Pensacola Interstate Fair 2023 offers nonstop fun. Here's everything you need to know.

Brandon Girod, Pensacola News Journal

Updated October 20, 2023 at 11:43 PM·6 min read

The Pensacola Interstate Fair is finally here and it pays to plan in advance to take advantage of all the entertainment, exhibits, food and rides.

The fair is the biggest in the area and a driving attraction in October, providing a huge music lineup, over 60 fun rides, fair food and a host of other family-friendly things to do.

Here’s everything we know about the Pensacola Interstate Fair so far.

What is the date for the Pensacola Interstate Fair?

The Pensacola Interstate Fair runs Oct. 19-29. The 11-day event will provide fairgoers with 11 days of various savings, various music and entertainment lineups and more.

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How much is the Pensacola Interstate Fair?

General admission for the Pensacola Interstate Fair is $14 for anyone age 12 and older, $6 for kids ages 4 to 11 and free for kids under 3.

General admission tickets get you into the fair, but you’ll need ride credits or wristbands for rides.

Get your tickets here.

How much is a wristband at the Pensacola Interstate Fair?

Anyone looking to make the most out of their fair experience will want to snag a wristband in addition to their admission ticket. Wristbands are single-use but let fairgoers on as many rides as they want for that day.

Any day ride wristbands are $30, while week day ride wristbands are $25.

Get your wristbands here.

How much is parking at the Pensacola Interstate Fair?

Pensacola Interstate Fair parking is all on-site making it a painless process. Parking tickets are $5 and can be purchased online here.

The fairgrounds has about 50 acres of paved and lighted parking, which can accommodate thousands of vehicles.

Pensacola Interstate Fair 2023 hours

Oct. 20 - 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Oct. 21 — 11 a.m. to midnight
Oct. 22 — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Oct. 23 — 4 to 11 p.m.
Oct. 24 — 4 to 11 p.m.
Oct. 25 — 4 to 11 p.m.
Oct. 26 — 2 to 11 p.m.
Oct. 27 — 4 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Oct. 28 — 11 a.m. to midnight
Oct. 29 — 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Visitors enjoy the rides at the Pensacola Interstate Fair Sunday, October 23, 2022. The 2023 fair runs Oct. 19-29, 2023.

Pensacola Interstate Fair entertainment lineup

Here’s the entertainment lineup for the 2023 Pensacola Interstate Fair:

Oct. 20 | 7:30 p.m. — Tracy Lawrence
- With more than 40 singles on the Billboard Hot Country Songs chart, expect to hear country singer Tracy Lawrence perform some of his hit songs like, “Texas Tornado,” “Sticks and Stones,” “Alibis,” “If the Good Die Young,” “Find Out Who Your Friends Are” and “Paint Me a Birmingham.”
Oct. 21 | 7:30 p.m. — Shane Proffit
- Up-and-coming country music artist Shane Profitt, with his “salt-of-the-earth” Tennessee swagger, will take the stage Saturday night to perform his hits like “Better Off Fishin’,” "Country Boys” and “How It Oughta Be.”
Oct. 22 | 6:30 p.m. — The Prettiest Cow Contest takes place at the Livestock Arena. The public is invited to attend.
Oct. 23 | 6 p.m. — Youth and FFA Steer Show
- Don’t miss the Youth and FFA Steer Show taking place in the Livestock Arena. The steer show gives pre-teens and teens the chance to showcase the steers they have raised for the past six months.
Oct. 23 | 7:30 p.m. — Alexandra Kay
- With a voice reminiscent of Dolly Parton and hundreds of millions of views of her music videos on social media, independent country music artist Alexandra Kay is bringing country music back to its roots. Expect to hear her hits “Dive Bar Dreamer,” “We Wouldn’t Be Us,” “I Kinda Don’t” and “All the Cowboys.”
Oct. 24 | 6 p.m. – Youth Steer Breeding Show and Prospect Steers
- The Youth Steer Breeding Show and Prospect Steers takes place in the Livestock Arena. The public is invited to attend.
Oct. 24 | 7:30 p.m. — Frank Foster
- Country music singer-songwriter Frank Foster – a rural Louisiana native and former oilfield man - has taken his songs from the campfire to the coliseum seemingly overnight. Expect to hear hits like “Blue Collar Boys,” “Good Ol’ Girl,” “Rowdy Reputation” and “Old Man in Me.”
Oct. 25 | 7 p.m. — FFA Livestock Auction & Charity Goat Auction
- Come out and support the 4-H Youth by bidding on a steer at the annual FFA Livestock Auction & Charity Goat Auction from the Livestock Arena. The public is invited to attend and encouraged to purchase a steer and/or goat. Around 20-30 steers will be auctioned off this year.
Oct. 25 | 7:30 p.m. — Below Alabama
- The Florida Panhandle band, Below Alabama, will take the Pepsi stage to play their country and classic rock favorites, with a surprise or two along the way. Expect to hear their hits like, “My Ex is Your Best Friend,” “How I Was Raised” and “More Than a Home.”
Oct. 26 | 3:30 and 7:30 p.m. — Rocky & The Rollers
- Rocky and the Rollers will take the stage to perform their Doo Wop N’ Rock show, bringing you hit cover songs from the ‘50s to the ‘70s.
Oct. 27 | 7:30 p.m. — White Tie Rock Ensemble (Tribute to Journey)
- Pensacola’s White Tie Rock Ensemble will present a tribute to Journey. White Tie is a local group of musicians who recreate classic rock albums with a classical approach. Expect to hear mega-hits like, “Any Way You Want It,” “Open Arms,” “Faithfully” and “Don’t Stop Believin’.”
Oct. 28 | 7:30 p.m. — Mark Chestnutt
- One of Country’s true musical treasures, honky-tonk legend Mark Chesnutt will close out the Fair’s 2023 music schedule. Expect to hear some of his chart-topping country hits like, “Bubba Shot the Jukebox,” “It Sure is Monday,” “It’s A Little Too Late” and “Goin’ Through the Big D.”

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Pensacola Interstate Fair special attractions

Here are some special attractions returning to the Pensacola Interstate Fair in addition to the live music acts:

Sea Lion Splash

When: Monday through Friday at 5 and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sundays at 1, 4 and 7 p.m.

Cirque Ma'Ceo When: Monday through Friday at 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 2, 5 and 7:30 p.m.

The Cirque Ma'Ceo features acrobatic feats, aerial dancing, exotic horses and more. The experience is inside a custom-designed Italian Big Top Theater that has state-of-the-art seating.

Also back by popular demand, fairgoers can experience an interactive, hands-on exotic animal zoo at the Eudora Farm’s “Animals from Around the World” station, as well as at the Reno’s Reptiles exhibit in Building 2. Both attractions are open daily from open to close.

Visitors take a ride on the Dragon Flyer at the Pensacola Interstate Fair Sunday, October 23, 2022. The 2023 fair runs Oct. 19-29, 2023.

How big is the Pensacola Interstate Fair?

The Pensacola Interstate Fair is the largest event of its kind held along the Gulf Coast. It features more than 60 rides, top-name entertainers, a host of entertaining and educational exhibits and your ticket to indulge on fair food — guilt-free.

The fair takes place at the Pensacola Interstate Fairgrounds, located at 6655 Mobile Highway. The grounds cover 147 acres of land. There’s over 150,000 square feet of heated and cooled indoor facilities and about 50 acres of paved and lighted general parking, making access a breeze.