State Fair Packing List for Families

What should the family pack list start with?

Begin with the essentials: tickets or confirmations, phones, a charger, cards or cash, medications and any health information. Then add comfort items and kid supplies.

Check the fair's rules on bags, strollers, wagons and outside food before you pack, since policies differ.

Pack a spare phone battery and keep your phone's brightness low to save power. Divide the pack by person so a single lost bag does not leave you without essentials. Give older children their own water and sunscreen.

• Tickets, phones, charger
• Medication and health information
• Cash and cards

What helps keep everyone comfortable?

Sun hats, sunglasses, sunscreen as your healthcare provider advises, light rain layers and spare socks. Pack a sweater for evening. Bring a small towel or wipes. Dress children in bright colors that stand out in crowds.

Water bottles for everyone are a must. Look up refill stations on the map when you arrive.

Pack for the weather you expect and one step beyond: an extra layer and a rain cover cost little to carry. Give each adult a short list of what they carry, so you know where the first-aid items, snacks and spare clothes are.

What do you bring for babies and toddlers?

Diapers, wipes, a changing pad, spare clothes, bottles or food, a comfort item and a blanket. Check where family and nursing rooms are located. A carrier or stroller may help, subject to the organizer's rules.

Keep supplies in one bag you can reach without unpacking everything.

Pack more diapers and wipes than you think you will need, since delays happen. A lightweight foldable stroller shade or a clip-on fan, if allowed, can make a baby more comfortable in warm weather. A lightweight muslin cloth works as a sunshade, a nursing cover and a mop-up towel, and packs down small.

What snacks and meals work?

If outside food is allowed, pack items that stay safe in heat and are easy to eat, such as fruit, crackers and sandwiches kept cool, following guidance from food safety agencies. If outside food is not allowed, plan meal stops in the food area.

Consider allergies and ask vendors about ingredients. Carry any emergency medication your family needs.

Wash hands before you eat, particularly after animals, and keep food away from animal areas. Bring a trash bag for wrappers and a few wet wipes for sticky hands, since food stands and rides leave a mess behind.

What safety items are worth including?

A family plan matters more than any gadget. Write phone numbers on wristbands or cards for young children. Agree on a meeting place. Know where first aid and guest services are.

A few adhesive bandages, hand sanitizer and wipes handle small mishaps. For anything more serious, go to first-aid staff.

Show older children where to find staff and where your meeting spot is, and practice once. Take a recent photo of each child on your phone in case you need to show staff what they look like.

What keeps kids busy and calm?

Small activities, such as a notebook, a small toy or a card game, help during waits. A treat saved for later can motivate children to keep going.

Let each child carry a small bag with their own items. It gives them responsibility.

Let older kids help plan the packing list. They remember better when they helped make it. Quiet items such as a sticker book or a small puzzle help during shows when noise is not welcome.

How do you keep the pack manageable?

Pack in layers: essentials on top, extras below. Divide the load among adults and older children. Choose bags with comfortable straps and keep them as light as possible.

After the visit, note what you never used and what you wished you had. Next year's list will be better.

A short evening check at home, laying out items by person, helps prevent forgotten pieces. Bring a lightweight bag for souvenirs or prizes, so you can carry them without crowding your main pack.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the County Fair & Rodeo Guide Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.