State fair has our never-ending love. It is one of the best times of our lives where we get the best food, meet the best people, and take the best pictures. Except for the foods on a stick, each state celebrates the state fair in a unique way. Let’s have a look at the 5 best state fairs in the US, its history, and how uniquely it is celebrated.
Indiana
This is one of the top state fairs in the United States. Indiana state fair is usually held in August in Indianapolis, Indiana. The first state fair of Indiana was held in October 1852. The state fair buildings and grounds are used to conduct other shows and events apart from the times of state fair. There are many tall and attractive buildings in the state fair but the Indiana Farmers Coliseum is the largest building at the fairgrounds. Indiana is the 6th state to conduct annual statewide agricultural fair. This act is passed to encourage the agricultural growth of the state. Indiana state fair has a lot of competitions, air balloon races, and art contests. 4-H is one of the main competitions in which a large number of people participate. The winners are given awards and scholarships. Swine Barn is another famous place you can find in the state fair, here you can see hogs of about 1000 pounds. The swine barn was built in 1923 when Indiana was the best in agriculture.
Minnesota
“Great Minnesota get together” is its slogan. It is one of the most famous tourist attractions in the state. The Minnesota state fair was started in 1859, the very next year after Minnesota received its statehood. It is one of the largest state fairs by attendance. You can find 1000s of food-related booths and stalls at the Minnesota state fair. But other than food stalls you will also find more than 1,300 stalls that are non-food-related. Food products are always at their best in the Minnesota trade fair as there is a strict selection process for selecting vendors and foods that must be sold at the fair. The winner of the Minnesota dairy princess program gets a chance to get their face carved in a block of butter. Another popular thing about the Minnesota state fair is the “Speak Softly and Carry a Big Stick” speech of president Theodore Roosevelt in 1901.
1. New York State Fair Is a 22-Day Annual Event
- A. True
- B. False
Texas
What state has the biggest state fair? Texas, because it runs for 24 days. It is one of the biggest state fairs in the USA which every Texan eagerly waits for. The first Texas state fair was held on October 25, 1886, in Southeast Dallas. William Howard Taft and Woodrow Wilson made their visits to the fair in the years 1909 and 1911 respectively. There are two times when the fair was canceled, one during World War 1 in 1918 and during World war 2, from 1942 to 1945. Currently, the Texas state fair was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The nightly parade called the starlight parade and a light show called illumination sensation are the two major attractions. The world’s tallest cowboy, Big Tex(55 ft) has been its symbol since 1952, in 1953, his jaw was hinged to make him look like he was talking. But before he was a cowboy, he was a giant Santa Claus. The Big Tex awards are very famous and it is given to the best fair food. It is one of the events that involve a lot of fun and no Texan wants to miss it.
Wisconsin
It is one of the popular annual events held in Wisconsin state fair park, Wisconsin. This event usually occurs in August and lasts for 11 days. The first state fair was held in 1851. Abraham Lincoln gave an annual oration in 1859; he spoke about how farmers, merchants, and businessmen are interconnected. The Wisconsin state fair was canceled in various years, from 1861 to 1863 due to the Civil War, in 1893, and in 1945 due to WW2. You can see racing pigs here, they are not what you think, they all are fast and furious to win the game. If you miss going on a slide, here is a giant slide to bring your childhood days back. You can get delicious flavored milk at a very cheap price here. Cream puffs are very famous here, a record-breaking 400,678 cream puffs were consumed once. This state fair also helps outsiders know more about Wisconsin and what it produced each year. The DNR park is a perfect place to tell you more about the natural beauty of Wisconsin.
New York
It is one of the oldest state fairs in the United States as it first started in 1841. New York state fair is an 18-day annual event in which you can find many arts, agriculture, and entertainment programs. It is one of the largest annual events of New York, from rock concerts to community theater productions it hosts more than 50 events every year. Currently, the New York state fair of 2020 was postponed to next year September 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. You can enjoy free concerts with regular admission tickets. You can get free food samples from Farm-to-Fork Cuisine which is considered the heart of New York. NY food truck competition is another famous competition where you can taste foods from different trucks for $3 and can cast your vote for the particular truck. Livestock competitions and calf birthing centers are for animal lovers.
State fairs are the best times to enjoy with your loved ones. Whenever you visit any of these states, do not forget to enjoy the state fairs. They might become the best days of your life.