State Fairs

The most surreal moment I had at the Great Minnesota Get-Together was wandering into the dairy shed during one of the butter queens' turns in the giant refrigerated vault where she was sitting for her likeness to be carved into a bust made entirely of butter, in a gown, tiara, bubblegoose and gloves, talking on the mike to the assembled crowd about her dad's dairy farm. That was just downright David Lynchian. I loved it. Want to go back.

I get to go to the Kansas State Fair every year for work - many of the the State Agencies have booths there, and we State employees volunteer to go there and staff the booths instead of sit in the office. Nothing beats getting paid to hand out refrigerator magnets, answer questions from the fairgoers and eat Pronto Pups! Thankfully, they finally airconditioned the exhibitor buildings - it's still pretty toasty in Kansas in September.

I have also been to the Nebraska State Fair, which is a good one, and the Missouri State Fair, which sucks.

BTW, I was born and raised in Western New York, and have no idea where the New York State Fair is held.

http://www.syracuse.com/statefair/

I cannot beleive no body has mentioned the Wisconsin State Fair coming up in West Allis. It is a veritable cornicopia of roadfood type eats with the Dairy building a "must visit". Nothing like their cream puffs, gyros, and roasted corn. Try the German food from Mader's booth,,, and of course, don't miss the beer tents.

The midwestern fairs seem a lot better than what we have in Maryland. I'm amazed at the food selection. Outside of standard fair fare, the only special thing we offer is crab cakes. And fair crab cakes are only fair at best.

I can't wait to see what they're going to be deep-frying at the Fair this year - so far, it's gone from Snickers to Twinkies to cheese curds last year.

I seriously miss the NY State Fair. The NC, VA and MD fairs pale in comparison.
The foods, the wines, the crafts, the many expos, the multiple free performances and concerts all over the place, the horse shows, chariot races, butter sculpture, $.25 milk, free potato, and on and on. I haven't been in a while, but I definately miss it. It's a fun time.

Do the individual states in New England have their own fairs? I see they have a regional fair called the Big E, but I couldn't find any info on state fairs for Mass, Conn, New Hampshire or Maine. I did see where Vermont has its own fair.

Here in N.E. we have many regional fairs but no state fairs.
The Big E {or as I like to call it The Big D for dissapointment} is just that an Exposition. They have an area that something from each state is put on display. Acually each state has their own building with many exibitors from that state. The E lacks in 4H and other activitys that you would normally see at a county fair. But on the other hand if your looking to buy a Hot Tub that's the place to go.
I go to a fair to see the local offerings, the poultry and dairy exibitions, horse and tractor pulls and so on. Chow Jim

This may be of interest to those of you traveling to an area or even your own state. www.fairsandexpos.com
Just clik on find a fair link and put the info in, just state and month dose the trick. Chow Jim

I just looked at the NY State Far site. One word on why this will be a great fair: Foghat.

N.Y State Fair starts Aug 23rd. I've only attended the Texas and The N.Y.S and in my opinion New York's is superior.

This is one of the reasons why:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 23
Lynrd Skynyrd with Tracy Lawrence
Time:7:30 PM
Tickets: $43 or $48

FRIDAY, AUGUST 24
Poison and Ratt with White Lion
Time:7:30 PM
Tickets: $43 or $48

SATURDAY, AUGUST 25
The Cheetah Girls
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $40 or $45

SUNDAY, AUGUST 26
Carrie Underwood with Rodney Atkins
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $50 or $55

MONDAY, AUGUST 27
Counting Crows and Hootie and the Blowfish
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $47 or $52

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28
Projekt Revolution feat. Linkin Park with My Chemical Romance, Taking Back Sunday, HIM, Placebo, Julien-K, Mindless Self Indulgence, Saosin, The Bled, Styles of Beyond and Madina Lake
Time: 2:00 PM
Tickets: $55, $65, $70

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 29
Hilary Duff with special guest TBA
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $47 or $52

THURSDAY, AUGUST 30
Hinder, Papa Roach and Buckcherry
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $35 or $40

FRIDAY, AUGUST 31
Cruzan Rum presents Kenny Chesney’s Flip Flop Summer Tour with Special Guest Sugarland
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $65, $55

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
Bonfire and Amplifires Tour presents Braid Paisley with Kellie Pickler, Taylor Swift and Jack Ingram
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $47 or $52

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
American Idols Live 2007 Tour
Time: 7:30 PM
Tickets: $55 or $50

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
GEICO State Championship Demolition Derby & Figure 8 Race
Time: 5:00 PM
Tickets: Adults $14/Children $9




Ticket info
Tickets are available at the New York State Fair Box Office presented by FYE-for your entertainment, all Ticketmaster outlet locations, charge-by-phone at (315) 472-0700, and Ticketmaster online at ticketmaster.com. The purchase of tickets for any show/event at the New York State Fair
the above are pay shows
below are the free shows

2007 New York Central Mutual
Concert Series lineup at Chevrolet Court
War
Thursday, August 23 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Poco, Pure Prairie League and Firefall
Friday, August 24 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Dickey Betts with special guest The Outlaws
Saturday, August 25 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
The Commodores
Sunday, August 26 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Ronnie Milsap and The State Fair Orchestra
Monday, August 27 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm
(Please note earlier start time for evening show)
Frankie Avalon
Tuesday, August 28 at 4:00pm and 7:00pm
(Please note earlier start time for evening show)
America
Wednesday, August 29 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Eddie Money with special guest Orleans
Thursday, August 30 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Blue Oyster Cult and Foghat
Friday, August 31 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
"Bowzer’s Rock ‘n Roll Party" starring The Original Comets; Freddy Cannon; Merrilee Rush; Johnny Thunder and Bowzer and The Stingrays
Saturday, September 1 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Tesla
Sunday, September 2 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
"Rockin' Roadhouse Tour" with Lorrie Morgan,
Joe Diffie and Aaron Tippin
Monday, September 3 at 4:00pm and 8:00pm
Copyright © 2007 - The Empire Expo Center. All rights reserved.
581 State Fair Blvd. Syracuse, NY 13209
Phone (800) 475-FAIR or (315) 487-7711 | Fax (315) 487-9260
Email: newyorkstatefair@agmkt.state.ny.us | Terms of Use & Privacy Policy
the food selection are from all over the world.
then there's the butter sculpture and the sand sculpture.

coupon
print it off if you are going to New York's fair

2006 sand sculpture
nys fair

2006 butter sculpture
2005 butter sculpture
nys fair

The best things about the Texas Fair is the Texas-OU football game and the Dallas Auto show.

BIG TEX
The movie "State Fair" (1962) takes place at the Texas State Fair

I have to chime in and talk about the Alaska State Fair. Aheeem. Besides the 90 lb. cabbages. the 60 lb. rutabagas, the vintage 1960 rides (Tilt-O-Whirl) and the mini Ferris Wheel, we have something I think is unique. It's called Rat Race.

Rat Race is a gaming table (roughly made) similar to roulette. There are different colored sections of the table, all with holes in them. In the middle of the table there is an inverted Tupperware container with a rope attached to it. Under this they put a mouse. Poor mousie. The people place their bets.....I think it's 50 cents max, on the color. They spin the table, lift up the Tupperware and let mousie go. People are shouting.....green! yellow! red!. If mousie gets close enough to one of the holes and drops in, the people who bet on that color win! It's hilarious. Sometimes mousie has to be replaced as it gets so dizzy from spinning around and around.

Ok, watch the video. And alas, this is what we find amusing at the State Fair. Sad.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3smNocEMwI

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

I have to chime in and talk about the Alaska State Fair. Aheeem. Besides the 90 lb. cabbages. the 60 lb. rutabagas, the vintage 1960 rides (Tilt-O-Whirl) and the mini Ferris Wheel, we have something I think is unique. It's called Rat Race.

Rat Race is a gaming table (roughly made) similar to roulette. There are different colored sections of the table, all with holes in them. In the middle of the table there is an inverted Tupperware container with a rope attached to it. Under this they put a mouse. Poor mousie. The people place their bets.....I think it's 50 cents max, on the color. They spin the table, lift up the Tupperware and let mousie go. People are shouting.....green! yellow! red!. If mousie gets close enough to one of the holes and drops in, the people who bet on that color win! It's hilarious. Sometimes mousie has to be replaced as it gets so dizzy from spinning around and around.

Ok, watch the video. And alas, this is what we find amusing at the State Fair. Sad.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3smNocEMwI

Our local fair has had a mouse game for 40+ years it is the most popular spot game on the midway. People are stacked 7&8 deep on Friday and Saturday.

Our meece's name is Herbie..... You can hear the carnie call out all night long

"Heeeeeeere comes HERBIE, the one and only RAAAAACING RODENT, just a quarter to play a quarter to win, the cheapest game on the midway."

That is until you break a $10 or $20 and realize you just spent it all there trying to win a 10 cent stuffed animal.

quote:

Originally posted by lleechef

Ok, watch the video. And alas, this is what we find amusing at the State Fair. Sad.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i3smNocEMwI

I don't think they put anough peanut butter in the hole, no wonder the meece gets dizzy.

Well, they need to put something more enticing in those holes because we once watched mousie go round and round and round and then it finally flopped over, it was so dizzy. Mousie had to be replaced.

I have never been to a state fair and I'm starting to wonder if I haven't really missed out. A close friend of mine attended Iowa State and he would rave about how great their state fair is.

I don't ever remember hearing anything about a Pennsylvania state fair.

bb, my husband is from Iowa and he says their state fair is unbelievable.

PA does have a state fair but I've never been because it's in Philly and I'm from Pgh.

lleechef-
It is a little surprising the state fair in Pa. isn't a bigger deal, because we certainly have plenty of agriculture here in the Keystone State.

As for driving to Philly, it would be a lot closer for me to just go to the state fair in Ohio. It sounds like a better one, anyway.

The Iowa State Fair is THE State Fair. Our State Fair is a great State Fair; don't miss it, don't even be late!

This year's guest butter sculpture (with the perennial Butter Cow): Harry Potter.

Besides the usual food on a stick, the Iowa Pork Producers serve a Pork Chop on a Stick and the Iowa Beef Producers do a Hot Beef Sundae: mashed potatoes, sliced beef, gravy, shredded cheese & a cherry tomato.

bb, you are right, in fact I had to do a Google search to even find out if there WAS one in PA! You are right, Ohio would be a lot closer for us folks in Pgh.

blizzard, I believe you about the Iowa State fair! It is supposed to be the best in the US! My MIL in Sioux City always talks about it. One of these days I'll make it there.

Every year, my Iowa State University buddy would send me a different t-shirt that said World Pork Expo on it. I assume this is from the Iowa state fair. Unfortunately, I can't wear them anymore, since they are Larges and I am more of an XXL guy nowadays!

quote:

Originally posted by John A

quote:

Originally posted by kozel

I don't understand why you listed the Vermont fair and left off the Indiana State Fair. Even the Bloomsburg fair is better than the Vermont Fair. Don't get me wrong, I love the state of Vermont and I love their cheese and maple syrup; but their fair is hardly an 'epicurean delight'.

I do not think Michael made the list, looks like they did.

http://www.epicurious.com/restaurants/best_eats/fairs

And Michaels original post is 2 years old also....

Buffetbuster, The World Pork Expo is a different event, which gives us Iowans another opportunity to 'pig out.'

All souvenir shirts should only come in REAL sizes: XXL and XXXL!