August 2011
18 posts
You Came, You Rocked, You Ate, and We Smiled
A Blog to our Patrons for the 2011 Kentucky State Fair:
Dear Patrons,
We have never seen 11 days go faster than they did in the past two weeks! The day after the Fair is a bittersweet time. It’s the same feeling one might get as a child on Christmas Day in the late afternoon after waiting all year and the presents are opened and the holiday feast has been eaten, a certain mixture of bliss and a...
Glitter, Hairspray, and Pure Athleticism
The Fair is loud, fast-paced and addicted to a good show. So, it was only fitting for the Fair to play host to another event that appreciates similar interests. This year’s America’s Best Cheerleading and Dance Championship sponsored by JAM Brands was held in the South Wing. More than 45 teams comprised of more than 600 athletes came from around Kentucky and Southern Indiana to showcase their...
6 tags
Cast-Iron Chef from the perspective of a...
I can barely plan a meal in a week, let alone CREATE a meal in thirty minutes. Add in mandatory secret ingredients and the stress of competition, and you have completely lost me. I’m not sure if great cooks find cooking competitions as interesting as cook-challenged individuals such as myself do, but while watching my first Cast-Iron Chef competition at the Fair today, I was in utter culinary...
SPAM: Not the Kind You Find in Your Inbox
Watch out Wheaties. There is a new breakfast of champions coming to town! The Great American Spam Championship’s theme this year happened to be the most important meal of the day. Hormel, Spam’s parent company, sent representatives to the Fair to judge different unique breakfast recipes and chose a, well, “Spampion.”
One lucky representative and first-time Kentucky State Fair visitor was Emily...
This Attraction is Blowin' Up!
Gasp in awe at the magnificent beauty of the rain forest. Laugh at the monkeys and sloths swaying in the trees. Stand under the giant crystal blue waterfall, but watch out for the alligator. You can pet the cheetah, just be careful not to pop him.
16 years ago, Johnna and John Perry fell in love. Not only with each other, but with balloon art. From there they were married and Balloon Masters was...
For the Love of the Game...
Beginners luck had nothing to do with Sally Miller’s B-I-G win in Heritage Hall. In fact, she attributes her “first game of the day” success to good old fashion listening.
Miller arrived at Heritage Hall at 12:30 p.m. and began playing her first game of Bingo. A few moments later, with a hand held high and a voice full of joy and surprise, she shouted the words everyone in the room wanted to...
4 tags
Come to the Fair. See a New Car.
Toyota Motor Manufacturing Kentucky used the Kentucky State Fair as its platform to reveal the next generation of its bestselling Camry sedan. Crowds of people lined South Wing B of the Kentucky Exposition Center to see the redesigned car as the white curtain dropped.
The new hybrid car, which was built by more than 7,000 Kentuckians in its flagship Georgetown, Ky plant, is slated to get 43...
Tired Feet? Find Me.
I am blue. I get walked all over. I work 12 hour days. And I sure do love my job!
I was not originally blue when I was made in the 1930’s, but I was painted that way later. Each day I run all day long, working the outer loop of Freedom Hall and the Kentucky Exposition Center during the Kentucky State Fair. In 25 minutes, I invite guests to experience the Fair in a 360 degree perspective.
I get...
Orange Giant
The “weight” is over, and the results are in! Flaherty, Kentucky native Frank Mudd took home first place at the second annual Largest Pumpkin Contest today at the Kentucky State Fair.
Mudd, who has been growing large pumpkins for 10 years, topped the scales with his pumpkin weighing in at 1,046 pounds. This giant began as a seed planted at Mudd’s home in Meade County on April 1st. With a whole...
5 tags
Sinbad High Dive Show
Amidst the deep fried Kool-Aid and Krispy Kreme burgers, sandwiched between some talented pups and an armor of camouflage, you will find a band of pirates in the South Wing Parking Lot. I wandered there expecting to see a high dive show, but what I found was an adventure.
Sinbad invites you to accompany him on a journey to find the fabled Golden Pineapple. The crowd is quickly acquainted with...
107 Things To Do and Not Do at the 107th Kentucky...
DISCLAIMER: This blog was made for humorous purposes only. If you have no sense of humor, please refrain from reading the following: 1. DO Get stuck at the top of the Ferris Wheel during a date 2. DON’T Regret eating a second slice of deep-fried Derby-Pie® after riding the Dizzy Dragon 3. DO Eat a Maple Bacon Sundae before dinner 4. DO Try to go an entire day at the Fair eating only foods on a...
From Our Friends at the Kentucky Farm Bureau...
By: Dan Smaldone, Director of Public Relations, Kentucky Farm Bureau:
With his clothes freshly pressed and a seemingly endless array of agricultural trivia at his giant fingertips, Freddy Farm Bureau is ready to take a short leave from life on the farm and spend some quality time with the many visitors at the Kentucky State Fair in Louisville, August 18-28.
Freddy, seated comfortably on his...
Then and Now
We LOVE to Reminiscence! We found these neat photos comparing Fair traditions. Hope you enjoy them as much as we do!
Rabbits, Pigeons and Goats Oh My!
Our furry and feathered friends of the Fair will be back this year. Different animals will be on display each day, so see the schedule below to find out when your favorite will be here! Please note August 22nd will be changeover day, when the animals will be moved out of the West Wing and into the Pavilion.
Dairy Goats, Poultry, Pigeons and Rabbits August 18-21
Dairy...
Homegrown and Kentucky Proud.
Can you keep a secret? Good, because we got a “juicy” one to share with you about the Kentucky State Fair. And trust us when we say juicy…
Perhaps the best kept secret of the State Fair, the Kentucky Cookout Tent is located in the paved lot between Broadbent Arena and the Pavilion, across from the Thrillway. This covered tent has offered not only an escape from the August sun but a wide variety of...
13 tags
What's new in fair food.
The Kentucky State Fair has always been synonymous with blue ribbons and award-winning entertainment. But topping its repertoire of things that draws more than 600,000 patrons each year is the unique cuisine specific to the Fair. Though the tradition of funnel cakes, BBW sandwiches and lemon shake-ups will continue, a new assortment of innovative and eclectic food items will be available this...
Kentucky State Fair? There's an app for that!
The Kentucky State Fair is obviously known for its tradition in agriculture and food. But this year the Fair is taking big steps toward meeting the demands of a technological revolution by offering a mobile website to fairgoers. This specialized website is tailored for all type of cell phones and offers patrons a convenient way to obtain information concerning the Fair. The site features concert...
Paradise Found
Looking to take a trip to the tropics this summer? Who isn’t! Unfortunately, not all of us can afford to spend the money or take time to jet off to Fiji. Not to worry. The Mike Linnig’s Tropical Tent at the Kentucky State Fair will give you your tropical fix without the sunburn, subsequent peeling, itching and annoying aloe applications.
This year marks the 21st year the tent has visited the Fair...
July 2011
5 posts
Come Work With Us! It's Fun!
Want to spend your days surrounded by funnel cake stands and within walking distance of amazing thrill rides? The only thing as enjoyable as coming to The Kentucky State Fair is working for the Kentucky State Fair! Be a part of all the fun, and get paid for it! Wages start at $7.25 an hour, and vary with position. Temporary positions are available from August 17th through August 28th. The...
12 tags
Simply the Best.
What’s better than mouth-watering smoked barbeque from the The Q? Mouth-watering smoked barbeque from the Q and awesome live music. What’s better than that? Well, nothing. We think you’ll agree once you check out the Lawn Party Tent Sponsored by The Q at the Kentucky State Fair.
What do you get when you blend jazz, blues ragtime, swing and original music with washboards, washtubs, kazoos, jugs...
16 tags
A Home Away From Home
Go to any summer cookout in the Bluegrass and you’ll find the finest steaks on the grill and a country crooner playing in the background. After all, if there is anything Kentucky knows it’s country music and grilled food. So we thought, why not bring the two of them together in one place to make our patrons feel right at home? And with a little help from our friends at Sivori Catering that’s...
YAP is back...
Yep, YAP is back. And if you consider yourself a music fan, you will be there! Because this year’s Young Adult Project tent is boasting performances by the top 15 local bands in Kentuckiana. Bands like The Dirty Grindstones, last year’s Battle of the Bands Champs.
The Dirty Grindstones describe their musical style as “Funk Rock” but claim fairgoers really need to experience their show to get a...
Music and Beer - Year After Year!
Beer and music have always had harmonious relationship. Some might even say they complement each other better than peanut butter & Jelly! Don’t get jealous PB&J, your still good together. So it is only fitting for the Budweiser Tent at the Kentucky State Fair to offer the best of both worlds! Along with food and the finest premium Budweiser products, the tent will also be serving up a nice...
June 2011
13 posts
Fair Fare
It is a rarity that Americans celebrate anything without food. Thanksgiving without the Turkey or the 4th of July without the hotdogs just wouldn’t be complete! Nor would the Fair without…well….elephant ears, corndogs, polish sausage, pineapple whip, lemon-slushies, roasted corn, BBQ or Krispy Kreme donut burgers!
Fair fare may not be the most nutritional of the bunch, but no one can argue it...
Everything Gets Better With Age
It is strange how we often attach sentimental feelings to objects; a bouquet of flowers, a stuffed animal, a family heirloom. However, it’s often not the object itself that we are attached to, but the story behind it. And the longer something or someone is around, the more stories they have to tell. That is what makes antiques so appealing to those who collect and adore them, their stories span...
9 tags
Textiles tell a story, stories make history.
The ability of a textile to tell a story is often overlooked but our history can be seen woven into each thread just as clearly as it is written in the books. Pick up a depression-era quilt and behind the breathtaking artistry lies the embodiment of a struggle to hold a family together. Study the photograph of a US soldier during World War II and you’ll see a grim face who’s only defense against...
8 tags
Foodies Unite!
It sits in waiting, shining brightly in all its tightly-threaded glory adorned with that coveted 1st place stamp on its glossy front. People have slaved over it and fought over it and lost sleep over it! It is a symbol of recognition, sure to bring jealously to those whom do not claim its ownership. But for those who do, it is point of extreme pride. It is a royal blue reminder of their dominance...
28 tags
Everything is better F-R-E-E!
Well I was making summer plans What’ll it be? A weekend getaway Or day at the beach. Too bad I didn’t know that the fair was in town Because I definitely would’ve been Kentucky bound! F-R-E-E that spells free, the 2011 State Fair Baby! Saw these artists on my TV Seeing them in concert would be so crazy So instead of goin broke and lookin whack It’s time for the Kentucky State Fair And the free...
11 tags
We Don’t Know How We Did It. But We Done It.
There is a new host in town; we hear Mario Lopez is crushed. It has recently been announced that famous rock n’ roll iPhone icon, Rockin Ted, will be the official host/mascot for the YAP Tent at the Kentucky State Fair. It had been unclear if Ted would be able to make time in his busy schedule for the gig, but it has now been confirmed that contracts have been signed.
Rockin Ted was originally set...
6 tags
#WINNING
It’s about that time again. The pies will be tastier, the pumpkins will be bigger, the competition will be fiercer, and the bragging rights will be more extensive. August will bring hot weather and heated competition with the general entries contests at the Fair.
If you think your creation has what it takes to beat out the best in the state, get your clicking finger ready. General entry deadline...
10 tags
Gosh, We Can't Wait for Monday Morning! (Yes,...
Lady Antebellum is doing their namesake justice by cementing their place in country music history. The band is swooping up awards left and right, most recently the Group Video of the Year Award at the CMT Awards on June 8th. They followed with a killer performance at the show, reminding fans once again why they are consistently on top of the Billboard...
7 tags
What would happen if. .
…Hank Williams Jr. and John Mayer had a lovechild?
I’m from a small town, so it’s easy for me to relate to songs about “Red dirt roads and big tire toys, country girls and redneck boys” (Sumter County Friday Night) But even I was a little stumped when I came across this question researching country singer and songwriter Lee Brice. But with his music reflecting traditional honky tonk sounds...
10 tags
Awesomeness Attracts Awesomeness: It's a Law of...
Now we don’t like to brag, nevermind yes we do, and we are going to. Because SIX of the upcoming performers at the Kentucky State Fair in August are nominated for a CMT Music Award. Most are nominated for MORE than one award and THREE are performing at the awards show itself!
The handsome and ever-charming Jason Aldean is nominated for Video of the Year, Male Video of the Year and Web Video of...
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The past and present collide at the KY State Fair....
Like your mom and dad always told you, there is a time and place for everything. We like mom and dad and we think that place is the South Wing during the Kentucky State Fair. There is something for everyone!
This year the past and present come together to entertain Kentucky State Fair patrons in the South Wing.
Travel back in time and celebrate the history of Kentucky with the United We Stand,...
24 tags
Don't Forget the Lyrics!
I can’t be your hero/I can’t save the day/I can’t catch you when you fall/I just feel so weak from this all - “Hero” by Spencer Hodge
Spencer Hodge may not consider himself a hero, but he proved he was worthy of top honors at the inaugural Kentucky State Fair Songwriter Contest last year. The contest returns for its second year, but with an exciting new...
13 tags
A new Louisville rock star may make an appearance...
What does Louisiville’s biggest rock star have in common with Steve Jobs? If you guesssed hair style, you’re dead wrong. Actually, they don’t really have anything in common, except for the fact that is he a downloadable App for Apple iPod touches, iPads and iPhones.
In just a little more than a month, Rockin Ted has taken the App Store by storm, and strummed and head banged his...
May 2011
4 posts
15 tags
Hi, my name is Fairbear.
My life has been anything but ordinary. At age 1, when most cubs are barely learning to fish, I had already obtained a full-time job in promotions as the official mascot of the Kentucky State Fair. (Yeah, that’s how I roll.) They named me Fairbear, rather unintimidating, I know. But like all other newborns I had no input on what people would call me for the rest of my life - so UNfair....
7 tags
Kentucky has more to offer than horses & good...
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Kentucky?” The Bluegrass state. Winningest men’s basketball team in the history of college basketball. Home to the Kentucky Derby.
X-Factor and Glee?
No, we’re not crazy. These two shows have a very significant relevance to Kentucky. Let us explain.
Nicole Scherzinger may have been runner up in the 1996 Coca-Cola Talent Classic, but...
6 tags
Though the August heat can be frightful . .
…these outside events are oh so delightful!
Now we know that the fair isn’t for another three months, but there are so many new things coming it will take us that long to fill you in!
The fair can be a little overwhelming with so many things to do and see and taste. We understand you may not know where to start. And in fact, when you arrive on the grounds, you may just simply be in a hurry...
8 tags
Ticket prices to see Grammy Award-winning trio...
Elvis. Reba. Shaq. Brangelina. (Okay so maybe that last one is a bit of a stretch).
What do all these people have in common? They don’t need a last name for you to know who they are. And yet I think it’s safe to say that there is no misconception about which stars I am referring to. Call it a silly indication of fame, but if I was suddenly known worldwide by just my first name and...
April 2011
3 posts
3 tags
Artist Spotlight: Train and Maroon 5
Foreword: My name is Ryne and I am addicted to musically-enhanced moments. Most of what I will write about stems from moments when music and life intertwine. I’m a sucker for music+video montages and I believe that music has the ability to move us. In 2003, I was a junior in high school and I got my driver’s license. I know I’m showing my age, but it’s key to the story. And like any teenager...
2 tags
2011 Fair Update: We are all reminders of the...
150 years ago today, in a nation much like ours, minus the skyscrapers and Toy Story movie marathons, traffic delays and weekly trash pickup, our ancestors started a war amongst each other. Cannons boomed in the early morning hours in Charleston, S.C., bombarding Fort Sumter, plunging the nation into the Civil War on April 12, 1861. The War Between the States, as it was initially called, grew...
3 tags
2011 Fair Update: Get ‘em ready
The Kentucky State Fair is many things to many people, but none more important than a celebration of Kentucky in all of its glory. The most popular of which is the general entries. The Fair’s contests, which garnered more than 50,000 entries last year, features a mix of generationally-passed recipes, family antiques, sewing skills and hundreds of animals.
The 2011 Kentucky State Fair competitive...
August 2010
25 posts
Art Appreciation
What’s your favorite?
What? Oh, you want us to specify an object, huh.
What’s your favorite … color, animal, location, climate, time of day, time of year, insect, plant, fish, texture, medium …?
Whatever your favorite is, you can probably find it somewhere in the Competitive Entries department. Rows and rows of photography, paintings, drawings and textiles present the human’s interest and...
Don't Miss These Fair Favorites...
Often the big things take precedence in our lives while the little things fall to the wayside. But, sometimes stopping to acknowledge or enjoy the little things is more rewarding. The last few days of the Fair are the perfect time to see some things you may have missed rushing to a show, performance or competition. Here are eight things we think you shouldn’t pass up.
1. The Kentucky Army...
Healthy Living. We Give You Options.
Somewhere, between birthdays and the annual weekend getaway to Gatlinburg, are health checkups. Health checkups are as much a part of everyday life as to-do lists, popcorn and a movie and text messaging. They save lives, give hope and protect families. Unfortunately, annual (or bi-annual) health checkups have been pushed down the symbolic totem pole of priorities. Even below to-do lists, popcorn...
Livestock Auction
Tonight the Fair gave back. Gave back to the community and school-age exhibitors who show blue-ribbon winning livestock. The 106th Kentucky State Fair’s 4-H and FFA Sale of Champions concluded this evening with $124,500 raised during the live auction, the third largest sum raised in its 31-year history.
The winning steers, hogs, lambs and goats featured in the Sale of Champions are exhibited...
Dog Daze
Grab a snack – cheese fries, mini donuts, ice cream – and plan to arrive to JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show at least 15 minutes early. The popularity of this show is a testament to people’s affection for dogs. Even if you are not a dog lover, you’ll want to see this show. The athleticism of the dogs and the apparent amount of training they have is awesome.
The dogs – Rock, Popeye, Sid, Nubs, Freddy...
"...let it snow, let it what?"
Some things when combined form the perfect concoction of cohesion and accomplishment. This is when peanut butter meets jelly. When a flux capacitor hits 88 miles per hour. Where Yoko Meets Ono, Sonny meets Cher, pumpkin patches meet hay rides and when hip first danced with hop. We, at the Fair, are notorious at uniting two entities to form one, dare I say, more perfect union. See corn dogs and...
Veggie Bowl and Spaghetti. Say It Ain't So.
We took a quick stroll around the Kentucky Exposition Center to find something. Something new, something different, something unexpected. So we asked ourselves (and others), what is the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the word “fair?” For some it may be “exhibits” or “animals,” but for me a plethora of things flood my brain and my taste buds, and they all involve the word “fried.” ...