The State Fair of Louisiana opens its 120th run at the Louisiana State Fairgrounds in Shreveport on Thursday, October 29, and closes Sunday, November 15. Across those 18 days the gate is open 14 times, and almost no two of them work the same way. On some afternoons you get in free. Some days have a cheaper ride wristband, and one Saturday knocks children's admission down to $5. The final Sunday is built around a parade.
The headline attraction is the same every night. Everything around it shifts with the calendar, so choosing a day decides your price, your crowd and much of what you'll see.
The Ferris Wheel That Came From the National Mall
The new thing this year is a 110-foot Freedom 250 Ferris Wheel. KTBS reported that the wheel is owned and operated by Talley Amusements. It spent 16 days on the National Mall near the U.S. Capitol, the Washington Monument and the Smithsonian museums for the Great American State Fair, part of the nation's 250th birthday celebration, and it comes to Shreveport straight from there. Talley Amusements is also back as the fair's carnival operator.
The fair is marking America's 250th with its ticketing as well. Only 250 Fair Fan Passes are for sale, at $75 for adults and $50 for children, and each one covers unlimited entry for the whole run. At the weekend adult gate price of $17, the adult pass pays for itself on the fifth weekend visit. On weekday prices it takes about eight visits. It suits households that will drop in again and again more than families planning one big night.
The free stage and grounds lineup doesn't change by day either. The fair's attractions page lists Hollywood Racing Pigs, Circus Hollywood, Kenya Safari Acrobats, Thrill America, Dallas the Fire Guy, the State Fair Zoo, Wild About Animals, the Belmont World of Magic Show and The Fastest and the Furriest. Concerts are still unknown. As of mid-October, the fair's live music page says artists are still being booked.
Weekday Afternoons Cost Nothing at the Gate
The fair is closed every Monday and Tuesday. It's open 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. Admission is free until 3 p.m. on these days:
- Thursday, October 29, opening day
- Friday, October 30
- Wednesday, November 4, through Friday, November 6
- Wednesday, November 11, through Friday, November 13
After 3 p.m. on a Wednesday or Thursday, admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 3 to 12. From Friday through Sunday it rises to $17 and $10. Friday is the day that changes most. It's free until 3 p.m., then it switches to weekend pricing for the evening.
Presale tickets run through October 28: $11.50 for adults and $9.25 for children. Presale is also the only way to buy the POP, which combines admission with unlimited rides for $43.75. During the fair, ride wristbands cost $38 at the carnival kiosks, admission not included, and some rides call for extra credits or have height requirements. Presale adult tickets cost less than the weekend gate and more than the weekday gate, so they only save money if you're going on a weekend.
Halloween Lands on Rodeo Weekend
Opening weekend is the most crowded part of the calendar, and the first Saturday is October 31.
That morning the fair runs the Midway Candy Crawl from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Concessionaires around the fairgrounds hand out candy, Outback Steakhouse sponsors free bags, costumes are encouraged, and children get in for $5 during the event. That's half the usual $10 weekend child price, on what would otherwise be one of the most expensive days to bring kids.
The same weekend, October 30 through November 1, is the LRCA Finals Rodeo. This year it adds two new VIP experiences, Denim & Dust and Boots & Buckles. Glitz & Grit returns for its second year, now open to all ages and capped at 100 guests.
Boots & Buckles runs 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, November 1. The $47.50 ticket includes fair admission, rodeo admission, a catered meal and live music. Each ticket also helps fund something the fair hasn't done in its first 119 years, the inaugural State Fair Educational Scholarship.
The scholarship gives two $1,000 awards to graduating seniors in Region 5. Applicants need at least a 3.0 GPA and plans for postsecondary study, and they must complete 10 volunteer hours at the 2026 fair. The application asks for a transcript, proof of residency, an essay, two recommendations, a list of activities and service, and education and career plans. It's due October 26, 2026, which is two weeks from today and three days before the gates open. The fair's scholarship page has the full requirements.
What One Family Outing Costs, Day by Day
The table below uses the fair's published 2026 prices for two adults and two children ages 3 to 12, gate admission only.
| When you arrive | Adult gate | Child gate | Gate total for four |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday–Friday before 3 p.m. | Free | Free | $0 |
| Wednesday or Thursday after 3 p.m. | $10 | $5 | $30 |
| Family Day after 3 p.m., Nov. 5 or 12 | $10 | Free with paid adult | $20 |
| Candy Crawl, Oct. 31, 11 a.m.–2 p.m. | $17 | $5 | $44 |
| Friday after 3 p.m., Saturday or Sunday | $17 | $10 | $54 |
| Presale, through Oct. 28 | $11.50 | $9.25 | $41.50 |
Rides cost extra on every row. The two Family Days, Thursdays November 5 and 12, are where both costs come down at once. Entry is free until 3 p.m., children get in free after 3 p.m. with a paid adult, and a separate unlimited-ride wristband sells for $28 on those two dates only. That's $10 less than the regular $38 kiosk wristband.
The Final Weekend Ends With a Parade
The last weekend has two dedicated days. Saturday, November 14, is Latino Day. Sunday, November 15, the final day of the fair, is Veterans & Military Appreciation Day.
The Veterans Celebration Committee presents the Annual Veterans Parade at the fairgrounds at 2 p.m. that Sunday. Veterans and their families get in free with military ID. For a Barksdale household, or anyone in Shreveport-Bossier with a veteran in the family, the closing Sunday may be the cheapest weekend day of the run, depending on what ID the family carries.
Plan for the final night to end early. The hours page lists a 9 p.m. close on November 15, the fair's general rule closes gates and ticket sales 30 minutes before closing, and the listing for that night shows a 9:30 p.m. gate time, which doesn't match. If you want to be safe, get inside by 8:30 p.m.
Food Is the One Thing Nobody Has Announced
The fair hasn't published a 2026 vendor list. The most recent detailed food coverage is from last year. In 2025, the Shreveport-Bossier Advocate's fair food guide covered Nitro Hog BBQ's mac-n-cheese, Porky's Korean hot dogs, Swaine's Pizza on a Stick pickle pizza, Grandma Herzberg's pretzels and Pollywog's Cajun Persuasion swamp fries with shrimp. The same guide named Alan McKinney Food Services corn dogs, Be a Tim Elephant elephant ears, The Nut Shack, Silver Dollar Concessions cinnamon rolls, Concessions Unlimited fried Oreos and Quality Concessions Wisconsin cheese. None of them is confirmed for 2026. The fair's FAQ says most independent vendors take both cash and cards.
The Rules at the Gate
Whatever day you pick, the entry rules are the same, and most of them carry over from earlier years.
- Bags: Clear bags up to 12 by 6 by 12 inches, a one-gallon clear bag, or one non-clear clutch up to 4.5 by 6.5 inches. Clutches are checked against a sizing container. Medical bags are subject to inspection, diaper bags are allowed when an infant or young child is along, and family or dietary bags may be permitted as an exception.
- Minors after 6 p.m.: Anyone under 18 needs a parent, guardian or chaperone age 21 or older, with no more than six minors per adult and photo ID required. Organized, ticketed group outings are exempt. KSLA described the same policy in October 2025, so it isn't new this year.
- Parking: Free.
- Last entry: Gates and ticket sales close 30 minutes before the fair closes each night.
Full schedules for each special day are on the fair's special event days page.
Whether your family picks a free weekday afternoon, the Halloween candy crawl or the veterans parade on the last Sunday, enjoy the fair. If you're planning a move around a Barksdale assignment or just want to talk through which part of the area suits your needs, Sage Easter is happy to help. Let's Connect.
This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Consult a qualified professional about your situation.
