Your guide to a kid-friendly city

The lure of cotton candy, farm animals, carnival games and thrilling rides were enough to get my little crew excited for a trip to the 2022 Spring Fair. There were so many kid-friendly activities at the Spring Fair, it was hard not to have fun!

This was our first time making the drive to Puyallup (it’s about 45 minutes from Seattle) and it did not disappoint. From the parking lot, you can smell the delicious, fried aromas of fair food and hear the joyous giggles of children as they whiz and spin through the air on various colorful rides. From the moment we stepped out of the car, we were smiling ear-to-ear.

The 2022 Spring Fair is open from April 14 – 16 and April 21 – 24, but will be closed Easter Sunday, April 17. Parking

From the freeway, easily follow signs to parking areas. We parked in the Blue Parking Lot on Meridian St. S., but there is a Green Parking Lot that leads visitors to an entrance closest to SillyVille. For me, a mother towing two toddlers in a wagon, I wish I would have parked there.

Speaking of wagon. We highly recommend a stroller or wagon for your trip. We almost didn’t pack ours (lesson learned!). The fair grounds are expansive (Washington State Fair Events Center comprises more than 169 acres), so anticipate little ones getting tuckered out. I think a few meltdowns were avoided by having toddler sized transportation at hand.

Don’t worry about stroller or wagon parking. There are lots of places by major attractions that have designated “stroller parking.” Crowds

We expected large crowds and long lines, but on a Thursday, it wasn’t too bad. I imagine the weekends will attract more people, so if you’re hoping to avoid the crowds, a weekday could be a better fit for your family. On Thursdays, kids get in free! We just so happened to luck out.

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My kiddos loved SillyVille! With so many kid-friendly activities to do, thoughtfully created for little fair goers, we spent most of our day in and around SillyVille at the Spring Fair– riding rides for children at least 32 inches tall, visiting the farm and taking turns on the tractors.

Whatever delights your toddler, you’re likely to find a ride that will bring them joy. Trains, fire trucks, spaceships, bears – they have it all! You literally won’t be able to miss the giant slide. Get ready to spin, slide and say “choo, choo” in SillyVille.

Face painting is free for kids, but you’ll probably have to wait in a bit of a line. It was a popular attraction when we were there. You’ll see lots of kiddos adorning unicorns and trains on their cheeks. We skipped the lines at SillyVille and paid for face painting at another booth near the main gate.

If you’re tiny tike doesn’t quite meet the height requirements for the rides at SillyVille, The Farm located as you exit the train station to your right and is a great stop. The Farm is an adorable hands-on experience that allows kids to be a farmer for a day.

When you enter, your kiddo will receive a lunch box. Make your way through the interactive stations and learn about Washington’s food and farming industry. You’ll meet a cow named Mabel and even have the chance to drive a combine. My kiddos loved collecting fruit at the different stations. When you turn in your lunchbox, you get a prize (Shhhh…don’t tell your kiddo, but it’s fruit leather). On the farm there is also a playground, so it’s a great place to spend some extra time. The Fair Farm

After the farm, you can ride tractor trikes (helmets are provided) or make your way to the fair farm. If your children love farm animals as much as mine do, you’ll spend a lot of time there too. Walk up and down rows of cuddly farm creatures and get hands on at the petting zoo. Kiddos get to pet bunnies, goats, llamas and even chicks! Don’t forget to wash your hands.

Even more to see: KidsZone

After you’ve explored all that SillyVille has to offer, don’t fret, there are more fun attractions to explore!

KidsZone is another great area for little ones. Located in the Pavilion, it’s an entire building dedicated to kids. The exhibits in the KidsZone will change depending on the week, and so why not go twice?

April 14 – 16, kids can be master gardener’s and plant their own seeds. April 21 – 24, LEGO and STEM-based activities will have your little builders enthralled.

For more animal fun, head over to the Expo Hall. The exhibit features an exciting show that teaches all about critters who call the jungle their home. We missed out on this one, but it sounds like a fun show! If you’re looking for more activities or rides, don’t forget to take a turn on the antique carousel. It’s been a staple of the fair since 1923! Located by the Gold Gate, it was my children’s favorite ride of the day. For older kiddos

If you’re looking for rides geared toward older kids, you’re likely to spend a lot of time in ThrillVille. It’s aptly named. The rides are high-flying and tummy flipping. For a ride not for the faint of heart, Extreme Scream will get your heart racing. The tower launches riders 20-stories up before plummeting back down.

Rides and games require tickets (each ride requires between approximately 9-13 tickets). Tickets are valid on any ThrillVille or SillyVille ride or game. For ticket bundles and discounts, visit the website.

Other exhibits and attractions include a selfie experience. The immersive exhibit requires two things – a phone and smiling faces. Find the pink dots located on the floor throughout the space for optimal Insta-worthy photos. The incredible art exhibits are really interesting. They feature unicorns, popular television and pop-culture references and larger than life food. I was honestly surprised by how much my kids enjoyed the experience. Monster Truck Show

Want an experience a little more full throttling? The Monster Truck Show, produced by Malicious Monster Truck Tour, is likely to be a hit for monster-truck enthusiasts or little ones who like roaring engines. Check dates and times before you go! Tickets can be purchased online.

You honestly can’t go wrong with any of the mouth-watering booths at the fair. There is a food for any palate. Ice cream, donuts, french fries, burgers, tacos, BBQ, the list goes on. We really enjoyed the funnel cake and Extreme Fries. You can find most anything, fried, dipped, drenched or roasted at the fair. Here is a list of all the tasting offerings at the Spring Fair.

Step up and win a prize! Walking through the rows of vendors and exhibits, you can’t miss the giant hanging stuffed animals dangling from the game stalls. To play the fair games, you’ll need to buy tickets. Ride and game tickets can be bought in bulk for larger savings. We got a pass for six rides or games and needed to go back for more.

My kids loved the water gun games. They expertly aimed their water guns at the red target and watched as their ducks took off toward the winning bell. We took home a rainbow-colored stuffed llama we named Rainby. If you don’t have the quickest water gun in the Pacific Northwest, don’t get too down. There are lots of places to purchase stuffed animals and inflatable characters. Know before you go! Washington State Spring Fair: Location: Washington State Fair Events Center:110 9th Ave SW Puyallup, WA 98371 Cost of the Spring Fair 2022: Buy tickets online at a slightly reduced price and save time at the gate. If you purchase tickets at the admission booths, add a dollar to the ticket price below. Thursdays and Fridays, general admission tickets are $12. Children ages 6-12 are $10. Kids 5 and under are free. Weekends, general admission tickets are $14. Children ages 6-12 are $11. Kids 5 and under are free. Free admission is available on select days: Friday, April 15 is Military Appreciation Day. Free admission for all active, reserve, and retired military and National Guard and their dependents, plus disabled veterans. Be sure to bring a valid military ID at any Fair gate. On Thursday, April 21, kids ages 0-18 get free admission. Parking: Free on Thursdays, April 14 and 21. Friday – Sunday, parking is $12. Hours: Thursday, April 14: 2 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Thursday, April 21 2 p.m. – 10 p.m., Friday April 22 and Saturday April 23 10 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday, April 24 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Want more fun things to do? Check out all our ideas here.

Kathryn Mueller is a mama of three toddlers and calls Shoreline home. When she's not wrangling her little ones, she's a writer, winery owner and outdoor enthusiast. She enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest with her little ones in tow and can usually be found with a coffee in hand.

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