The Kentucky State Fair

The Kentucky State Fair has been going on for just over 100 years. A celebration of the agricultural bounty of the State, the fair runs for eleven days in mid August. The venue for the event is the Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center located just south of Downtown Louisville.
The Fair & Exposition Center is probably the only place in the state that can handle the popular event, with its variety of buildings and spaces. If the Cumberland Valley Midway rides are not enough, Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom is on the property as well, but Cumberland Valley Shows runs the State Fair Midway. Concerts are held at Cardinal Stadium or Freedom Hall. Free and Premium concerts are available during the Fair.

The World Championship Horse Show is also at Freedom Hall. This prestigious event is where the other breeds of Kentucky horses get their chance to shine. Over 2,000 horses and people from all over the world compete in this event that awards over a million dollars in premiums. World Champion Saddlebreds, are crowned in several divisions. Roadsters, road ponies, and hackney ponies and saddle seat equitation.

There is plenty of other friendly competition as well. The competition for ugliest lamp, and other fun categories are not taken as seriously as some of the others. For example, Pepsi sponsors a top flight talent contest for young people aged 13 to 21. Competitors win preliminary contests to get the finals at the Kentucky State Fair, and a chance to win a share of $5,500 in prizes in five different talent categories. There is no cost to enter and Pepsi puts on professional entertainment seminars for the young folks in the contest. Winners have gone on to become pros themselves, and Hollywood celebrities.

Like any State Fair, the competition for best pies, and pigs are hotly contested. But only the judges get to taste these treats. For the Amateur eater, the place to be is “Great Kentucky Cookout”. There are generally three types of food at the Kentucky State Fair. Snack food from booths, carts, and wagons, Local eatery outposts, and The Great Kentucky Cookout. The midway offers the usual walking around fare, corndogs, Grilled Turkey Legs, Italian Sausages.

The real treat are the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Booth, with a Lamb Barbeque Sandwich, or Leg of Lamb Sandwich. The Kentucky Pork Producers, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Kentucky Aquaculture, Kentucky Corn Shack, and The American Dairy Association are all represented as equally, making all 11 days of The Kentucky State Fair necessary just to get to all of the great food.

Author Ron Stemple
Copyright 2006, Ron Dowell