Do the Western Idaho Fair like a pro: 5 tips to avoid lines, get great concert seats

Heading to the Western Idaho Fair this week?

Prepare to wait in line — at some point.

As Bob Batista, the fair director, once told the Statesman: “When everything’s free, there’s going to be a line no matter what.”

Still, if you’re in the know, you can minimize waits. Follow the advice below for a smoother experience — especially if you’re heading to concerts by Smash Mouth and Spin Doctors (Tuesday), T.I. (Wednesday), Bush (Thursday) and Justin Moore (Friday).

1. Buy fair tickets beforehand: Grandstand concerts are free with paid fair admission. Go to idahofair.com to buy tickets. Voila! You just skipped a line. Tickets are $12 adult, $10 senior 62 and older, $9 child 6 to 11. Kids 5 and younger get in free. But be aware: In this case, it’s cheaper if you want to risk a short wait in a line. You have to pay a service fee if you purchase tickets online rather than at the gate.

2. Show up early: Concert gates open at 6 p.m. — or 90 minutes before showtime. But lines for popular performers often start materializing by early afternoon outside the ICCU Grandstand. Also, the closer it gets to show time, the busier the parking lot gets. (Parking is free, by the way.) “It’s always a good idea to come early if you want the best seats to see the shows,” Batista says.

Concerts start at 7:30 p.m. and normally last until around 9 p.m. All seats and standing areas are first-come, first-served. But remember, fans come and go all evening. “If you are a big fan, you should be here early. But if you just want to hear a few songs while you’re at the fair, then you have a little more flexibility,” Batista said.

In recent years, the fair also has created additional standing room by opening up the paddock area and widening the area by the stage. Video screens are hung on both sides of the stage for better visibility, too.

▪ Tip: The Moore and Bush shows are expected to be the most popular, “although we anticipate crowds at all the concerts this year,” Batista said.

3. Consider parking and entering on the Glenwood Street side: The parking lot and carnival gate on the north side can be a wise choice if you’re hoping to encounter smaller crowds and shorter entry lines. Why? It’s farther from the grandstand concerts.

4. Uber to the fair: The Western Idaho Fair has a ride-share line. So if you want to skip parking entirely, grab an Uber or Lyft.

5. Do NOT leave right after the concert: Unless, of course, you enjoy navigating crowds and dealing with congested parking-lot traffic. Here are a few fun time-killing ideas from fair organizers: Check out a show on one of the free stages, hop on the Sky Ride — or go devour a Pronto Pup.

This story was originally published August 21, 2023 at 12:30 PM.