(Getty Images)
State fairs are one the top events for states across the country, drawing millions of visitors each year. These family friendly events were built on the basics: judging livestock, agriculture and food. Recipe judging is one of the oldest kind of competitions dating back to the early 1800s.
Today, state fairs are larger, offer rides, special events and, of course, a variety of tempting and tasty treats. In the following pages we highlight some ofAmerica's greatest state fairs listed by their 2012 opening dates.
(State Fair of Texas)
The State Fair of Texas was started in 1886 by a group of Dallas businessmen as a place to showcase racing stock, sell cattle and display farm machinery.
In the 1950s an international livestock show was developed, a monorail system was built, and Big Tex, a 52-foot cowboy, was erected in the center of the fairgrounds.Big Tex wears size 70 boots and a 75-gallon hat.He was donated by the H.D. Lee Company of Shawnee Misson, Kan.
Food has always been a favorite at the State Fair of Texas. The corn dog was born in 1942 when Carl and Neil Fletcher invented deep-fried corn-battered hot dogs and sold them for the first time at the Texas State Fair.Since then, fairgoers have ranked food as one of the top reasons for attending the annual event.In 2005, food was taken to another level. Each year concessionaires participate in the Big Tex Choice Awards. In 2011, the best taste winner went to Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack, and the most creative went to Fried Bubble Gum.
The State Fair of Texas is the largest fair in the country.
Location: Dallas, Texas.
2012 dates: Sept. 28-Oct. 21.
Size: 277 acres.
Top-selling food:Fletchers Corny Dog, selling 500,000 during the 24-day state fair
Unique features: Red River Rivalry Football Game, a matchup between University of Texas and University of Oklahoma; and Big Tex.
(North Carolina State Fair)
The North Carolina State Fair was first held in 1853 and has had three different home since then, all in North Carolina's capital city, Raleigh.
This fair holds true to its roots. Exhibits are based around agriculture and education.In the Village of Yesteryear fairgoers can see a large collection of vintage farm tools while getting a taste of mill ground cornmeal for freshly cooked southern hush puppies. The Field of Dreams exhibit takes kids through the growing and harvesting process of crops from the field to the table.
Food is also a favorite for fairgoers. Here you can find all the fried goodies: candy bars, Coke and candy apples. For more than half a century ice cream lovers have flocked to the N.C. State Dairy stand for Howling Cow Ice Cream. The ice cream is made on the N.C. State campus at the dairy lab, using traditional recipes with fresh milk and cream from its Raleigh farm.
This 11-day event attracts more than a million people to the N.C. State Fairgrounds.
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
2012 dates: Oct.11-21.
Size: 344 acres.
Top-selling food:Cotton candy, turkey legs, funnel cakes and Howling Cow Ice Cream.
Unique features:7,500-seat concert area with a large suspended roof, the Village of Yesteryear, and Field of Dreams Exhibit.
(California State Fair)
Shortly after the discovery of gold, agriculture exploded in the Golden State. The first California State Fair was held in 1854 in San Francisco, but after moving each year to different cities the fair found a home in the capital city of Sacramento. The fair was the yearly source of entertainment and education for early settlers, drawing crowds of as many as 15,000 on a single day. Today, the average yearly attendance is more than 1 million over 18 days.
Some of the most popular events at the California State Fair are watching the live concert series, live thoroughbred racing, the Sacramento Mile Motorcycle Races and Mental Mayhem destruction derbies.
In 2001 over one million guests visited the California State Fair ranking it fifth largest fair in the nation.
Location: Sacramento, Calif.
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 365 acres.
Top-selling food: Corn dogs, 175,000 sold during the 2011 California State Fair.
Unique features: Maintains one of three operational monorails in the country, has a lagoon in the middle of the property and has its own police department with 200 officers.
(Ohio State Fair)
The Ohio State Fair has been a staple for residents across Buckeye State since 1850 except for three years during World War II. During that time, the facility was used for handling airplane parts and equipment.
Traditions are key at this fair and are one of the reasons more than 800,000 people come back each year. There are three things that set this fair apart. First up: the butter and cow calf. What is that, you ask? Butter sculptors have been creating these butter masterpieces of cows and other shapes since 1903. Another favorite feature is the 14.5-foot-tall Smokey Bear, who since the 1970s has been saying the names of children as they enter the Natural Resources Park area.Lastly, the giant slide has been a crowd pleaser since 1969. This 140- foot ride speeds you down at 15 mph.
Location: Columbus, Ohio
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 360 Acres
Top-selling food: Ice cream, French fries, pizza, corn dogs and roasted corn
Unique features: The giant slide, butter cow and calf sculptures, and a super-sized talking Smokey Bear
(Wisconsin State Fair)
The Wisconsin State Fair has been held since 1851, and it marks its 161st year this year.The first fair was tiny, held on six acres for two days in Janesville, Wis. Between 13,000 and 18,000 paid a dime to see the attractions. One of the most notable was the 200-pound squash.
The fair moved 40 times before it made its home in Milwaukee, but there were some bumps in the road. For significant and historical reasons, the fair was canceled five time -- three because of the Civil War.
Today an average of 875,000 visitors attend the fair, and a large number of them go for the cream puffs. They've been a hot seller and the longest continually selling item at the fair since 1924.
Location: Milwaukee, Wis.
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 200 acres.
Top-selling food: Cream puffs, 350,000 sold each year
Unique features: Racing pigs and Kids from Wisconsin concert.
(Iowa State Fair)
The Iowa State Fair has been held since 1854 and began in Fairfield, Iowa. Through the years, the fair's location has changed nine times until it moved to Iowa's capital city, Des Moines, in 1879. The Iowa State Fair is the single largest event in Iowa and is one of the oldest and largest agricultural and industrial expositions in the country.
Today, this well known "Classic American State Fair: is home to one of the world's largest livestock shows and the county's largest state fair food departments. At this fair you can find more than 50 different foods on a stick, including pork chops, fried butter, peanut butter and jelly, salad and fried ice cream.
The butter-sculpted cow is a yearly feature dating back more than 100 years.More than 1 million visitors attend the fair each year. The fair was included in the the New York Times best-selling travel book 1,000 Places to See Before You Die.
Location: Des Moines, Iowa.
2013 dates: TBA
Size: 450 acres.
Top-selling food:The corn dog is the top seller, but the pork chop on a stick is the most notable in this top-producing pork state.
Unique features: The Iowa State Fair features one of the world’s largest livestock shows and contests like the outhouse races and cow chip throwing.
(Linda Doane/Kentucky State Fair)
The Kentucky State Fair was organized in 1816 and became an official state fair in 1907. After moving to several different cities across the state, the fair found its home in Louisville in 1907. For the last 56 years The Kentucky Exposition Center has been the center for entertainment, shows and family fun.
This fair has over a million square feet of indoor space to feature exhibits from acrobats to home improvement demonstrations. Included in this indoor space is Freedom Hall, home to the World Championship Horse Show. This prestigious event attracts attendees and horses from several continents drawing 1.2 million in premiums and awards. Another unique feature is the Tropical and Native Fish exhibit, one of the few fairs in the nation that can accommodate a competitive department for tropical fish.
Over 600,000 people attend the Kentucky State Fair annually.
Location: Louisville, Ky.
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 520 acres.
Top-selling food:The most popular foods are the pork chop sandwich, fried catfish and fresh milkshakes found in the Kentucky Cookout Tent.
Unique features: The World's Championship Horse Show, known as the world's richest and most prestigious saddlebred horse show and the Tropical and Native Fish Exhibit. Both are held inside Freedom Hall, a multi-purpose arena used regularly, hosting concerts, horse shows, conventions, and basketball games.
The first Great New York State Fair was held in Syracuse in 1841 and is the nation's first state fair. More than 10,000 people gathered to listen to speeches, view animal exhibits and see samples of manufactured goods for the farm and home. Today, the fair the third-largest in the country with more than 1 million visitors annually.
Through the years several notable events have taken place at the fairgrounds. The fair was suspended from 1942 to 1947 so the site could be used as a military base during World War II.. In 1972, Sonny and Cher performed a the fair's Empire Court, breaking the fair's concert attendance records up to that year.
Agriculture is still a large component of the Greater New York State Fair. In 2011, the fair featured more than 14,000 animals entered to be exhibited. Butter sculptures are a popular draw. 800 pounds of unsalted butter have been carved and sculpted since 1969.
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
2012 dates: Aug. 23-Sept. 3.
Size: 375 acres.
Top-selling food:Wine slushies, food from Bakers Chicken Coup, and Gianelli sausage from Dinosaur BBQ
Unique features: Butter sculptures, sand sculptures and free concerts.
(Great New York State Fair)
The first Great New York State Fair was held in Syracuse in 1841 and is the nation's first state fair. More than 10,000 people gathered to listen to speeches, view animal exhibits and see samples of manufactured goods for the farm and home. Today, the fair the third-largest in the country with more than 1 million visitors annually.
Through the years several notable events have taken place at the fairgrounds. The fair was suspended from 1942 to 1947 so the site could be used as a military base during World War II.. In 1972, Sonny and Cher performed a the fair's Empire Court, breaking the fair's concert attendance records up to that year.
Agriculture is still a large component of the Greater New York State Fair. In 2011, the fair featured more than 14,000 animals entered to be exhibited. Butter sculptures are a popular draw. 800 pounds of unsalted butter have been carved and sculpted since 1969.
Location: Syracuse, N.Y.
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 375 acres.
Top-selling food:Wine slushies, food from Bakers Chicken Coup, and Gianelli sausage from Dinosaur BBQ
Unique features: Butter sculptures, sand sculptures and free concerts.
(Minnesota State Fair)
The first Minnesota State Fair was held in 1859, and through the years it has been home to many notable events.The first airplane flight in Minnesota history took place at the fair in 1910. The legendary pacer horse Dan Patch set the world harness racing record at the Grandstand in 1906, and John Philip Sousa composed Minnesota March and performed it at the fair in 1927.Today, the Minnesota State Fair attracts more than 1.8 million visitors each year and is the second-largest state fair in the country.Food is one of the main attractions. More than 450 foods are available at 300 concessions selling 60-plus items on a stick. Some fan favorites are deep-fried candy bars, spaghetti and meatballs and key lime pie on a stick.
Location: St Paul, Minn.
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 320 acres.
Top-selling food:Deep-fried candy bars.
Unique features: CHS Miracle of Birth Center, where baby animals are born during the fair; the Eco Center, an area designed to educate visitors about sustainability; and Little Farm Hands, an interactive children's farm exhibit.
(B. Farnum Photography)
The Vermont State Fair has been running since 1846 and first took place in a field near Castleton,Vt. Years later it found its present home in Rutland County. This time-tested tradition has faced some hardships through the years.In 1917, the state closed the fair and all other public gatherings because of a flu epidemic. In 1939, a fire destroyed the grandstand. Reconstruction took just 40 days.
Vermont's fair has always been loved. In 1926, it was ranked among the top 10 best fairs in the United States. Today, attendance numbers are around 100,000 annually. Many visitors come for the entertainment, from pig races to numerous live musical acts.
Roxie's Famous French Fries has been a long-standing favorite food with fairgoers and are considered to be the best fries in Vermont.
Location: Rutland, Vt.
2013 dates: TBA.
Size: 60 acres.
Top-selling food:Roxies French Fries, sold for 65 years at the fair.
Unique features: Agricultural events and free musical entertainment.
(The Big E)
The Eastern States Exposition or "Big E" is one of the most unique fairs. Six New England States -- New Hampshire, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island -- participate in this 17-day event in West Springfield, Mass.
The Big E has been running since 1916 and started as a way to promote farming in New England. The fair provided demonstrations of new farming methods and established competitive awards to inspire farmers and children.
The fair draws an average crowd of 1.2 million annually. Many come to see the the Avenue of the States, where life size replicas of the six state capitols are built along a boulevard; the authentic Mardi Gras Parade; and Storrowtown Village, a village built from disassembled towns throughout New England.
Food is also a fan favorite, and each year the Big E adds something new to its list. This year fried lasagna, chocolate-covered bacon and fried Girl Scout Samoas will be added to the list. The most-popular food is the Big E Craz-E Burger, a bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between two halves of a grilled, glazed donut.
Location: West Springfield, Mass.
2012 dates: Sept. 14-30.
Size: 175 acres.
Top-selling food:The Big E Cream Puff and the Big E Craz-E Burger, a bacon cheeseburger sandwiched between two halves of a grilled, glazed donut.
Unique features: The Avenue of the States, the Big E Mardi Gras Parade, and Storrowton Village Museum.
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