Florida: Tampa (I-4 at US 301) is usually the 3rd week in February.
Virginia state fair
The Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, Virginia, is the pastoral setting for the annual State Fair of Virginia, which dates back 164 years to 1854. The fair is held in late September through early October and attracts over 230,000 attendees during its 10-day exposition of agriculture, education, and entertainment. It is [on VA-30] just east of [I-95 and] the theme park, Kings Dominion.
Conn. and the rest of New England combine to have the 16 day Big E Eastern States Exhibition in West Springfield, Mass. at the end of September (and occasionally into October.) But, IIRC, Vermont also has its own state fair.
Louisville, sometime in August, at the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center. At I-65 and I-264 across the Watterson Expressway from the airport.
West Virginia's is in Lewisburg, which to me is a very odd site, because it's not centrally located at all.
The Wisconsin State Fair is held at the State Fairgrounds in West Allis, just west of Milwaukee. It's usually held in early August, this year it runs from August 2-12.
Minnesota at the state fairgrounds off MN 51 in Falcon Heights, between Minneapolis and St. Paul. It runs for the twelve days before and including Labor Day.
By per day attendance it's the largest in the country. Texas has the largest overall attendance, but that's because it runs for three weeks.
Springfield, and it runs August 9 through August 19, 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_State_Fair
Despite the importance of agriculture in Pennsylvania's history as well as its significance to the current economy, the Commonwealth does not have a state fair, per se. (i.e. a late summer/early fall event with animal displays, competitions, musical performances, a midway with rides, and carnival food)
We do, however, have the Pennsylvania Farm Show; it's held indoors every January at its namesake complex in Harrisburg–just off I-81 at the US 22-322/Cameron Street interchange. Perhaps because of the time of year and the indoor venue, the Farm Show remains true to its agricultural roots–there are no rides or grandstand concerts.
Perhaps because of the lack of a summertime fair, the state has a few notable county fairs which attract large crowds annually and feature the kinds of amusements and performances that the Farm Show lacks. The most significant are the fairs in Allentown, Bloomsburg, and York.
Quote from: tchafe1978 on July 12, 2018, 03:33:05 PM
The Wisconsin State Fair is held at the State Fairgrounds in West Allis, just west of Milwaukee. It's usually held in early August, this year it runs from August 2-12.
A second one in Eau Claire is held not sure the dates.
Since the original State Fairgrounds were sold in Hamilton Township, NJ it never really had a good state fair as it was at that location. I know the first few years Six Flags in Jackson had an area of their parking lot closed off so the animals and other events could be held all inclusive in the theme park admission. However, there was no outside contractor for a midway because the entire theme park served as that.
Then later in the 90's I heard a fair with its name opened up at the now defunct Garden State Park in Cherry Hill, and then later in the East Rutherford Sports Complex where that on and off entertainment complex is being built and paused until the owners of the venue decide whether to build or not to build.
Now I see NJ has two fairs with the name state fair however, which is the successor to the original fair in Hamilton I do not know, but one is in Sussex County and the other is still held in East Rutherford.
Quote from: dvferyance on July 12, 2018, 05:02:25 PM
Quote from: tchafe1978 on July 12, 2018, 03:33:05 PM
The Wisconsin State Fair is held at the State Fairgrounds in West Allis, just west of Milwaukee. It's usually held in early August, this year it runs from August 2-12.
A second one in Eau Claire is held not sure the dates.
I find that one amusing because if I recall it's called the Northern Wisconsin State Fair or similar, and as a former Superior resident that's a laughable definition of northern Wisconsin.
I didn't even know that Michigan had a state fair, but they do in Novi. It only runs five days though from August 30 through September 3.
One of these days I'd like to make it back to the Allegan County fair, which usually happens in September. The last time I went was 1993.
Quote from: Brandon on July 12, 2018, 04:43:52 PM
Springfield, and it runs August 9 through August 19, 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_State_Fair
But what about the DuQuoin Illinois State Fair, in Southern IL?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuQuoin_State_Fair
Aug 24-Sept 3 this year
I'm pretty sure the Springfield one is the official one
As a matter of fact, ours (CA) starts this Friday (7/13) and extends through Sunday, July 29 at the state fairgrounds in Sacramento. When I was young (early teens) the Division of Highways always had a booth at the fair, passing out official state highway maps. IIRC, I was 13 when I picked up my first one ('63) and signed up to have one mailed to me for every edition after that. Tried to get a personal subscription to CH & PW, but only public agencies, libraries, registered contractors, and registered PE's could obtain one of those (damn!).
Also liked the fair for the number of displays featuring various scales of model railroads; back then both SP and WP had "dioramas" with some of their lines laid out in miniature -- SP's was Donner Pass, while WP featured their Valley Division from Stockton north to Oroville; back in '63 the realignment bypassing the then-under-construction Oroville Dam had just opened (including the double-deck bridge over an arm of the eventual lake with Alternate US 40 on the top and the tracks on the lower deck); that was depicted on an "annex" to the original display. Fun & informative stuff!
Washington doesn't have an official state fair, but the largest (by far) is the Puyallup Fair, which renamed itself to the "Washington State Fair" a few years ago. 1.1 million people attend every September.
The second largest, the Evergreen State Fair in Monroe, begins in late August and almost overlaps with Puyallup's. It has less than 400,000 annual attendees.
The New York State Fair in Syracuse is responsible for the infamous presence of a traffic signal on I-690 between the third Saturday in August and Labor Day.
Syracuse is fairly* central to the state as as whole, and the fair does seem like a fairly* big deal when it comes around every year.
*Excuse the (unintentional) puns. I had the entire post typed, and it wasn't until I was reviewing it that I realized what I had done - and twice - without noticing!
Usually mid October at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh (right next door to NC State's Carter-Finley football stadium).
Louisiana: Shreveport at the LA State Fairgrounds off Greenwood Rd (US 79/80). Runs from end of October to early November.
Quote from: cjk374 on July 12, 2018, 09:52:51 PM
Louisiana: Shreveport at the LA State Fairgrounds off Greenwood Rd (US 79/80). Runs from end of October to early November.
Are gators allowed in the park? :)
CT doesn't have a state fair, unless you consider The Big E in West Springfield. MA (9/14-9/30 this year) the official state fair for all New England states. The biggest fairs are the Goshen and Woodstock Fairs on Labor Day Weekend, and the Durham Fair the last weekend in September.
On this topic, how big a deal is your state's fair?
The state of Minnesota pretty much shuts down for that 12 days. Every media outlet and personality in town relocates to temporary on-location studios for the duration of the fair while outstate media generally plans a day or two to come down for their own broadcasts. Outstate folks descend with their prized livestock for shows and exhibits while Twin Cities residents eat a year's worth of terrible things. Politicians flock to the fair, and this year will be especially miserable with how much Minnesota has at stake.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on July 13, 2018, 01:20:18 AM
On this topic, how big a deal is your state's fair?
The state of Minnesota pretty much shuts down for that 12 days. Every media outlet and personality in town relocates to temporary on-location studios for the duration of the fair while outstate media generally plans a day or two to come down for their own broadcasts. Outstate folks descend with their prized livestock for shows and exhibits while Twin Cities residents eat a year's worth of terrible things. Politicians flock to the fair, and this year will be especially miserable with how much Minnesota has at stake.
Illinois just gets a mention in Chicagoland. I'm sure it's a bigger deal outside of the metro area, but I've never seen any live reports from Chicago stations in Springfield.
Quote from: ilpt4u on July 12, 2018, 06:13:48 PM
Quote from: Brandon on July 12, 2018, 04:43:52 PM
Springfield, and it runs August 9 through August 19, 2018.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illinois_State_Fair
But what about the DuQuoin Illinois State Fair, in Southern IL?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DuQuoin_State_Fair
Aug 24-Sept 3 this year
I'm pretty sure the Springfield one is the official one
Never understood why we have two state fairs. Seems to me the state can't afford the Springfield one, let alone the DuQuoin one.
Quote from: Bruce on July 12, 2018, 08:00:06 PM
Washington doesn't have an official state fair, but the largest (by far) is the Puyallup Fair, which renamed itself to the "Washington State Fair" a few years ago. 1.1 million people attend every September.
That's interesting. A common misconception down here was that the Puyallup Fair was chosen by some committee to be the official state fair, and thus it was forced to change its name to reflect that (with the "do the Puyallup" motto sticking around as a protest). After reading some articles, I see that is not even remotely true.
FWIW, it is still very often referred to as the "Puyallup Fair" by locals. Not sure what its called up north. I assume "Puyallup Fair" due to the existence of the Evergreen State Fair.
Quote from: ce929wax on July 12, 2018, 06:00:41 PM
I didn't even know that Michigan had a state fair, but they do in Novi. It only runs five days though from August 30 through September 3.
One of these days I'd like to make it back to the Allegan County fair, which usually happens in September. The last time I went was 1993.
There's also the Upper Peninsula State Fair (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Upper_Peninsula_State_Fair) held in Escanaba.
I didn't even know VA had a state fair and I'm from VA. Arlington has a county fair, which occupies the parking lot of a middle school and has effectively no rural aspects.
Quote from: jakeroot on July 13, 2018, 03:07:44 PM
Quote from: Bruce on July 12, 2018, 08:00:06 PM
Washington doesn't have an official state fair, but the largest (by far) is the Puyallup Fair, which renamed itself to the "Washington State Fair" a few years ago. 1.1 million people attend every September.
That's interesting. A common misconception down here was that the Puyallup Fair was chosen by some committee to be the official state fair, and thus it was forced to change its name to reflect that (with the "do the Puyallup" motto sticking around as a protest). After reading some articles, I see that is not even remotely true.
FWIW, it is still very often referred to as the "Puyallup Fair" by locals. Not sure what its called up north. I assume "Puyallup Fair" due to the existence of the Evergreen State Fair.
The only sanctioned state fair was held in Yakima from 1893 to 1942 (and was later revived unofficially (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Washington_State_Fair)). Puyallup made the decision to rename itself (http://www.thefair.com/about-us/rebranding) after some market research. It was previously known as the Western Washington Fair on paper.
Indiana's State Fair dates back to the 1850s and has been at the same location in Indianapolis since 1892 back when 38th Street and Fall Creek Parkway was a rural area. Now it is completely surrounded by the city, but it has all the usual fixings for a fair. It's typically ran for three weeks in August, during the start of the school year for many students making the weekends the far more popular days.
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on July 12, 2018, 10:15:23 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on July 12, 2018, 09:52:51 PM
Louisiana: Shreveport at the LA State Fairgrounds off Greenwood Rd (US 79/80). Runs from end of October to early November.
Are gators allowed in the park? :)
Must show ID to prove that you do not live in northern Florida.
(Right? :hmmm: )
Mike
Quote from: tchafe1978 on July 12, 2018, 03:33:05 PM
The Wisconsin State Fair is held at the State Fairgrounds in West Allis, just west of Milwaukee. It's usually held in early August, this year it runs from August 2-12.
Lots of rural interest in the annual Governor's Blue Ribbon Livestock Auction, too, where the judged winners of the various categories are sold by the state governor and the proceeds go as scholarships to the winners. The Grand Champion steer often goes for well over $50K.
:cool:
Mike
Both Vermont and Maine have their own state fairs outside of The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E). Not sure about New Hampshire and I am too lazy to Google it.
Quote from: Rothman on July 13, 2018, 09:03:10 PM
Both Vermont and Maine have their own state fairs outside of The Eastern States Exposition (The Big E). Not sure about New Hampshire and I am too lazy to Google it.
I mentioned the Vermont one. The only reason I know about it is because my wife and I once stayed in Rutland and I could see the grounds from our hotel.
Not a state fair (or even a provincial fair lol) but the closest thing to such a thing around here is the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) held on the Exhibition Grounds in Toronto. Wikipedia claims it is the fifth largest fair in North America. It's not exactly like a fair as there are no livestock competitions at this fair....we do have an event for that which happens in November called the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair and despite the name does not have a midway, but this event has the livestock competitions similar to what you see at a state fair.
To be honest, the only state fair I've been to is New York's.
The CNE usually starts in the middle of August and always ends on Labour Day.
(https://www.680news.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/sites/2/2017/08/cne-midway-e1440022016521.jpg)
Quote from: MisterSG1 on July 13, 2018, 09:21:24 PM
Not a state fair (or even a provincial fair lol) but the closest thing to such a thing around here is the CNE (Canadian National Exhibition) held on the Exhibition Grounds in Toronto.
Mystery Science Theater 3000 - Johnny at the fair
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cn00ynJaOrk
Michigan: Suburban Collection Showplace in Novi. End of August/beginning of September.
Historically the State Fair for Michigan was held at the State Fairgrounds at 8 Mile and Woodward in Detroit until 2009 and wasn't held in 2010 or 2011.
Quote from: mgk920 on July 13, 2018, 08:25:36 PM
Quote from: TheHighwayMan394 on July 12, 2018, 10:15:23 PM
Quote from: cjk374 on July 12, 2018, 09:52:51 PM
Louisiana: Shreveport at the LA State Fairgrounds off Greenwood Rd (US 79/80). Runs from end of October to early November.
Are gators allowed in the park? :)
Must show ID to prove that you do not live in northern Florida.
(Right? :hmmm: )
Mike
There is a museum open year-round on the fairgrounds. I thought at one time there was a gator display in it (stuffed/reproduced, not live), but I can't find it on the site: http://laexhibitmuseum.org
You gotta go to Bass Pro Shops at the Boardwalk in Bossier and look in their "moat" to see gators.
Or go to Natchitoches, LA: https://www.google.com/search?q=alligator+farm+in+natchitoches+louisiana&oq=gator+farm+in+Natchi&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l2.12000j0j8&client=tablet-android-att-us&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8
The Great State Fair of Oklahoma is held in Oklahoma City, at the State Fairgrounds at the I-40/I-44 interchange. It is traditionally held whichever week in September it is going to rain. I don't know how big a deal it is–nobody that I know actively expresses a desire to go to it–but we see a noticeable trough in business at work when it is going on. But maybe that's also because of the rain. I personally haven't been since 1997, when I got extremely ill from the food there.
The folks in Tulsa have decided the Great State Fair of Oklahoma is not good enough and have their own Tulsa State Fair, which presumably is to show off the attractions and achievements of the State of Tulsa, which logically must exist if it's throwing a State Fair.
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 12, 2018, 11:01:09 PM
CT doesn't have a state fair, unless you consider The Big E in West Springfield. MA (9/14-9/30 this year) the official state fair for all New England states. The biggest fairs are the Goshen and Woodstock Fairs on Labor Day Weekend, and the Durham Fair the last weekend in September.
All states plus NY State in some cases. Livestock and equestrian, for instance.
Utah's state fair is held at the Utah State Fairpark (well, obviously), which is even listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The fair is an 11-day event, beginning the Thursday after Labor Day.
Iowa has it's State Fair in Des Moines. This year it is August 9-19. It is regarded as a very big deal. When I lived in the Omaha area, they would put up a billboard or 10 in Omaha, something the Nebraska State Fair wouldn't do.
As for Nebraska, it's in Grand Island after years of being in Lincoln.
Missouri has theirs in Sedalia, which is apparently the only reason to ever go there.
Arkansas State Fair is in Little Rock, usually mid-October.
Quote from: DandyDan on July 22, 2018, 09:13:08 AM
Iowa has it's State Fair in Des Moines. This year it is August 9-19. It is regarded as a very big deal. When I lived in the Omaha area, they would put up a billboard or 10 in Omaha, something the Nebraska State Fair wouldn't do.
As for Nebraska, it's in Grand Island after years of being in Lincoln.
Missouri has theirs in Sedalia, which is apparently the only reason to ever go there.
I heard Sedalia has a Griff's burger joint. That makes 2 reasons. :bigass:
Quote from: RobbieL2415 on July 17, 2018, 11:05:32 PM
Quote from: jp the roadgeek on July 12, 2018, 11:01:09 PM
CT doesn't have a state fair, unless you consider The Big E in West Springfield. MA (9/14-9/30 this year) the official state fair for all New England states. The biggest fairs are the Goshen and Woodstock Fairs on Labor Day Weekend, and the Durham Fair the last weekend in September.
All states plus NY State in some cases. Livestock and equestrian, for instance.
I did not know that re N.Y.. I was going by which states have state houses on the grounds.
Alaska's state fair (this year late August through Labor Day) is at a permanent site in Palmer, northeast of Anchorage. The state fairgrounds are served by a spur of the Alaska Railroad, which provides weekend passenger train service between Anchorage and the fair when the fair is open.
The Ohio Expo Center in Columbus has been the location of our state fair dating back to 1886 (prior to that the fair was held at many different locations around the state)
This year's fair begins on Wednesday (it runs from July 25th to August 5th)....and last year's fair made national news when a ride malfunction lead to one death and several injuries.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 12, 2018, 03:21:42 PM
West Virginia's is in Lewisburg, which to me is a very odd site, because it's not centrally located at all.
It is there pretty much because nobody else wanted it. Locals around there just developed their local fair into the "state fair" and everybody went along with it. It is OK. Because of the state's unfortunate history, it is about the only thing named for the state located in the southern two-thirds of it. Also it is probably as near to "farm country" as the state has.
RG content #1: Remember I-64 from Beckley to just outside Lewisburg was completed all at once. In one day Lewisburg went from really really really remote to fairly (no pun intended) easy to get to. Prior to that the event was very local in nature. Changed since then.
RG content #2: The fairgrounds is all the way at the south edge of Lewisburg, and there really is just the one street through town. The hospital is across the street, and there is massive backup. I would hate to need to get through in an emergency.
Huh. Lewisburg feels totally different than, say, Charleston or Morgantown, too. My mother refers to it as the Virginia part of West Virginia (she was born in Ronceverte and lived in Lewisburg for a while).
Still strange it ended up there. Just doesn't seem like a state fair kind of town.
Then again, Northampton, MA has the down and dirty 3 County Fair, despite being yuppieland.
Quote from: Rothman on July 23, 2018, 04:08:06 PM
Huh. Lewisburg feels totally different than, say, Charleston or Morgantown, too. My mother refers to it as the Virginia part of West Virginia (she was born in Ronceverte and lived in Lewisburg for a while).
Still strange it ended up there. Just doesn't seem like a state fair kind of town.
Then again, Northampton, MA has the down and dirty 3 County Fair, despite being yuppieland.
They used to have bottom of the barrel thoroughbred racing. I went there one year when trucker chic was big. All the kids were wearing foam domes, big buckles, and had wallet chains. Then again, given that crowd, they may've done that regardless of whether or not it was in fashion.
Quote from: SP Cook on July 23, 2018, 02:58:27 PM
Quote from: hbelkins on July 12, 2018, 03:21:42 PM
West Virginia's is in Lewisburg, which to me is a very odd site, because it's not centrally located at all.
It is there pretty much because nobody else wanted it. Locals around there just developed their local fair into the "state fair" and everybody went along with it. It is OK. Because of the state's unfortunate history, it is about the only thing named for the state located in the southern two-thirds of it. Also it is probably as near to "farm country" as the state has.
I was really surprised when I took WV 3 east out of Beckley and Hinton several years ago. I was familiar with I-64 going from Beckley to Lexington, through Lewisburg, and looking at a map, I expected the end of WV 3 at WV 311 to be a really mountainous area. The terrain there was very surprising to me. And then WV signed a scenic byway called the Farm Heritage Trail in that area.
QuoteRG content #1: Remember I-64 from Beckley to just outside Lewisburg was completed all at once. In one day Lewisburg went from really really really remote to fairly (no pun intended) easy to get to. Prior to that the event was very local in nature. Changed since then.
I have only faint memories of the trip, but once upon a return from a vacation out east (probably the Outer Banks, as we made a few summer trips there and always went one way and came back another) we ran out of I-64 somewhere along the line, probably at Sam Black Church if not farther east. My dad said it took four hours to get from White Sulphur Springs to Charleston. It certainly didn't take me that long when I drove US 60 a few years ago for clinching purposes. I don't know if traffic was heavier on 60 because 64 wasn't done yet or what.
Quote from: hbelkins on July 23, 2018, 07:45:20 PM
Quote from: SP Cook on July 23, 2018, 02:58:27 PM
RG content #1: Remember I-64 from Beckley to just outside Lewisburg was completed all at once. In one day Lewisburg went from really really really remote to fairly (no pun intended) easy to get to. Prior to that the event was very local in nature. Changed since then.
I have only faint memories of the trip, but once upon a return from a vacation out east (probably the Outer Banks, as we made a few summer trips there and always went one way and came back another) we ran out of I-64 somewhere along the line, probably at Sam Black Church if not farther east. My dad said it took four hours to get from White Sulphur Springs to Charleston. It certainly didn't take me that long when I drove US 60 a few years ago for clinching purposes. I don't know if traffic was heavier on 60 because 64 wasn't done yet or what.
I first drove the I-64 corridor between Lexington and Beckley in 1986, and the section west of Sam Black Church was not complete, so I had to take US-60 to Charleston, very slow. Was able to check out the US-19 New River Gorge Bridge and that whole segment of Corridor L on a side trip. Turnpike widening still not quite complete.
I-64 really opened up and connected that part of Virginia as well. The segment over North Mountain was completed in 1979, providing a completed I-64 between I-81 and Sam Black Church.