Colorado State Fair Goes Cashless

For anyone who’s planning to attend Colorado’s State Fair later this summer, here’s a piece of news that will come in handy. The Colorado State Fair is going cashless.

Over the weekend, The Pueblo Chieftain reported fair board members had voted earlier this year to adopt a system requiring fairgoers to pay food and beer vendors using smart cards. Fair general manager Chris Wiseman says Crabtree Amusements, which runs the carnival rides, also will use the system.

Customers will be charged $1 to activate a smart card, which can be used for up to five years.

The fair runs August 23 through September 2. Any smart card balance of more than $50 can be reimbursed in the first two weeks after the fair ends. Any amounts below $5 also will be refunded, or fairgoers could donate the unused balance to the Colorado State Fair Foundation.