The Shake Up

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 an unusual band of gold-seekers from the quirky Joe to the daring Bobby and Sinbad’s monkey! And these pirates prove they have all the right moves in and out of the water as they pump up with crowd with some impressive trampoline tricks.

The show should come with instructions upon arrival, no blinking and you will be memorized. From synchronized diving to hand-stands, the crew performs impressive dives from two 12 foot boards before surfacing with unexpected treasures from the water below. And just when you think there couldn’t possibly be another dive you haven’t seen, two crew members plunge from a 15 foot platform together followed quickly by a mass dive of five different crew members leaving from variable heights at the same time!

When the crew docks at the island of Louisville, Kentucky a slap-stick comedy ensues as Sinbad attempts to clean up the ship and make repairs. When the mayhem subsides and the Golden Pineapple is still nowhere in sight, Sinbad looks to the audience for advice on what to do. The crowd enthusiastically points to the 80 foot platform and begins chanting for the climatic dive. Crew member Bobby exceeds expectations when he not only climbs to the top, but performs a difficult dive before plunging to the water below. Imagine traveling 55 miles per hour down the highway and having nine and a half feet to come to a complete stop. Did he survive the plummet and recover the treasure?

Well that’s for me to know and you to find out. This cast of colorful characters couldn’t agree on just ONE reason you should come out to the Kentucky State Fair and see their show. So whether it’s the “great looking bunch of pirates” or the self-proclaimed “awesome flying monkey” that draws you to the Sinbad High Dive Show, you are sure to be entertained from the moment you get there!

Catch this spectacular show daily at 1:30, 4:30 and 7:30 p.m.

…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 to get indoors to the air conditioning. But not so fast, you may be passing by some exciting events outside…

New to the West Courtyard this year are The Nerveless Nocks who are among the most respected aerial stunt artists known today. Since 1954, their All-American Stunt and Thrill Show has been thrilling audiences. Their show features everything from motorcycle stunts to a variety of daring high-wire acts and graceful aerial acrobatics. Among their breathtaking performances are the Sensational Swaypoles, an unbelievable pole-to-pole exchange followed by a headfirst free-fall.

Across the pavement, stop by the South Wing Parking Lot to watch Sinbad and his crew in their quest to find the fabled Golden Pineapple. This slapstick comedy showcases amazing dives from three, five and 10 meter boards (or for those   non-metric loves approximately 10, 16 and 33 feet). The audience is along for the ride, as they dive for golden trinkets, repair the ship and rescue shipmates who have fallen overboard. But the real show stopper is a culminating plunge from an eight story high platform.

You don’t have to travel far to find the Walmart Gamecenter on Tour when it makes it’s only stop in Kentucky during the State Fair. Video game enthusiasts can check out all the latest games live in person as well as demo the hottest games before they are even released! This unit will also feature exciting tournaments, awesome giveaways and cool prizes. The tour will only be here August 18-21, so check it out before it’s gone.

And of course, fan favorite JUMP! The Ultimate Dog Show is returning to the South Wing parking lot to entertain patrons. The show features the amazing high flying dock jumping dogs, performing balancing and jumping acts in water.

So throw on some shades, grab a fan and toss back a lemonade slushy, it’s going to be an exciting State Fair!