Manatee County Fairgrounds — Local services in Palmetto

Parking ($5) and adult admission ($10) was affordable. Lots of rides to choose from, go early in the day to avoid lines. Lots of animals in thr livestock areas, and different kinds of food choices. Decent little fair. Buy the $25 unlimited ride wristband if you want to ride more than 5 rides.

But - Several of the rides didn't work correctly, specifically ones that the rider should have been able to have some control over (the ones that you could pull the handle to go up and down, or turn the center wheel to make the car spin). Who wants to pay just go around in a slow circle? The riders looked frustrated and bored. They should have had signs explaining the problem, and charged much less tickets for them.

I also don't recommend staying after dark. The crowd got a little sketchy, the lines got long, and it became a consistent problem with people cutting in line, shoving past younger kids, and just being a little intimidating in general. Too many people for the security to manage, if someone got out of control, I felt like. (Visited 11/20/25, Fair Day for the schools)

Still, I enjoyed the visit, the price was good, and would go again. ...

Confederate Railroad is ROCKIN' the fairgrounds tonight! If you're not here, you're missing out! They just started at 7:30p.

The Manatee County Fair is not what it used to be, now even more so after Covid. Way back they used to have known bands in concert almost every night. Nowthey have one. Tonight. So, really, if you're not here...

The food trucks this year are not near as many, and they aren't in their usual places, though if they were in a building before, they still are.

The exhibits are getting smaller every year. People don't seem to want to turn art in for judging at the fair.

The vendors building is all messed up and way smaller...social distancing and all. Such a shame.

For those of you wondering, masks are NOT required. Hand sanitizer is abundant, where I saw.

Even if you don't come tonight, come to the Fair. We gotta make sure they break even at the very least, make a profit if possible. Do...

Took my son last year he was 3 at the time, and taking him again this year. Even through Covid it was the perfect size not to much not to little. Enough for him to keep busy. It was so cute! And the robot! He was the coolest.

Update: This year was just as nice, we went early on a Saturday due to rain Sunday. He had just as good as a time this year. We unfortunately missed the robot but that’s ok.

2nd update: It’s 2023! We went again! 3rd year in a row! It was freezing! But we all had just as much fun! We even got to watch wrestlers, despite the freezing weather (which we love) we had another...