How to enjoy the Big Fresno Fair on a budget

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- The Big Fresno Fair is in full swing and it can easily burn a hole in your wallet. The food, the rides, the parking - it all adds up but there are ways to save.

At the fair, the buck can literally stop at the gates.

"Once you get into the fairgrounds, we have hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of activities that are completely free." Laurie King with the fair said.

Among the top things to do, there are pirate ships to explore, interactive exhibits and giant bridges to cross. It's enough to keep kids busy all day.

"New exhibits are Discover The Bayou, The Creature Feature," King said. "We also have our Table Mountain Rancheria Park area"

That's where we found Veronica Diaz, her husband and their four girls.

"It was free, so that's a plus," she exclaimed.

Let's face it, the food is what most of us love about the fair and it's hard to avoid but if you can, there's money to be saved. There's also plenty entertainment to keep your mind off your tummy, like roaming entertainers and six different stages around the fairgrounds. On this day, most of the adults opted to watch the horse races -- which is free, on the bottom floor.

Back at the gate, the ticket prices can stack up on top the cost of parking. But there are few days coming up with discount prices. On Monday, senior citizens get in for free. Tuesday is $2 Tuesday, you can get a coupon for that at any Les Schwab Tire Center and on Wednesday kids under 12 get in free all day and carnival rides are $2 each.

In the end, the fair will cost money but Diaz said it's worth every cent.

"The time, the smiles," she said. "They're having a good time, that's what counts."