The Missouri State Fair's public campgrounds will open by 9 a.m. this Thursday. The 60-acre facility is adjacent to the Fairgrounds on Clarendon Road, which makes camping a convenient and affordable way for visitors to enjoy the State Fair for multiple days.
"Our campground accommodates a variety of camping units from recreational vehicles to tents, which helps to make the 11-day State Fair an affordable family vacation," Missouri State Fair Director Mark Wolfe said.
Beginning Thursday, unreserved campsite rentals will be offered on a first-come basis at a rate of $20 per day per vehicle or tent. The campground office is located at the north campground entrance and accepts cash and major credit cards. A pedestrian underpass and admission gate are located between the campground and the fairgrounds, and campers can purchase a daily admission wristband for convenience when walking between the two areas during the Fair.
More than 1,100 sites have electrical, water and sewer hook-ups, and more than 200 are equipped with 50/30/20 amp outlets; there are no 110-volt outlets. Other amenities include three sewage-waste dump stations, restrooms, shower facilities and free Wi-Fi service, provided by I-Land Internet Services. Visit the Fair's website for more information about camping, including golf cart and ATV rules and other policies.
To help keep campers informed, the Missouri State Fair, together with the Missouri State Highway Patrol, will offer a voluntary text messaging service called Nixle. A specific list has been established for campers. To sign up or the free camping text message service, send a text from your cell phone to 888777 with the passcode MOCAMP14 in the message area. Your provider's texting rates will apply. The service will also be available to all fairgoers, to be added to this list send a text to 888777 with the passcode MOFAIR14. The lists will be automatically terminated upon the conclusion of this year's State Fair.
Nixle is being offered to help keep fairgoers updated about possible threats of inclement weather and other possible public safety concerns that could arise during the fair Aug. 7-17. This service is not intended to be a primary source of weather warnings as cell phone service can be unpredictable. Messages are for informational purposes only and do not replace other warnings or directives in an emergency situation.
The 112th Missouri State Fair, themed "Harvest the Fun," will be held Aug. 7-17 in Sedalia. For more information about camping and events planned for this year's Fair, visit www.mostatefair.com, follow the Fair on Facebook and Twitter, or call 1-800-422-FAIR (3247).