Arizona State Fair: Fun with rides, food and animals
The Arizona State Fair has been in operation since 1884. It celebrated 140 years in 2024. Here’s what you should know.
- The Format will play a sold-out reunion show at the Arizona State Fair on September 27, 2025.
- This marks the band’s first full performance since 2007, following a previously canceled reunion tour in 2022.
- The concert is part of the 2025 Arizona State Fair Coliseum Concert Series in Phoenix.
The Format will return to active duty at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix with a sold-out performance as part of the 2025 Arizona State Fair Coliseum Concert Series on Saturday, Sept. 27.
The coliseum concert marks The Format’s first full-band performance since 2007, although Sam Means and Nate Ruess did surprise fans at a 2020 viewing party for a Format concert film in downtown Phoenix with a full unplugged reunion concert.
A day after that performance at Means’ warehouse, Hello Merch, it was announced that they were doing full-band shows in Phoenix, New York City and Chicago, all which which sold out and led to more shows being added in each market.
Then COVID-19 forced them to reschedule several times before finally pulling the plug on their reunion plans, citing “continued uncertainty” in early 2022.
The sold-out State Fair concert is the first of three full-band performances they announced this summer, including sold-out dates at New York City’s Beacon Theatre and Hollywood Forever Cemetery in Los Angeles.
In an exclusive interview with the Arizona Republic when this year’s concerts were announced, Means talked about the cancelation of their last reunion tour and coming back around to the idea.
“It was a little … I don’t know if traumatizing is the right word,” he said. “But getting really ramped up and excited about stuff in 2020, only to have that sort of fizzle out the way it did was a bummer. So it took a minute to get back in that headspace. Or I guess, like, five years.”
Here’s everything you need to know before you go to Veterans Coliseum for The Format at the Arizona State Fair.
Can I still buy tickets to The Format at the Arizona State Fair?
Yes. It’s 2025. There’s always someone selling tickets to a sold-out concert.
There are several online ticket brokers hawking resale tickets, some at very reasonable prices. We suggest you poke around a bit and find a good deal, which will depend on when you try to find a ticket.
Arizona State Fair 2025 location
The Arizona State Fair is at 1826 W. McDowell Road, Phoenix.
Who’s opening for The Format at the Arizona State Fair?
The coliseum gig is a festival-style event with an outdoor Wallace & Ladmo Stage curated by Means and Ruess with intimate, stripped-down performances by locals Sydney Sprague, Astrologer and JPW & Dad Weed.
What time do gates open at the Arizona State Fair?
Gates open at 5 p.m.
Doors to Veterans Memorial Coliseum open at 6:30 p.m.
What time does the music start for the Format at the State Fair?
The music begins at 5:20 p.m. with Astrologer on the Wallace & Ladmo Stage.
The Format concert inside Veterans Memorial Coliseum starts at 7:30 p.m.
Set times for The Format concert at the Arizona State Fair
5:20 p.m. Astrologer on the Wallace & Ladmo Stage.
6 p.m. JPW & Dad Weed on the Wallace & Ladmo Stage.
7:30 p.m. The Format in Veterans Memorial Coliseum.
9:20: Sydney Sprague on the Wallace & Ladmo Stage.
The Format merch pop-up shop
Hello Merch and Hello Lincoln will host a special two-day pop-up shop ahead of the Phoenix show from 2-7 p.m. Thursday and Friday, Sept. 25-26, at 850 W. Lincoln St. in Phoenix with early access to new show merch and limited-edition Phoenix exclusives.
Friday’s pop-up shop will have live T-shirt airbrushing.
Zia Records will be on-site with The Format vinyl.
There will raffles and games for test pressings, rarities and other prizes.
Arizona State Fair 2025 parking
The State Fair offers two official parking lots (North and West) for guests that open two hours prior to gate admission:
- North Lot: $15; enter off 19th Avenue and Monte Vista or Encanto.
- West Lot: $15; between 19th and 20th Avenues, enter off Encanto.
The Arizona State Fair also offers a free park and ride shuttle option for those who are able to park at the Phoenix College. The shuttle runs every 20 minutes from 5-9:40 p.m. on Fridays, noon-8:40 p.m. on Saturday and Sundays, and the final shuttle back to Phoenix College leaves the Fairgrounds at 11 p.m. every night.
Taking rideshare to the Arizona State Fair?
Pickup and dropoff for rideshare is located in the north coliseum parking lot. Enter off Monte Vista and 19th Avenue.
Arizona State Fair bag policy
Yes, you can bring bags into the Arizona State Fair but you’re encouraged to bring a clear one for faster entry.
Upon entry, all bags, backpacks and diaper bags will be subject to inspection and guests will be required to go through a metal detector and could be subject to pat-down searches or magnetic wand searches.
Items not permitted at the Arizona State Fair
The following items are not permitted at the Arizona State Fair:
- outside food and drink
- firearms and/or ammunition
- pepper spray or mace
- any kind of taser or stun device, knives and anything else that could be considered a weapon
- illegal substances
- marijuana
- alcohol
- glass bottles
- laser pointers
- selfie sticks and tripods
- sharpies
- coolers
- stickers
- drones
Surrendered items will not be returned.
Can I bring water to the Arizona State Fair?
Empty water bottles/containers are permitted, and free refillable water stations are provided throughout the Fairgrounds. ONE (1) factory-sealed bottle of water is permitted.
What are the Arizona State Fair dates?
The 2025 Arizona State Fair opens on Friday, Sept. 19, and runs Thursdays-Sundays through Sunday, Oct. 28.
Complete Arizona State Fair 2025 Coliseum Concert Series lineup
These are the artists headlining the Coliseum Concert Series at the Arizona State Fair.
- Saturday, Sept. 27: The Format
- Friday, Oct. 3: AJR
- Friday, Oct. 10: REIK
- Friday, Oct. 17: Mastodon
- Saturday, Oct. 18: Brett Eldredge
- Friday, Oct. 24: 2 Chainz
- Saturday, Oct. 25: The Cult
Arizona State Fair hours
- Thursday and Sunday: Gates open at 5 p.m. (Last entry at 9 p.m.)
- Friday and Saturday: Gates open at 5 p.m. (Last entry at 10 p.m.)
Arizona State Fair Lost & Found
Missing something? Lost & Found is located in the security office on the southwest corner of the Coliseum.
Ed has covered pop music for The Republic since 2007, reviewing festivals and concerts, interviewing legends, covering the local scene and more. He did the same in Pittsburgh for more than a decade. Follow him on X and Instagram @edmasley and on Facebook as Ed Masley. Email him at ed.masley@arizonarepublic.com.