Travel Tuesday

Today, we are traveling to The Florida State Fair.

The Florida State Fair is one of two state fairs I have been to. I grew up in North Carolina and loved visiting the State Fair in Raleigh every year with my mom. State fairs are on my bucket list to visit as many as I can. 

Basic Information

Unlike in North Carolina, The Florida State Fair is not held in the state capital. Instead of Tallahassee, it is hosted in Tampa at the Tampa Fairgrounds. It is right off Interstate 95. Most years, it is held in February. This year, it was held February 10 to 21. 

They offer different discounts on admissions such as Heroes Day, Hillsborough County Students in Free with Adult Purchase, and Senior Days during the work week. The fair typically opens around 10:00-11:00AM and closes around 10:00PM.

Tickets can be purchased online or at the gate. Some locations around Florida usually sell tickets, too. In past years, my family have bought tickets at their local Publix.

Competitions

Known as the "Creative Living Competitions," The Florida State Fair offers a variety of categories to show off your creative side. You have to be a Florida Resident. Categories have specific requirements listed for their entries. Typically, the competition information is listed online in October. Competition registration is due in late November-early December. Residents bring in their competition pieces in certain dates in January.

Baking is the only exception. On one select date, the baking competition is brought in, judged, and awarded.

The judging is quite fascinating. For example, Photography works off a rubric. You get so many points or percentage for each judging category within your specific category. It’s weird because you may not have someone who places First in your Photography category. I’ve always enjoyed the feedback I get on my art. The judges try to be specific while being gentle.

Exhibits and Demonstrations

Exhibits and demonstrations vary throughout the fair.

First, you have the Creative Living Competitions building. Off the front end of it, they hold a different theme each year. This year was robotics with large robotic insects. One year was Legos. Another year jellybeans with jellybean art.

Second, you have the Exhibition Hall. This hall is full of vendors selling different things. This row has an ice cream stand. That row has the hot tubs. Back there is the vehicles you can take a look in (just don’t look at the price). Ooh, is that the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office with their annual raffle? Is that a TV and iPad? Here’s my money. Where’s the pen to write my name and number? Hit that early in the day. The later it gets, the busier that place becomes.

Third, you have the Handmade Arts and Crafts Building. On on side is vendors selling their - you probably guessed it - handmade arts and crafts. On the other side, it has varied from cooking demonstrations, dance competitions, and other subjects.

Lastly, demonstrations are scattered about. Some may be in locations near the gates. Over near Gate 3 is another but larger outdoor stage. This year, near that stage, was a glass blowing demonstration. The music near the stage overpowered the demonstrator talking a little bit, but he made good use of his microphone so everyone in the small stands could hear him.

Shows & Entertainment

The shows and entertainment vary each year. Some shows repeat for a few years and then switch out to what I guess is a different state fair. The indoor community stage hosts a variety of events like food eating competitions and dancing. One year, they used up the whole space for a high school robotics competition!

Shows are spread out throughout the fair. They do small bands playing on the outdoor stage in Cracker Country. They have bands playing at two larger outdoor stage areas. Back towards midway is usually another smaller stage. The fair has a few roaming shows such as The One Man Band.

Some of the shows and entertainment have select areas they are set up at. For example, The Fire Guy was set up between the Creative Living and Handmade Crafts buildings. The guy pictured below (new this year) was located outside the Exhibition Hall.

All and all...The Florida State Fair is a great place to visit and I hope you get a chance to come out and visit sometime.