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State fairs, originally held to celebrate the harvest, have grown into enormously popular annual events. For couples on a budget and last-minute vacationers, state fairs offer great, affordable dining and entertainment close to home.
Food
A bounty of edibles fresh-picked from the farm, ethnic delights, and other unique temptations await those with an appetite for something different at state fairs. At the Minnesota State Fair, you can choose from dozens of different foods-on-a-stick...
Regional specialties also reign at state fairs: To determine who makes the finest cheese in Wisconsin, attend competitions featuring colby, cheddar, and other local varieties.
At the Vermont State Fair, see how to make maple syrup -- and savor maple cotton candy and maple donuts. And at the California State Fair, sip on blue-ribbon wines.
Animals
Animal lovers head for the livestock exhibits at state fairs, where they can see the cows, goats, sheep, pigs, chickens, rabbits, and other farm animals up close that 4-H club members work so hard to nurture all year.
Four-legged creatures are also put through their paces in state fairs. Horse shows and dog agility demonstrations draw animal lovers. Those with a greater appetite for speed can catch state fairs' grandstand racing and demolition derbies.
Crafts
Crafty types will appreciate state fairs' demonstrations of needlework, dress-making, and stained-glass making. Award-winners in canning, baking, cake decorating, and other domestic skills show onlookers how the experts do it. If you're not handy yourself, craftspeople and vendors hawk everything from hand-pieced quilts to amazing new inventions at state fairs.
Games and Rides
At night, the midway illuminates the grounds. The big Ferris wheel provides an eagle's-eye view of the state fairs activity, and the carousel turns it all into a blur of colors and sounds -- especially when there are fireworks. Visitors of all ages flock to games where prizes large and fuzzy await ring-tossing, balloon-popping champions. (Tip: If your heart is set on walking away with a larger-than-life stuffed animal, offer to buy it outright: In the long run, it'll be cheaper than "winning" it.)
Music
Expect to see the biggest names in show business performing on the state-fair circuit -- and ticket prices are comparatively low.
Traditions
Old-fashioned country pleasures such as fiddling, square dancing, hog-calling, and hay rides are a staple at many state fairs. And state fairs are also the best place to hear country music outside the Grand Ole Opry.
All over America, the good times are rolling. Whatever your vacation plans, make time to come to the fair.
Alabama National Fair
October 4 - 14, 2019
Alaska State Fair
August 22 - September 2, 2019
Arkansas State Fair
October 11 - 20, 2019
Arizona State Fair
October 4 - 27, 2019. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
California State Fair
July 12 - July 28, 2019
Colorado State Fair
August 23 - September 2, 2019
Connecticut Fairs
Multiple Dates
Delaware State Fair
July 18 – 27, 2019
Florida State Fair
February 6 - 17, 2020
Georgia National Fair
October 3 - 13, 2019
Idaho State Fair
August 16 - 25, 2019
Illinois State Fair
August 8 - 18, 2019
Indiana State Fair
August 2 - 18, 2019
Iowa State Fair
August 8 - 18, 2019
Kansas State Fair
September 6 - 15, 2019
Kentucky State Fair
August 15 - 25, 2019
Louisiana State Fair
October 24 - November 3, 2019
Maine State Fair
August 8 - 17, 2019 Skohegan
July 25 - August 3, 2019 Bangor
Maryland State Fair
August 22 - September 2, 2019
Massachusetts State Fair
September 13 – 29, 2019
Michigan State Fair (Upper Peninsula)
August 12 - 18, 2019
Minnesota State Fair
August 22 - September 2, 2019
Mississippi State Fair
October 2 - 14, 2019
Missouri State Fair
August 8 - 18, 2019
Montana State Fair
July 26 - August 3, 2019
Nebraska State Fair
August 23 - September 2, 2019
New Hampshire State Fair
August 30 - September 2, 2019
New Jersey State Fair
August 2 - 11, 2019
New Mexico State Fair
September 5 - 15, 2019
New York State Fair
August 21 – September 2, 2019
North Carolina State Fair
October 17 - 27, 2019
North Dakota State Fair
July 19 - 27, 2019
Ohio State Fair
July 24 - August 4, 2019
Oklahoma State Fair
September 12 - 22, 2019
Oregon State Fair
August 23 - September 2, 2019
Pennsylvania Fairs
Multiple Dates & Locations, 2019
South Carolina State Fair
October 9 - 20, 2019
South Dakota State Fair
August 29 - September 3, 2019
Tennessee State Fair
September 6 - 15, 2019
Texas State Fair
September 27 - October 20, 2019
Utah State Fair
September 5 - 15, 2019
Vermont State Fair
August 13 - 17, 2019
Virginia State Fair
September 27 - October 6, 2019
Washington State Fair
August 30 - September 22, 2019 (closed Tuesdays and September 4)
West Virginia State Fair
August 8 - 17, 2019
Wisconsin State Fair
August 1 - 11, 2019
Wyoming State Fair
August 13 - 17, 2019