imported>Entranced98: Importing Wikidata short description: "Annual event in Florida, United States"

2025-03-04T15:40:03Z

Importing Wikidata short description: "Annual event in Florida, United States"

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{{Short description|Annual event in Florida, United States}}
{{coord|27.987|-82.362|region:US-FL_type:event|display=title}}
{{Infobox recurring event |
|name= Florida State Fair
|logo=
|caption=
|location= [[East Lake-Orient Park, Florida|East Lake-Orient Park]], [[Florida]]
|years_active= 1904–1917; 1919–1941; 1946–Present
|dates= February 2024
|genre= [[State fair]]
|attendance = {{decrease}} 292,369 (2021) <ref>{{cite web|url=https://carnivalwarehouse.com/newsserver/per-cap-spending-records-set-at-rescheduled-florida-state-fair-1621468800|title=Per-Cap Spending Records Set at Rescheduled Florida State Fair|author=Timothy Herrick|publisher=CarnivalWarehouse|date=May 20, 2021|accessdate=February 17, 2022}}</ref>
|website= {{official URL}}
}}

The '''Florida State Fair''' is held annually at the [[Florida State Fairgrounds]] in [[East Lake-Orient Park, Florida]]. The official [[state fair]] of [[Florida]], it includes indoor and outdoor exhibits, rides and shows.<ref>[http://www.floridastatefair.com/entertainment Florida State Fair: Entertainment]</ref> It is a chance for the state to showcase its agricultural industry.<ref name="City of Tampa">{{cite web|url=http://www.tampagov.net/news_and_events/feature_events/florida_state_fair/|title=Florida State Fair|publisher=City of Tampa|access-date=2009-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090307032044/http://www.tampagov.net/news_and_events/feature_events/Florida_State_Fair/|archive-date=2009-03-07|url-status=dead}}</ref> The Fair also offers competitions and food oddities such as [[chocolate covered bacon]] & Buffalo chicken [[chimichanga]].<ref name="animals, rides, food on a stick">{{cite news|title=At the Florida State Fair, enjoy animals, rides and food on a stick|work=[[St. Petersburg Times]]|date=5 February 2009|access-date=14 February 2009|url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/events/article973207.ece|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090218134957/http://tampabay.com/features/events/article973207.ece|archive-date=18 February 2009|url-status=dead}}</ref> The annual event is usually held in February and typically lasts for 11 days.<ref>[http://www.floridastatefair.com Main page]</ref> It is the first state fair to be held in the United States each calendar year.<ref name="first">{{cite news|title=2018 Florida State Fair guide: Tips, top entertainment and crazy food on a stick|work=[[Tampa Bay Times]]|date=5 February 2018|access-date=23 January 2019|url=https://www.tampabay.com/things-to-do/travel/florida/2018-Florida-State-Fair-guide-Tips-top-entertainment-and-crazy-food-on-a-stick_164855576}}
</ref>

==History==
[[File: Florida_State_Fair_Midway_2013.jpeg|thumb|right|Florida State Fair in 2013]]
In 1904, the South Florida Fair Association was formed and plans for a new exhibition were proposed. The fair was founded as the '''South Florida Fair''' in downtown Tampa and renamed the '''Mid-Winter Festival''' a few years later. The name finally changed to the present '''Florida State Fair''' in 1915.<ref name="Florida State Fair: History">{{Cite web |url=http://www.floridastatefair.com/history |title=Florida State Fair: History |access-date=2009-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131135332/http://floridastatefair.com/history |archive-date=2009-01-31 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The [[World Wars]] cancelled the fairs in 1918 & 1942–1945.

In 1975, the Florida Legislature created the Florida State Fair Authority and designated the yearly event in Tampa as the official Florida State Fair. By 1977, the first fair was held at its current location, at the intersection of [[Interstate 4]] and [[U.S. Route 301 in Florida|U.S. Highway 301]] in unincorporated [[Hillsborough County, Florida|Hillsborough County]].<ref name="Florida State Fair: History"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.floridastatefair.com/fair-authority |title=Florida State Fair Authority |access-date=2009-02-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090208093941/http://floridastatefair.com/fair-authority |archive-date=2009-02-08 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Fair events==
The Florida State Fair also includes competitions in crafts such as [[fine arts]] and [[agriculture|agricultural]] competitions. Entries are judged and ribbons awarded. 2009 saw new additions to the state fair, including a live shark exhibit and a mechanical rodeo.<ref name="animals, rides, food on a stick" />

==Venues==
Besides the rides and exhibits, other venues during the Fair include the [[Bob Thomas Equestrian Center]], which hosts horse races and other equestrian events; [[Cracker Country]], which demonstrates life in [[History of Florida|frontier Florida]];<ref>Florida State Fair Wednesday, Feb 11 9:00a to 6:00p at Cracker Country, Tampa, FL Herald Tribune.com http://events.heraldtribune.com/tampa-fl/events/show/85960265-florida-state-fair{{Dead link|date=April 2024 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> and exhibitions from most counties of Florida plus various agricultural and other state organizations in the large [[Expo Hall]].

At the Rabbit and Poultry Barn,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.floridastatefair.com/events/2019/rabbit--poultry-barn|title=Rabbit & Poultry Barn|website=www.floridastatefair.com|language=en|access-date=2019-11-03}}</ref> fair-goers can view different breeds of rabbits and hold newborn chicks.

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{portal|Florida}}
* {{official}}
{{Florida State Fairgrounds}}
{{Florida}}

[[Category:Florida State Fair| ]]
[[Category:State fairs]]
[[Category:Festivals in Tampa, Florida]]
[[Category:1904 establishments in Florida]]
[[Category:Festivals established in 1904]]
[[Category:Annual events in Florida]]
[[Category:April]]

Florida State Fair - Revision history

imported>Entranced98: Importing Wikidata short description: "Annual event in Florida, United States"