State fairs

[daytrader]

The wife and I have been to a few state fair.

Today we entertained our selves at the Arizona State fair.

It wasn't bad. They say it is the second most attended fair in the nation. I think it would be as it gose on for over a month.

Iowa has about the largest. North Dakota's is huge as well. It will take you two days to see North Dakotas. That is if you do not do the rides.

Arizonas was fun. The rides were top notch. About the best I have seen at a fair. The food was great! This place had great ride. We did spend two half days at the fair and may do one more today. Not sure yet. We have seen it all. Yet, there is some food that we missed out on. We did not see anything that every other state fair dosn't have.

The vendors just were not there in the numbers I like. They had an ok amount, just out local flee market has more every weekend.

The food vendors were good. They had a great selection and the prices were not that bad on most things. It is a state fair so know things are going to be marked up a bit higher. We did both go crazy and just ate what we wanted. No diet was involved. Todays take on FOOD was 88 bucks. YET we ate very well and had some great stuff.

I did have a problem with having to pay 12 bucks a person just to enter the fair. That I did not understand.

Food was priced about right. Pork chop on a stick $6. Ear of corn ranged from $2.50-$4.00. Soda was expensive, YET if you purchased a large lemon shake up (5 bucks)you could have it refilled for 2.50 at many differant vendors and the freezee guy. That was not a bad deal.

You can get a all beef hot dog with all the fixings for 2 bucks. THAT IS A DEAL AT A FAIR! The 24 inch hot dog was 10 bucks! Good dog. All beef, the bun is custom made. Not bad.

The wolds largest corn dog was 10 bucks. It looked like a 10 inch long dog that was 3 inches thick. Smelled like rotten meat. WE DID NOT EAT ONE OF THESE. Just loomed over others that did checking out their food.

We also ate alot of spam burgers. As they had free samples and I like spam. So I know I ate at least 10 of these things. They were very happy to let you take all you could. Spam. The meat most of us know, just its like dateing a fat chick. You do what you do while others are not watching.

The wife and I had alot of fun. I even got her to admit she liked spam samdwiches. This was a huge thing for us. I now will not have to eat my spam burgers in the garage anymore!

Bottled water was 1.50 and beer was high at 7 bucks a 10 oz cup.

From what I seen for the ag show was pretty sad, but They have had other venues in the last few weeks. Today was the goat and small animal day. The demo derby was very bad. I have had better cars and drivers in my own pasture after a hard night of drinking with freinds.

I have never seen that many goats in my life. The birds and rabbits seemed pretty low on enteries. Yet, GREAT FOLKS!

The Macy's sponsered peting zoo show was cool. They had some intersting animals. It was a great petting zoo. The camel was the coolest thing in my book.

The wife and I have been to 7 differant state fairs in the last 3 years.

We have chatted today and figure we will try to hit up every state fair by 2012. It will cost us a bid, yet we travel anyway. We just have to do the logistics of it.

So anyone have any info on your states fair? The inside info. What to see and what not to waste time on. The best days to go?

What about the best food! At your state fair. What is it and who sells it?

The days of the ag shows. The wife and I enjoy the animals.

[Cheribelle]

You know more already about our Iowa State Fair than I do! Sounds like a good time. But I hate crowds. And Spam.

[daytrader]

Originally Posted by Cheribelle

You know more already about our Iowa State Fair than I do! Sounds like a good time. But I hate crowds. And Spam.

The Iowa state fair is a must see. My folks came from Iowa. So I had been to a few as a child. THAT FAIR is set up for the adult. The wife and I have been ever year for the last 7 years to Iowas fair. No reason for us to miss it.

It is in my book the best there is. They (who they is) say it is the bigest state fair in the US. I know one thing North Dakota is very close to them in content. No one would think North Dakota, but man they know how to do it. NOW, MOST of their fair is ag related. So if ag stuff turns you off then they have some rides. I also like the vendors. All that crap you see on TV is at the fairs first many times.

I have not been to them all yet. I would like too. So far. I would say North Dakota and Iowa have it right.

I have been to many local deals as one time I was a power only unit truck driver. The guy that hauls the equipment in and waits to haul it away. Some call it a carny. I do not as I was self employed in my own truck and had all my teeth AT THE TIME. Yet, seen some fun crazy places. Places most folks do not know exist.

Jackson Hole Wy, That has to be the craziest small town I have ever been too during carnival time. They seem to have more money then god. I was paid almost half a years wages to sit for 5 days. I had already planned on that (sitting, not for a good wage) as I had no were else to go get a trailer to move.

It worked out good for me. I know very little about Jackson Hole. I will say I bet there is more money in that town then in Nashville TN any day of the week. That or everyone with money was in town that week.

[cheapskate]

Here is ours. Always a lot of fun.

http://www.kansasstatefair.com/index.php

[MariaAZ]

If I'd have known you were in the area we could have met somewhere!

I used to love the state fair but it has changed a LOT. Years ago it was much more about exhibitions of both livestock and crafts, but now it is more about the fairway and rides. A national livestock show is held at the fairgrounds in December though, so that is probably why the large livestock numbers have dropped. It probably doesn't help that there has been so much development in the Valley over the past few decades that most of the ag lands are now under concrete and asphalt.

As for the $12 to get in... exactly why we don't go anymore except when DH happens to be off work the day the fair opens; then it's $1 to get in. We don't go on the rides (which I admit they have an awesome selection) and the main attraction for us has always been the exhibits.

[Jenn]

Just attended the world famous peanut festival. Was afraid I'd be bored waiitng on DD14 and friend to exhaust selves on rides. Had promised they could stay out as late as they wanted. I trolled the exhibition livestock and sales halls- none to ride rides with as DH and other child OOT- and DD and friend called me tired broke and ready to go home before I was done. AND I won a ginsu knife from the cookery demo guy not to mention eating a lvoely veg salad and cooked veg (missed the chicken and potats trying to call DD).

[NWoods_Hippie]

WIHH,

For more years now than I can count my friend Gabby has set up and run the "Rootbeer Barrel" rootbeer stand at the Minnesota State Fair. Several of us from Wisc. go up there each year and take a day to work the Barrell for her, the MSF is awesome!! My best friend Bebeau flipped Turkey Burgers for the duration of the fair for several years!

I am still however partial to the Illinois State Fair, it was my favorite time of year when I was a kid growing up in E.C. Illinois...yummm Butterfly Porkchop Sandwiches!

Peace,
Margie

[Cabin Fever]

Hey Hippie, I don't know if it's the same rootbeer stand or not, but I knew the owner (co-owner?) of the 1919 Rootbeer Stand. His name is Nick Schneider...I'm not sure of ol' Nick is even alive anymore.

[DocM]

I spend a week at the Oregon State Fair every year, supervising a bunch of rowdy 4H teens. A decade ago I hated it, dirty, boring, rude carnies, icky food. The Oregon State Parks took it over a couple of years ago and boy, what a change. It's a joy to spend a week there. Clean, lots of activities, friendly people, the food's still sort of icky, but who can eat fair food for a week? I already have plans to keep spending my week there after my kids stop showing - we'll still be doing the open livestock shows. Free parking and $6 to enter, you can spend the entire day there and not see everything.

[radiofish]

In the past, I was paid to go to the California State Fair "Cal-Expo" in Sacramento to work at a State of Calif. Dept. of Fish and Game's display on fisheries. It can be fun, but after 13 days in 100+ degree heat - it gets old after a while.. I did enjoy the displays and livestock. I just hated being under the monorail tracks, when folks would throw their free bags of California Rice down on us repeatedly!

[Scrounger]

The Nebraska State Fair is a total waste of time. It USED to be great, but there is almost no ag related stuff there anymore. Anyone ever been to Husker Harvest Days in Grand Island NE? They need to move the State Fair to GI and hold it in conjunction with HHD - THAT would be a fair......

[NWoods_Hippie]

Originally Posted by Cabin Fever

Hey Hippie, I don't know if it's the same rootbeer stand or not, but I knew the owner (co-owner?) of the 1919 Rootbeer Stand. His name is Nick Schneider...I'm not sure of ol' Nick is even alive anymore.

CF, the one my friend Gabby owns/co-owns is shaped like a great big barrel, that is not the same at the 1919 stand. We always joked about spending the day "in the barrel".

Margie

[clovis]

Indiana has a great fair, but we didn't attend this year. Very hot and humid during the fair. You couldn't have paid me to attend.

Let me know when you will be in Indiana. I would enjoy meeting you.

Clove

[daytrader]

OK, how about every one post IF THEY know when their state fair is?

Heck. Lets include the BEST home comings.

I can think of one. Mascoutah Illinois First week of August. I have NEVER seen one bigger in population then this. I am sure there is better. I WANT TO SEE IT.

[pheasantplucker]

Have been to the Ohio State fair a number of times, however, I much prefer to smaller county fairs. Ohio's is touted as one of the biggest in the country (as far as attendance)...but to me that's a negative. I hate crowds. I also have no interest in the rides. In Columbus, that's what many city kids think of as the fair. Too bad. I think they miss out on learning about livestock and produce. Food is good but pricey. I also like when the fairs are at the end of the summer where it has a chance of beeing a bit cooler as far as the weather goes. :1pig:

[Scrounger]

The Nebraska Fair is at the begining of September. It got so bad that the Fair Board asked the Legislature for help. They ended up "proping it up" with money from the State Lottery. One of the problems is that the fair grounds are "land locked" and owned by the University of Nebraska. Now they are saying that it will cost over $300 million to get their own property and build on it.

[arabian knight]

I have been to the Minn. State Fair and the Iowa State Fair.
And while living in Tempe, AZ. I also have been to the AZ. State Fair.
And once you have been to Iowa and Minn Fairs the AZ. Fair looks like nothing but a County Fair~!!!!
And in right downtown Phoenix at that a 5 way intersection or is a 6 way one, can't remember now, but hard as heck to get in, and the traffic , well even Minn State Fair the traffic is horrible if you don't get their early~!

[Pelenaka]

2007 BUTTER SCULPTURE - 800 lbs.
This is another one of those Fair features we like to think of as a tradition. It's in the Dairy Products Building, in its own cooler 40 degress, where it has been at every New York State Fair for three decades. It's uniquely New York. For the visually impaired we also have a hands on clay model of the butter sculpture at the Dairy Princess booth, located in the Dairy Products Building
Of all the attractions this is the one that I make a bee line for the moment we get past the front gates.

2006 - 40,633 individual entries were made in various categories, such as culinary, arts and crafts, cattle, dairy goats, rabbits and many more.

Thursday, August 23 through Labor Day, Monday, September 3.Gates open at 8:00 am daily Admission to the Fair is $10 at any gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free every day of the Fair. Tram is $2 per day.
http://www.nysfair.org/fair

~~ pelenaka ~~

[DocM]

The Oregon State Fair runs the 13 days prior to Labor Day (that always being the last day of the Fair).

[MoonShine]

Originally Posted by Pelenaka

2007 BUTTER SCULPTURE - 800 lbs.
This is another one of those Fair features we like to think of as a tradition. It's in the Dairy Products Building, in its own cooler 40 degress, where it has been at every New York State Fair for three decades. It's uniquely New York. For the visually impaired we also have a hands on clay model of the butter sculpture at the Dairy Princess booth, located in the Dairy Products Building
Of all the attractions this is the one that I make a bee line for the moment we get past the front gates.

2006 - 40,633 individual entries were made in various categories, such as culinary, arts and crafts, cattle, dairy goats, rabbits and many more.

Thursday, August 23 through Labor Day, Monday, September 3.Gates open at 8:00 am daily Admission to the Fair is $10 at any gate. Children 12 and under are admitted free every day of the Fair. Tram is $2 per day.
http://www.nysfair.org/fair

~~ pelenaka ~~

Now that's cool...I've never heard of anyone using butter for sculpting before.

Ah,the closest I've ever been to a state fair was seeing the movie. But it was a good movie atleast