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This year, watch for the 108th annual Kentucky State Fair to kick off on August 16 and continue until August 26, 2012 ... celebrating everything Kentucky!

First organized in 1816, the fair didn't become an official one until 1902 and, after traveling from city to city for several years, settled in Louisville where today the fair has found a permanent home at the mammoth 520-acre Kentucky Exposition Center.

As in past years, the fair's huge popularity is expected to draw some 600,000 visitors during the fair's traditional two-week run in August.

The Kentucky State Fair features spectacular roller coaster rides and other amusement park attractions along with lots of fried foods and regional specialties, (in case you forgot - Kentucky is also the official home of Laughing Cow cheese!)

While Kentucky is most famous for fried chicken, Kentucky bourbon, bluegrass music, and baseball bats, don't miss the opportunity to take in the fair's major attraction - the World Championship Horse Show - where 2,000 elite saddlebreds from across the state and around the world compete for millions of dollars in prizes.

Kentucky State Fair concert lineup

Music entertainment is another major draw high on the list of attractions at the Kentucky State Fair, with concerts given by major country stars in the past including Rascal Flatts, Sugarland, Keith Urban, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Taylor Swift.

In 2012, watch for the concert series to kick off with Hank Williams, Jr on Thursday, August 16, followed by Journey (with Pat Benatar and Loverboy) on Friday, August 17, and Rascal Flatts on Saturday, August 18. Closing out the fair will be The Band Perry on Sunday, August 26.

Tickets are available at the Kentucky Exposition Center Ticket Office, KFC YUM! Center Ticket Office, Kentucky International Convention Center (KICC) Ticket Office and all Ticketmaster outlets.

Have fun!

More about the Kentucky State Fair around the Web:

Kentucky State Fair - The official site with the complete lineup of events and daily schedule, contest entry, ticket prices and parking, directions and maps, photos.

Kentucky State Fair - Wikipedia - A good overview of fair history, as well as present day attractions with photos, related references and resources..

Kentucky State Fair Story Articles - A complete library of information from the Louisville About.com guide including the latest events and concerts, popular traditional fair attractions, photo galleries and related resources.

also see -> Christmas in Kentucky | Kentucky Derby

Kentucky Lakes & Beaches | Kentucky Wineries

Moving to Kentucky