Colorado State Fair manager previews expanded programming, facility upgrades for August fair

Andrea Weisenweier, general manager of the Colorado State Fair, told the Pueblo City Council on Aug. 4 that the fair will run Aug. 22–Sept. 1 and described a mix of new programming, customer-service upgrades and ongoing capital projects on the fairgrounds.

Weisenweier, who said she has been in the job about nine months, said the fair’s theme this year is “growing the tradition,” and highlighted a multiuse Sam Brown Family Pavilion planned to host livestock and horse shows as well as community events. “Our next large step is going to be the Sam Brown Family Pavilion. It is a state of the art facility designed to host livestock shows, horse shows, but also really focusing on community and and being able to host athletic tournaments,” she said.

Why it matters: the state fair draws daily visitors to downtown Pueblo for 11 days and affects neighborhood traffic, trash and city services; Weisenweier emphasized both event programming and neighbor relations, saying fair staff want to be “good neighbors” and work with the city on issues such as transit shuttles and trash pickup.

Details Weisenweier outlined include new attractions and programming for 2025: Adventureland, an Exceptional Rodeo, Sensory Day, the State Fair Foundation tournament and expanded free attractions and music across multiple stages. She said organizers had made smaller but visible improvements — new benches and picnic tables, resurfacing the kids carnival asphalt, updated air conditioning in the Palace of Agriculture, and ceiling work and other improvements at the 4-H dining hall and auditorium.

Weisenweier listed promotional days and discounts intended to broaden attendance: $5 Fridays before 5 p.m., senior days, kids day (free admission for ages 12 and under on Aug. 21 and Sept. 1), an American Heroes Day discount for veterans and first responders, and a “Toucan Tuesday” food-drive donation day on Aug. 22. She also noted the return of long-running events such as the Junior Livestock Sale and Fiesta Day, and a first-time sensory day offering quiet spaces and reduced lighting and sound for visitors who need them.

Councilors asked about neighborhood impacts and logistics. Councilor Martinez noted Pueblo Transit will run a shuttle to reduce congestion and asked whether the fair would again coordinate with the city on transit; Weisenweier said the fair plans to continue that partnership and that she would meet with transit staff next week. Martinez asked about trash mitigation in adjacent neighborhoods; Weisenweier said the fair adds dumpsters, does nightly sweeps of the grounds and deploys a team that cleans outside the gates after close.

Councilor Latino welcomed Weisenweier to Pueblo and other council members asked about printed materials; Weisenweier said printed handouts could be provided on request.

Ending: Weisenweier invited the council and the public to attend the Colorado State Fair and said the fair’s staff will continue to work with city departments to address neighborhood impacts during the event.