12, and ages 6 and under were free. Parking was $10 per car per day. Prices may change, so check the official site.
Are the concerts included?
Concert and grandstand ticketing varies by year. Check the official site for what is bundled and what is separate.
Can I bring my dog?
No. Only legitimate service animals are allowed.
Where is the fair?
At the Spokane County Fair & Expo Center, 404 N. Havana Street, in Spokane Valley.
More annual events staples
Event · Downtown SpokaneBloomsday & HoopfestA May 12K and a June street-basketball weekend: Spokane's two biggest events.
Annual event · Downtown SpokaneSpokane Lilac Festival & Armed Forces Torchlight ParadeThe May festival that ends with the nation's largest armed forces torchlight parade.
Annual event · Browne's AdditionMAC ArtFestThree days of fine art, live music and food trucks on the museum's historic campus.