Weird Al Yankovic Packed the Washington State Fair Grandstand With Costume Changes, Polkas and Star Wars Finales During His Bigger & Weirder Tour Stop in Puyallup
PUYALLUP, WA — Thousands of fans filled the Washington State Fair Grandstand on Sept. 5 to see Grammy Award-winning parody songwriter Weird Al Yankovic during the second leg of his “Bigger & Weirder” tour. The night mixed nostalgia, comedy and live musicianship in a way that has become Yankovic’s signature.
Puddles Pity Party opened the show and quickly set the tone with original songs, cover material and frequent crowd participation. The oversized clown performer brought fans onstage for bits that included fake guitars, desserts and a “Cry Cam,” helping build momentum before Yankovic even appeared.
Puddles Pity Party warmed up the fair crowd with songs, covers and fan bits
Before Yankovic took the stage, Puddles Pity Party leaned into theatrical comedy without relying on heavy props or elaborate visuals. The 6-foot-8 performer used a deep baritone voice and a strong stage presence to keep the Grandstand engaged.
His set included originals and versions of familiar songs such as “Crazy Train,” “Always Chasing Rainbows” and “Under Pressure.” That mix gave the audience a playful opening act that fit the evening’s larger celebration of musical parody and reinvention.
The crowd involvement was part of the appeal. Fans were pulled into the act repeatedly, turning the opener into more than a warmup and making it feel like a show within the show.
Yankovic opened with Tacky before diving into a polka medley and early hits
After a short break, Yankovic came out promptly and started with “Tacky,” his take on Pharrell Williams’ 2013 hit “Happy.” From there, the set moved into one of his calling cards: a polka medley built from popular songs of the last decade.
The medley nodded to Yankovic’s roots as an accordion player and gave the fair audience a quick reminder that his comedy is tied closely to musicianship. He did not linger there long before heading into the songs that made him famous.
“Smells Like Nirvana,” “Dare to Be Stupid,” “Eat It,” “Like a Surgeon,” “My Bologna” and “Party in the CIA” all appeared in rapid succession, creating the kind of greatest-hits sprint longtime fans expect from a Yankovic concert.
Costumes, clips and skits turned the concert into a career retrospective
The Washington State Fair stop played less like a standard concert and more like a full review of Yankovic’s career. He stepped into costumes tied to well-known parodies, including the fat suit from “Fat,” while the screens behind him showed clips from his television and film appearances over the years.
That approach reinforced how wide Yankovic’s footprint has become beyond novelty songs. Even without a new studio album since 2014’s Mandatory Fun, he has stayed active through music for screen projects and television.
His work includes the opening theme for Milo Murphy’s Law and songs for Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. For fans in the building, those touches made the show feel both historical and current at the same time.
Weird The Al Yankovic Story and newer fans got their moment too
Yankovic also acknowledged the 2022 biopic Weird: The Al Yankovic Story, the “absolutely true” take on his life that starred Daniel Radcliffe. He performed the film’s closing credit song, giving the crowd one more reminder that his story continues to be retold for a new generation.
That part of the evening helped connect longtime listeners with younger fans who may have discovered him through the movie rather than his earliest records. The set balanced old material with newer references without losing the playful energy that has always defined his live shows.
By weaving in recent work and past milestones, Yankovic made the concert feel less like a nostalgia act and more like a living catalog of parody, film and television history.
A fake ending, gospel theatrics and Jedi costumes closed the night
As the show headed toward its finish, Yankovic leaned into one of his favorite tricks. He played “White & Nerdy” and “Amish Paradise” in costume, then staged a fake ending with full gospel-style theatrics, telling the audience he might not be able to perform any more songs.
The crowd clearly knew better and stayed put for the finale. That patience paid off when Yankovic and his band returned in Jedi, Stormtrooper and Sith outfits for “The Saga Begins” and “Yoda.”
The Star Wars finish gave the night a comic payoff that matched the rest of the performance. It was the kind of ending only Weird Al could pull off, and it landed exactly as fans hoped.
More Washington State Fair concerts are still on the calendar
Yankovic’s Puyallup stop was one of several major shows booked at the Washington State Fair. The venue’s upcoming lineup includes Jon Batiste on Sept. 18, Ice Cube on Sept. 19 and Chicago on Sept. 26.
Those concerts continue a stretch of high-profile performances that keep the fair a busy destination well beyond its rides and food booths. For fans who came out for Yankovic, the Grandstand once again proved it can host a broad mix of national touring acts.
For this night, though, the spotlight stayed squarely on a performer who has built a career out of turning pop music into something stranger, funnier and more enduring.
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