How to do the Puyallup Fair

More than one million people are expected to take the Puyallup Fair's invitation to "Free Your Glee" Friday through Sept. 26.

Free entertainment will include "Sinbad in Search of the Golden Pineapple" comedy high-dive shows daily and Fiestas Patrias Latin entertainment, food, vendors and kids' activities on Sept. 19. Grandstand concerts include John Legend on Sept. 14, Willie Nelson on Sept. 16, Hall and Oates on Sept. 22 and Heart on Sept. 25

Rides will be back, including the fair's renovated 1935 wooden roller coaster, Extreme Zone thrill rides, SillyVille for kids and a merry-go-round, sky ride and train.

Deals include a $25 Dizzy Pass bracelet for unlimited rides (excludes Extreme Scream) Sept. 15-16 and Sept. 20 through 23, and $2 ride, game and food specials Sept. 13 and 14. The IGX Video Game Exhibit, a new feature, offers free video-game playing for players of all levels daily.

Barns will be filled with chickens, rabbits, pigs, cows and horses, and visitors can view displays in a Home Arts exhibit, Floral building and Hobby Hall.

People Mover shuttles will provide free transportation around the fairgrounds 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays-Thursdays. Fuel- up with scones, onion burgers, cotton candy and other traditional fair treats, along with international cuisine and healthful food options. Drinks will be available in a wine bistro and beer cantina.

The fair opens with a Western Rodeo Parade on Friday. The first paying guests through the gate Saturday and Sunday get a free "Glee" wallet filled with coupons and cash prizes.

The details

Time: Fair opens Friday. Hours: 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Fridays-Saturdays, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sundays-Thursdays, through Sept. 26. Western Rodeo Parade and Cattle Drive, 10 a.m. Friday, on Meridian Street to the fairgrounds. Rodeo, 1 p.m. Friday, 1 and 6:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 p.m. Sunday, $5-$50.

Cost: $11/adults, $9/ages 6-18 and ages 62 and older. Value pack discounted admission available through Friday at Fred Meyer stores; admission ticket discounts available at Safeway stores while supplies last.

Specials include free admission with food-bank donation until noon this Friday only; Military Appreciation Days will include free admission for active, retired, reserve military and their dependents and disabled veterans with ID, Sept. 13 and 20.

Grandstand concert and rodeo admission prices vary. Parking $10/Monday-Friday, $12/Saturday-Sunday in official fair lots.

Location: Puyallup Fair and Events Center, 110 Ninth Ave. S.W., Puyallup.

Getting there: From Highway 512 in Puyallup, take the Meridian Street exit.

• From Seattle and the north, take Interstate 5 South to the Puyallup exit, Exit 142B. Turn right at the end of the exit, left at first traffic light, onto Highway 161 to Puyallup; turn right at West Main Street, left at Fifth Avenue South and follow signs to fair parking.

• From Bellevue and the Eastside, take I-405 South to Exit 2, Highway 167 south. Follow 167 to Highway 512 West, continue to the first exit, Pioneer Avenue; at the light at the end of the exit turn right, continue to 14th Street Southeast, turn right on 14th Street, right at Seventh Avenue Southeast and follow signs to fair parking.

• By bus: Pierce Transit Puyallup Fair Express daily service to the fair from downtown Tacoma, South Hill Mall, Tacoma Dome, Lakewood Sound Transit Station and other locations, $1.75/one way, up to four children free with fare-paying passenger; details, 253-581-8000 or www.piercetransit.org. Sound Transit express routes providing service to the fair, connecting to the Eastside and Seattle; details, 800-201-4900 or www.soundtransit.org.

More information: 253-841-5045 or www.thefair.com.

Madeline McKenzie: 206-464-8245 or mmckenzie@seattletimes.com