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2012 Guide To The Miami Dade County Fair & Exposition

It's that time of year when Ferris wheels, roller coasters and elephant ears take on Miami. The Miami Dade County Fair is back in town and kicks-off its 61st annual Fair on Thursday, March 15. Ranked the largest fair in the state, the 18-day festival featuring rides, live performances, fair food, and livestock and agricultural competitions attracts more than half a million visitors every year and exhibits the academic and artistic work of more than 45,000 local students.

Amenities

Over 200 acres of free public parking, over 160,000 sq. ft of air conditioned exhibit/shopping pavilions, paved walkways, convenient sitting areas, diaper changing facilities/restrooms, Lost & Found, stroller and wheelchair rental, and bilingual guest relations service.

Admission and Hours

ADMISSION AND HOURS OF OPERATION:
General admission is $10 for adults and children, free for children five years of age and younger.

It opens at noon opening day March 15th, March 16th, March 30th and on weekends. It opens at 3:00 p.m. on all other weekdays and closes at midnight every day.

RUNNING DATES:
Thursday, March 15th thru Sunday, April 1st 2012.

SPECIAL OFFERS:
Opening Day, March 15th: Everyone pays $5.00 admission.

Military Appreciation, March 16th: Active and retired military members and their immediate family receive free admission with the presentation of their military I.D. and the special Military Day coupon available at�� www.fairexpo.com.

Opening Day Festivities:

  • 10:15 a.m.: First-ever Long Skateboard Distance Race, a one mile race followed by a three mile race
  • 7 p.m.: Mixed Martial Arts World Champions, featuring special guest Cybor


TICKETS:
General Admission Ticket
Good for admission for ages 6 and over any day. Opening day promotion on this ticket.

22 Any Day Ride Coupons
Good for midway rides any day, including school field trips and weekends.

Pay*One*Price Ride Wrist Band
Good for unlimited midway rides Monday thru Friday only, NOT good on School Field Trips or Weekends.

Express Access
NEW this year, the "Express Access" gives fair goers VIP admission to rides. Each ride will have a separate line allowing pass holders to skip the regular lines.

Events

The Ultimate LIVE! Experience features hot new artists performing as part of Friday Nights ROCK!, Saturday Nights LIVE!  and SunDay FunDays A-LIVE!

Opening Night:
Thursday, March 15th at 9 p.m.: Grammy Award Winner Sie7e

Friday Nights ROCK! Schedule:
Friday, March 16th at 9 p.m.: Stars of WWE and FCW featuring RAW Superstar Jinder Mahal
Friday, March 23rd at 9 p.m.: Grammy Award Winning Christian artist, Israel Houghton & New Breed
Friday, March 30th at 9 p.m.: Electronic bands Breathe Carolina & The Ready Set

Saturday Nights LIVE! Schedule:

Saturday, March 17th at 7 p.m.: Meet & Greet with boxing champion, Yuri Gamboa
Saturday, March 17th at 9 p.m.: Frankie Ruiz Jr. in concert
Saturday, March 24th at 9 p.m.: Grammy Award winner Willy Chirino & The Celia Cruz All-Stars
Saturday, March 31st at 9 p.m.: Grammy Award winners Chino y Nancho

SunDay FunDays A-LIVE! Schedule:
Sunday, March 18th: The Cat in the Hat
Sunday, March 25th: Dinosaur Train
Sunday, April 1st: Super WHY!

Ultimate Live! Experience Packages
Make the most of LIVE! with the Ultimate LIVE! Experience. Have a meet & greet and take digital photos with the performers and enjoy VIP seating in the Ultimate Live! Area. Also included is one admission ticket to the fair, 16 ride coupons and an ULTIMATE LIVE! EXPERIENCE lanyard.

LIVE! BEFORE FIVE:
Scheduled performances for early birds include Vocal Trash, a musical act that uses everyday garbage items to create music, Show Me Pig Races, Petting Zoo and Pony Rides to get up, close and personal with barn animals, Hot Miami Ice figure skating show, and the Royal Hanneford Circus.

Directions

Location: 10901 SW 24th Street (Fairgrounds)
Miami, Fl.

  • From North (North Miami/Opa Locka) area:
  • Take the Gratigny Parkway West/SR-924
  • At Exit 1B, take ramp left for SR-826 South/ Palmetto Expressway toward Miami
  • Take ramp right and follow signs for US-41 West/ SW 8th Street/Tamiami Trail
  • Turn left onto SR-985 South/SW 107th Avenue
  • Turn right onto SW 24th Street/ Coral Way
  • Arrive at The Fair

From Broward County:

  • Take SR-842 West/ W Broward Blvd
  • Take ramp left for I-595 West toward Florida's Turnpike
  • At Exit 8, take ramp right for Florida's Turnpike/ Ronald Reagan Turnpike toward Miami
  • Keep right to stay on SR-821 South/ Florida's turnpike south/Florida's Turnpike Homestead Ext S/ Ronald Reagan Turnpike
  • At Exit 25, take ramp right and follow signs for US-41/ SW 8th Street
  • Turn right onto US-41 East/ SW 8th Street/ Tamiami Trail
  • Turn right onto SR-985 South/ SW 107th Ave
  • Turn right onto SW 24th Street/ Coral Way
  • Arrive at The Fair

From The Keys/Florida City/Homestead/Kendall etc.

  • Take SR-821 North/Florida's Turnpike North/Florida's Turnpike Homestead Ext North/Ronald Reagan Turnpike
  • At Exit 23, take ramp right toward SW 40th Street/ Bird Road
  • Bear left onto SW 117th Avenue
  • Turn right onto SW 40th Street/ Bird Road
  • At SW 112th Avenue, make a left, taking you north
  • Keep heading north until you reach The Fair

Click Here for more on the Miami-Dade County Fair.

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