The 2011 Kentucky State Fair: Deep-Fried Fun for All Ages
The Kentucky State Fair, a state tradition for 109 years, has been captivating the hearts and minds of Kentuckians young and old since 1902. Each year's exciting mix of live entertainment, educational opportunities, gut-churning thrills, contests, animals on display and artery-clogging foods continue to solidify the Kentucky State Fair as the state's quintessential end-of-summer blast.
The 2011 Kentucky State Fair at Louisville's Kentucky Fair & Exposition Center features a multitude of events we've all come to know and love. You'll find livestock and animals of all shapes and sizes housed within the West Wing of the Exposition Center while the South Wing is home to numerous exhibits from businesses, civic organizations, and the always interesting and eclectic flea market. The World's Championship Horse Show at the Kentucky State Fair crowns world champion horses and awards more than $1 million in prizes to the owners and trainers of the best Saddlebred horses each year.
Don't feel left out if agriculture and horses just aren't your cup of tea -- there are plenty of options for Kentucky's city-folk to enjoy themselves at the fair. Free concerts, featuring such top music acts such as Ted Nugent, Boyz II Men, The Oak Ridge Boys, Theory Of A Deadman and Alter Bridge, are held each day until August 27 at Cardinal Stadium and countless other local and national acts perform at the numerous food and beverage pavilions erected in the Exposition Center's main parking lot.
You won't get far into the fairgrounds before you find yourself confronted with an incredible array of smells from the innumerable food vendors. And while plenty of fine organic Kentucky produce can be found on display in the West Hall, it isn't for public consumption. Step outside, however, and one can pick their poison from the largest collection of greasy, fatty foods to be found west of the mighty Mississippi River. Rumors abound that this year, vendors are offering bacon cheeseburgers with Krispy Kreme doughnuts as buns -- decadence abounds at the 2011 Kentucky State Fair.
Be sure to stop off at the Kentucky State Fair Thrillway for a ride on the Ferris wheel, or a short flight through the sky on the Flying Dutchman. Kentucky Kingdom is not operating during this year's fair, but fair organizers have called in some truly large and nerve-wracking rides to make up for it. Most importantly, remember gentlemen -- nothing spells lovin' like winning your date a neon pink stuffed dog or a giant Rastafarian banana at one of the Thrillway's many games of chance.
All in all, even if the price did go up a bit this year ($10 for adult admission and $8 to park), the 2011 Kentucky State Fair still features an absurd amount of fun jam-packed into the Exposition Center.
Posted on Aug 25, 2011 by Matt Stottmann
