State Fair Thread

[cjericho]

Probably a little late to start this thread, but the NY State Fair began last Thursday. Went for the third time, thought it was good, reasonable prices and a lot to do. Bracelet for rides is $25 and decent amount of rides. Lot of food stands and most draft beers, had a few Saranacs, are $3 or $4 (very reasonable). Went to NJ State Fair and since it's basically the parking lot of Met Life Stadium there's a lot less space than NY. Also more expensive in NJ for most things. Was wondering about other state fairs if anyone has gone to any. Have to get to the Texas State fair, have relatives there, and heard that is a good one. Any comments/critiques of other state fairs?

 

[slappy4428]

Sota. Go to Sota.

 

[LongTimeListener]

The toothless urchin at the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia scammed us 23 years ago, and it still burns. My girlfriend took those three discs and completely covered the circle -- I mean TOTALLY -- and he grabbed them up right away and told her she didn't. So no big stuffed animal.

We still got married, though. And that State Fair remains the closest I've been to the set of Deliverance.

--Went to the Wisconsin State Fair quite a bit as a kid. Best memory was using the dart to hit the poster of the woman standing in the phone booth and nonchalantly rolling up her dress so we see her butt. Made sure to put that in the back of the storage tube so my aunt and uncle couldn't see it.

 

[cjericho]

Sota. Go to Sota.

would like to, never been, even just to visit. Been to Mich, Ill, Wisc, need to go to Minn and Iowa. How is the Minn fair, when is it?

 

[Buck]

mid-state fair Paso Robles, CA
saw bob dylan

 

[spikechiquet]

Is Michigan the only state that had 2 "state fairs"?
Of course they got rid of the state fair in 2010...and the "U.P. State Fair" is all that's left.

 

[DanOregon]

The Oregon State Fair is pretty weak. Once they ditched horse racing they pretty much settled into being a big county fair. Big name acts are pretty much what you would find at a tribal casino.

 

[ColdCat]

The Oregon State Fair is pretty weak. Once they ditched horse racing they pretty much settled into being a big county fair. Big name acts are pretty much what you would find at a tribal casino.

I think that's every state fair. Even in the heyday of Michigan's Lower Peninsula State Fair, you could catch better acts down the street at Theater Bizarre.

 

[copperpot]

I live only a few miles from the NY State Fair and love it. Going this afternoon, in fact, which will be my third time this week. Cool (if dated) lineup of free shows this year: Barenaked Ladies, Joan Jett, Bell Biv Devoe, Smashmouth, Phillip Phillips.

There's no state fair in PA, but the closest thing, the Bloomsburg Fair, used to be right outside my apartment (just a weird coincidence; I don't seek out state fairs when looking for places to live). Smaller but still great. Worth going back each year for a Vince's cheesesteak.

 

[Bob Cook]

Pitbull is playing or has played, from what I've seen, state fairs in Indiana, Illinois and New York. Maybe he really likes the taste of fried butter and the smell of pig crap.

 

[Bob Cook]

Is Michigan the only state that had 2 "state fairs"?
Of course they got rid of the state fair in 2010...and the "U.P. State Fair" is all that's left.

Illinois has two state fairs: the one in Springfield and the one in DuQuoin.

 

[Boom_70]

Big fan of the Midwestern summer county fairs. A real slice of Americana.
It's a unique experience to catch one of the bands of my youth such as Three
Dog Night or Chicago in the middle of a corn field with the smell of corn dogs
and hogs wafting in the background. Most of these fairs have VIP seating for a
mere $25 - $50 bucks that comes with parking, beer and food all night. Wholesome
midwestern girls walking around with pitchers refilling your glass during concert.

Have always wanted to catch Skynard in one of those but schedule has not worked
out.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

Kentucky's is pretty nice. Its around Louisville.

I love fairs. Love 'em!
They are kind of pricey, but I can people watch all day.

 

[cranberry]

I'd like to go to one of the giant Midwestern fairs just for the experience. The Big E, which combines the New England states, is coming up in mid-September in W. Springfield, Mass. That's about as big as it gets on the East Coast. Never been to the New York fair.

I like the county fairs, too. The Champlain Valley Fair, is the biggest in Vermont. My personal favorite is the Orleans County (Vt.) fair on demolition derby day. The Durham Fair in Connecticut is fun, too.

 

[Boom_70]

I'd like to go to one of the giant Midwestern fairs just for the experience. The Big E, which combines the New England states, is coming up in mid-September in W. Springfield, Mass. That's about as big as it gets on the East Coast. Never been to the New York fair.

I like the county fairs, too. The Champlain Valley Fair, is the biggest in Vermont. My personal favorite is the Orleans County (Vt.) fair on demolition derby day. The Durham Fair in Connecticut is fun, too.

East Coast fairs are amateur hour from my experience

 

[Machine Head]

Sota. Go to Sota.

would like to, never been, even just to visit. Been to Mich, Ill, Wisc, need to go to Minn and Iowa. How is the Minn fair, when is it?

Now:

http://www.mnstatefair.org/

 

[Football_Bat]

Texas has the main State Fair in Dallas. Before that there is the North Texas State Fair in Denton, which is like the month-long happy hour before Daytona.

 

[ColdCat]

some friends who live in Michigan tell me the Lower Peninsula State Fair is back after a several year hiatus. It is evidently a three-day affair in a parking lot with no musical acts at all so I guess even calling it a glorified county fair would be way too kind.

 

[joe]

Long ago I worked in Sedalia, MO, site of the Missouri State Fair. All of us in the newsroom had free passes to get into the fair and park, so we hit it pretty hard while the fair ran its course. Pretty much stayed in the Bud tent, getting drunk and listening to acts trying to be the next George Strait.

Rode the sky coaster a few times, but I stayed away from the midway.

Went to the Oregon state fair when I lived in the PNW. Paid 50 cents to see "the world's biggest hog." Poor ****er just laid on his side, suffering from the heat.

 

[Vombatus]

Paid 50 cents to see "the world's biggest hog." Poor ****er just laid on his side, suffering from the heat.

I got to see Kate's teats for free last night.