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State Fairs

Music, amusement rides, and fried foods are all part of the fun at the state fair.
The state
fair is a unique American tradition. Some of the oldest state
fairs have been around for over 150 years, and have only become
more and more popular as the years have passed.
Most state fairs started out as agricultural and livestock gatherings
and competitions, meant to promote these industries in the home
state.
Meanwhile, the more domestic side of farm life was highlighted
by pie baking contests or flower growing competitions.
Many fairs would travel around the state in these early days,
being hosted by a new city every year. Back then it was difficult
for farmers to move their livestock over long distances, and so
the fair eventually came to settle into a traditional location
where the whole state would come together at the annual early fall or
end-of-summer celebration.
Have fun at the fair!
Today, agriculture and livestock are both still a big part of most state fairs, but the attractions have evolved to include things like regional foods, live music concerts, and a Midway filled with amusement park rides.

Pig
out at the fair...
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More classic
state fair attractions have come to include hand-crafted butter
sculptures (often life-sized recreations of cows, sheep - or even
Mount Rushmore) along with more edible cholesterol-raising concoctions
including BBQ, corn dogs, funnel cakes, and even deep
fried Coca Cola. Tests of strength and other unique competitions
have also come to characterize much of what a state fair is all
about.
Of course not all state fairs are created equal. Some are old
and are steeped in tradition, like the New
York State Fair, while others are more recent additions to
the ranks. Today, some of the most popular US state fairs include
Arizona, Iowa, Minnesota, Oklahoma, and Texas, all of which regularly
attract more than a million people annually. Of these, the Texas
State Fair is by far the most popular, attracting some three
million fair goers every year.
State fairs are a wonderful attraction that the whole family can
enjoy, and there is such a wide variety of entertainment and cultural
events available that everyone will find something to thrill them
at the fair. Have fun!
also see in Recreation ->
Amusement
Parks
Summer
Concert Schedule | U.S.
Fall Foliage Tours
More about US state fairs around the Web :
State Fair Dates.com - The complete US listing directory from A-Z.
Country Fairs - Extensive list of fairs and festivals by city, county or state.
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