The bright lights and thrilling rides of the Stevens County Fair midway will once again be powered by Family Fun Shows, returning as the official carnival provider for this year’s fair.
The carnival opens Thursday afternoon at 4 p.m., with Wristband Night scheduled from 6 to 10 p.m. Thursday evening. Wristbands will be available for purchase at the carnival ticket booth that night.
Where the Carnival officially doesn’t open until Thursday at 4:00pm you will see the carnival rides operating on Wednesday night but that is for a paid private event that rents space and the carnival for the night from the fair. This event is only a couple of hours, and the extra event helps keep ticket prices affordable for everyone. You are still more than welcome to enjoy all the other events at the fair that night as the grounds are open to everyone that night with all food vendors, commercial exhibits, grandstand and entertainment is in full swing. You just will not be able to use carnival ride tickets that night.
Family Fun Shows, based out of Mankato, Minn., has been a longtime partner of the Stevens County Fair, bringing rides and family entertainment to the community for more than 35 years. Fair officials say the longevity of the partnership speaks to the reliability and quality the company delivers year after year.
“The long-standing relationship the fair and Family Fun Shows Carnival have means we know they will show up and bring at least so many rides,” said Ryan Sleiter, President of the Fair Board. “There are only a couple carnivals we would even think about, but some have been known to split rides between fairs on the same weekend giving less rides to a location in a given year, along with the price per ride is much higher than what our fairgoers currently pay.”
One feature that sets Family Fun Shows apart is its straightforward ticket system. While many carnivals require multiple tickets per ride, every ride with Family Fun Shows costs just one ticket — regardless of the ride or the rider’s age. We are told we may see a couple of the rides you have asked for again show up, but we will not know that until the arrival of the carnival.
“If you have 10 tickets, you have 10 rides,” fair officials emphasized.
When comparing costs, the Stevens County Fair remains one of the best values around. As this goes to print, there are no plans to raise Carnival Ticket Prices in 2026. Advance tickets are sold in strips of 10 for $25, making rides as low as $2.50 each. Unlike many other carnivals, individual rides can cost upwards of $6 per ride or more with multi tickets needed per ride but not here at the Stevens County Fair.
“When the Fair Board looks at what the consumer spends on tickets, we know you’ll get the most bang for your buck at the Stevens County Fair even if you don’t buy advance tickets” Sleiter said.
The fair currently holds a two-year contract with Family Fun Shows. While future partnerships are always evaluated, officials say their commitment remains the same. “Who knows what the future holds, but we will always bring you a clean, quality and affordable carnival the best we can,” Sleiter said.
Advance Tickets Offer the Best Deal
Fair officials strongly encourage families to purchase advance ride tickets. You know how many rides your kids will be able to go on with the one ticket per ride.
Advance tickets can also be used on Wristband Night. Fair board members note that children would need to ride at least 11 rides on Wristband Night to make the wristband a better value than using advance tickets. “Do the math and how many rides will your kids use in the 4 hours during wrist band night” say Steve Storck Vice President of the fair.
If you purchase more advance tickets than you use this year, don’t worry — they can be saved and used in 2027 or redeemed at any other of the locations where Family Fun Shows operate.
Advance ride tickets will go on sale shortly after July 4 in stores. They will be available at all area banks, Willie’s and Unger’s in Morris, as well as locations in Hancock and Chokio. Tickets may also be purchased online at stevenscountyfair.org. Online purchases will be held at the information booth at the fair for pickup in person.
All advance carnival ticket sales end prior to the carnival’s opening on Thursday, and tickets are collected from local vendors late Wednesday. With affordable pricing, reliable rides, and a long-standing community partnership, the Stevens County Fair says Family Fun Shows Carnival continues to deliver family fun at a price that keeps fairgoers coming back year after year.
