It's State Fair Time!
By rapunzelcat
@rapunzelcat (271)
United States
August 11, 2010 11:08pm CST
The Iowa State Fair that is! I only go every few years because I don't enjoy walking around in the heat and humidity. I got to go to a free preview tonight because my daughter entered some things in the Fabric and Threads dividion. She got a second place ribbon on a hat she knitted for my granddaughter, we were very excited since this is the first time she's entered anything in knitting.
If the weather cools down any I will probably go for real since it's been 3-4 years since I've gone and I would like to have a state fair corn dog, look at the vendors in the Varied Industries building and see the Butter Cow.
Does anyone else live in a state where the state fair (or an equivalent event) is considered a big deal? What's your favorite thing to do?
1 person likes this
7 responses
@ktroth (378)
• United States
12 Aug 10
I live in Wisconsin where State Fair is a huge deal! Ours is also going on right now. Honestly, I can't stand county fairs. But I truly enjoy our State Fair. Like you, though, I don't like going when it's hot and humid. It's nasty! I love to people watch. I don't know if your fair is like this, but at ours, vendors are constantly coming up with strange foods....often on a stick. This year it's a Krispy Kreme doughnut with a cheeseburger patty in the middle (doughnut is the bun). I didn't have a bite of my husband's when he had one. It made my stomach turn! Chocolate covered bacon on a stick is also big this year. And deep fried anything!
I think my favorite thing is going through the building with all the vendors.
1 person likes this
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Wow, that Krispy Kreme thing sounds kind of disgusting! A few years ago I had a deep fried candy bar, it was yummy! You can get a pork chop on a stick, or a huge turkey leg, which of course has the stick built in! Chocolate covered bacon sounds like it would either be really, really good, or really, really bad, I can't decide which!
@keshia2007r (2880)
• United States
13 Aug 10
hello, interesting topic!
I live in South Carolina and our State Fair is still a big deal. Some people honestly grew out of time. I don't go every year like I use to when I was a kid. But I go every now and again. Mostly for the food lol, and my bf and brother likes I play those addicting games that are hard to win. But our state fair do not start until October when its much cooler outside, so it makes our people from the south more likely to go. but i think i'll go to our state fair this year. should be fun!!
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
October, that's an interesting idea for scheduling the fair--not that we have anything to say about it lol! I would be a lot more likely to go if they had it when the weather isn't so hot, but Iowa weather is too unpredictable. It might still be hot then, or we could have snow!
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
12 Aug 10
we are in canada and we have something that is similar to a state fair. its called the canadian national exhibition (cne) and has been around since the almost the 1900s. its from the latter part of august til labour day and everyone knows that the beginning of the ex starts the end of summer holidays (kids go back to school the day after labour day). we dont go every year but almost.
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
Yes, it's always a little sad when the fair is over and you realize that summer is almost over too! I mean, technically it goes on for another month, but to me, fall starts when school starts. Our kids usually go back the last week of August, but I saw that one town near us is starting on August 18th and that is way too soon! My kids used to go to that school so if we hadn't moved my son would be going back then.
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
12 Aug 10
I don't know if the one here in California is considered a big deal, though I've heard on the news before that people travel from all over the state to go to it, so I'm guessing that it is. LOL
I actually haven't gone to it in years. I really wanted to this year, but I just didn't get the chance. Oh well, there's always next year!
Happy mylotting!
PS My favorite thing there would have to be the games. 
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
This discussion is really putting me in the mood to go! I heard we are getting a break on the hot weather next week, if so I am going!
I don't usually spend my money on games, but one year I went to a fortune teller. The same year I went to the age-guesser, who guessed wrong, and I got a really crappy prize.
@Ceekay1989 (323)
• United States
12 Aug 10
its state fair time for me, too. I love it but not during the day too hot, i really only go for the food, the foods great. but its also nice seeing ppl around you haven't seen all summer
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
The heat goes down in the evening but it stays humid most of the night here. One good thing though, is that admission is half price in the evenings. Of course, you can't stay as long, but I probably wouldn't stay all day anyway if I went earlier.
@catalady (363)
•
12 Aug 10
Sadly here in the UK we don't really have anything like this. Many of the smll villages have their own fetes which I guess are similar to your State Fairs and they have craft and cake making competitions...but village fairs are getting rarer here as we seem to be losing our villages as more and more houses are built and areas become more built up and lose their village status and the sense of community they once had.
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
That's too bad! There are places in the US where this is happening, too.
@Steinway (307)
• United States
12 Aug 10
Today is the start of the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia. My boyfriend and I are going today. Last time I was at the fair they had fried green tomatoes, which I will probably have today. But, my favorite thing is walking where the vendors are in the buildings. You get to see a lot of nice products and I may come out with at least one thing I don't need...lol
@rapunzelcat (271)
• United States
13 Aug 10
I've never had fried green tomatoes before. I'm not sure if there's anywhere around here where you can get them. There are a ton of things to buy at our fair! Whenever I go I like to buy jam that a local orchard sells, I think the last time I bought some my son gobbled it up and I only had one serving.
