It’s Blue Ribbon Time
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- Published on Friday, 10 August 2012 15:53
- Written by Maria King
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This is the time of year where it’s corn dogs, turkey legs and funnel cakes. No, it is not my summer cookout menu, it is the fare at the fairs every summer. It is a fabulous reason to visit a fair just to sample it.
I liken fair food to a major day of binge eating. I mean seriously, if you thought about it would you really eat pizza, corn dogs, custard, kettle corn, snow cones and funnel cake and then ride on a tilt a whirl. If I asked if you would ever do that under normal circumstances, I am sure your answer would be no. But something happens to us when we get on the fairgrounds; we go crazy and eat everything we see with very few exceptions. Up and down every aisle, all through the midway and in and out of every building, we eat our way through the fair.
Fairs are also a great family way to spend the day or night because they feature lots of fabulous activities for young and old; games, exhibits, rides, entertainment and competitions. Some fairgrounds have race tracks for cars and motorcross, some have rodeo grounds while others have horse tracks. My personal favorite fair activity besides eating, is the food competitions (no element of surprise there, lol). Pie baking, jam and jelly making, floral arrangements, children’s artwork as well as beauty pageant, tractor pulls and so much more are only a small part of the overall package of contests.
Fairs are a little slice of Americana. It’s a looking glass into a simpler time and place in our history when people from all over would come to celebrate the bounty of the region. Also it is a chance to carry home the honor of a blue ribbon to boast for the whole next year.
This year, the country is deep in a drought and suffering through high unemployment. Farms and farmers are experiencing as rough a time as anyone. However fairs continue to take place, as they have for well over 100 years, to keep our precious traditions alive. Over all of those years, fairs have survived both good and bad times, war and peace, feast and famine. If you have a chance this week, try to find a fair in your backyard if none of the ones on this list are in your area. And remember all food at the fair is worth eating; just don’t eat ALL the food at the fair.
Wisconsin State Fair
Aug 02, 2012 - Aug 12, 2012
Wisconsin State Fair Park West Allis, WI US 53214
Since 1851, a once a year celebration of the riches of the state featuring agriculture and livestock exhibits and competitions, a wide variety of food items for sale along with crafts and commemorative items. Fun and entertaining things for the whole family to do and see such as live entertainment on multiple stages, attractions, a large and extensive midway including rides and merchandise for sale.
801,000 Attendees
New Jersey State Fair ( Sussex County Farm and Horse Show )
Aug 03, 2012 - Aug 12, 2012
Sussex County Fairgrounds Augusta, NJ US 07822
This ten day event features agricultural events and education, animals, exhibits, horse shows, carnival, petting zoo, shopping, craft tent, flower and vegetable shows, art, photography, 4-H, chainsaw artist and auction, fair food, free entertainment and MUCH MORE.
150,000 Attendees
Clark County Fair
Aug 03, 2012 - Aug 12, 2012
Clark County Fairgrounds Ridgefield, WA US 98642
Since 1869, family entertainment including 4-H and FFA displays, animals, a carnival, national entertainment, games, food and more.
285,000+ Attendees
Jackson County Fair
Aug 05, 2012 - Aug 11, 2012
Jackson County Fairgrounds Jackson, MI US 49201
Since 1854, features fun for the entire family including children's activities, entertainment, music, rides, commercial vendors selling their wares, a wide variety of food and attractions.
245,000 Attendees
Cuyahoga County Fair
Aug 06, 2012 - Aug 12, 2012
Cuyahoga County Fairgrounds Berea, OH US 44017
Since 1896, features fun for the entire family including children's activities, entertainment, music, rides, commercial vendors selling their wares, a wide variety of food and attractions.
172,000+ Attendees
Sioux Empire Fair
Aug 07, 2012 - Aug 12, 2012
W.H. Lyons Fairgrounds Sioux Falls, SD US 57107
Since 1940, features fun for the entire family including children's activities, a variety of exhibits including flowers, horticulture, crafts, livestock competitions and exhibits, 4-H exhibits and activities, grandstand entertainment, a huge carnival midway, a variety of food vendors and concerts in the grandstand.
250,000+ Attendees
Indiana State Fair
Aug 03, 2012 - Aug 19, 2012
Indiana State Fairgrounds Indianapolis, IN US 46205
Features fun for the entire family including a large variety of food vendors, midway rides, livestock competitions and exhibits, commercial exhibitors selling their wares, musical entertainment featuring top names performers.
754,000+ Attendees
Erie County Fair and Exposition
Aug 08, 2012 - Aug 19, 2012
Hamburg-Erie County Fairgrounds Hamburg, NY US 14075
Since 1840, features fun for the entire family including children's activities, entertainment, music, rides, livestock competitions, and exhibits, horse show, commercial vendors selling their wares, a wide variety of exhibits, food and attractions.
1,000,000+ Attendees
Iowa State Fair
Aug 09, 2012 - Aug 19, 2012
Iowa State Fairgrounds Des Moines, IA US 50317
Since 1859, one of the oldest and largest state fairs in the country features fun for the entire family including children's activities, commercial vendors selling their wares, a wide variety of food, headliner grandstand shows, spectacular free entertainment, thrilling competitions, 10+ acre carnival and campgrounds.
1,000,000+ Attendees
Missouri State Fair
Aug 09, 2012 - Aug 19, 2012
Missouri State Fairgrounds Sedalia, MO US 65301
Since 1903, features fun for the entire family including a large variety of food vendors, midway rides, vendors, musical entertainment featuring top names performers, livestock, bullriding, rodeo, tractorpull and more.
345,000+ Attendees
State Fair of West Virginia
Aug 10, 2012 - Aug 18, 2012
State Fair of West Virginia Fairgrounds Fairlea, WV US 24902
Since 1925, a once a year celebration of the riches of the state featuring agriculture and livestock exhibits and competitions, a wide variety of food items for sale along with crafts and commemorative items. Fun and entertaining things for the whole family to do and see such as live entertainment on multiple stages, attractions, a large and extensive midway including rides and merchandise for sale.
200,000 Attendees
Illinois State Fair
Aug 09, 2012 - Aug 19, 2012
Illinois State Fairgrounds Springfield, IL US 62702
Since 1853, the fair hosts one of the country's finest state sponsored standard breeding and racing programs. Features fun for the entire family including children's activities, commerical vendors selling their wares, top name entertainment each evening, plus USAC auto racing, a drum and bugle competition, tractor pulls, midway rides and a large variety of food and more.
1,162,000 Attendees
MontanaFair
Aug 10, 2012 - Aug 18, 2012
MetraPark Arena at MetraPark and Expo Center Billings, MT US 59103
Since 1919, this fair features fun for the entire family including 3 nights of rodeo and 6 concerts in the 10,000 seat indoor arena, children's activities, entertainment, music, rides, commercial vendors and a wide variety of food and attractions. The focus remains on agriculture, competitive exhibits and youth program.
232,000+ Attendees
Wyoming State Fair
Aug 11, 2012 - Aug 18, 2012
Wyoming State Fairgrounds Douglas, WY US 82631
Fair with emphasis on Wyoming and its many attributes, agricultural displays, educational information, rides, games, food and fun.
44,000+ Attendees
Maria can be reached directly at eventsblog@eventcrazy.com or visit her website atwww.eventcrazy.com
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