Editing State fair

{{Short description|Annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population}}
{{other uses|State Fair (disambiguation)}}
{{Citations broken|date=February 2023}}
[[File:2023 Wisconsin State Fair 04 (SpinCity).jpg|thumb|270px|The [[Wisconsin State Fair]]]]
A '''state fair''' is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a [[U.S. state]]'s population, usually held in late summer or early fall.  It is a larger version of a [[county fair]], often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs.

State fairs began in the nineteenth century for the purpose of promoting state [[agriculture]], through competitive exhibitions of [[livestock]] and display of [[farm]] products. As the U.S. evolved from a predominantly [[agrarian society|agrarian]] to an [[industrial society]] in the twentieth century, and the more [[service economy]] of the 21st century,  modern state fairs have expanded to include [[carnival]] amusement rides and games, display of industrial products, automobile racing, and entertainment such as musical concerts. Large fairs can admit more than a million visitors over the course of a week or two. The oldest state fair is that of [[The Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair]], established in 1738, and is the oldest fair in Virginia and the United States.<ref>{{cite news |title=Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair |url=https://www.wfls.com/event/fredericksburg-agricultural-fair/2024-12-30/ |work=[[WFLS-FM|WFLS]] |date=December 30, 2023 |quote=Founded in 1738, Fredericksburg Agricultural Fair is the oldest fair in the United States.}}</ref> The first U.S. state fair was the [[Great New York State Fair|New York]], held in 1841 in [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]], and has been held annually since.<ref name=su>{{cite web|url=http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/encyclopedia/entries/new-york-state-fair.html|title=New York State Fair :: The Encyclopedia of New York State :: Syracuse University Press|website=www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu|access-date=20 April 2018}}</ref> The second state fair was in [[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]], which ran from 1849<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.michigan.gov/som/404|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091125155839/http://www.michigan.gov/mistatefair/0,1607,7-109--12804--,00.html|url-status=dead|title=History of the Michigan State Fair|archivedate=November 25, 2009|website=www.michigan.gov}}</ref> to 2009.<ref name="freep.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20091030/NEWS06/91030026/1322/Granholm-cuts-State-Fair-from-budget|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103032010/http://www.freep.com/article/20091030/NEWS06/91030026/1322/Granholm-cuts-State-Fair-from-budget|url-status=dead|title=Granholm cuts State Fair from budget|archivedate=November 3, 2013}}</ref><ref name="It's official: State Fair a goner">{{Cite web|url=http://www.freep.com/article/20091031/NEWS06/910310309/1001/News/Its-official-State-Fair-a-goner|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103030456/http://www.freep.com/article/20091031/NEWS06/910310309/1001/News/Its-official-State-Fair-a-goner|url-status=dead|title=It's official: State Fair a goner|archivedate=November 3, 2013}}</ref> The fair was revived in 2013 and has been held at the [[Suburban Collection Showplace]] in [[Novi, Michigan]] ever since.

Events similar to state fairs are also held annually in each state capital in [[Australia]], known as royal shows. Australian royal shows are organized by state agricultural and horticultural societies, and are described further in the [[agricultural show]] article.

==List of state fairs==

===United States===
[[File:Tanana Valley State Fair midway.jpg|thumb|right|The 2009 [[Tanana Valley State Fair]] in [[Fairbanks, Alaska]]]]
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! State or Region !! Fair Name !! Location 
!Typical Month(s)!! data-sort-type="number" | Attendance (year) !! data-sort-type="number"| Attendance as % of State Pop.
|-style="display:none;"
|!a||!a||!a
| ||-9999
|-style="display:none;"
|!a||!a||!a
| ||10000000000
|-
| Alabama ||[[Alabama State Fairgrounds|Alabama State Fair]]||[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]]
| || ||
|-
|Alabama
|[[Alabama State Fair Montgomery]]
|Montgomery
|
|
|
|-
| Alabama || Alabama National Fair || [[Montgomery, Alabama|Montgomery]] 
| || ||
|-
| Alaska  || Kenai Peninsula Fair || [[Ninilchik, Alaska|Ninilchik]] 
| || 7,300 (2013) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2014-06-08/kp-fair-has-big-changes | title=KP fair has big changes | date=9 June 2014 }}</ref> || .99%
|-
| Alaska  || Southeast Alaska State Fair || [[Haines, Alaska|Haines]] 
| || ||
|-
| Alaska  ||[[Tanana Valley State Fair]] || [[Fairbanks, Alaska|Fairbanks]] 
| || 92,000 (2014) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.newsminer.com/features/latitude_65/tanana-valley-state-fair-begins-friday/article_b3cda688-59e5-11e6-bde6-e71856e25a70.html | title=Tanana Valley State Fair begins Friday | date=3 August 2016 }}</ref> | || 12.49%
|-
| Alaska  ||[[Alaska State Fair]] || [[Palmer, Alaska|Palmer]] 
| || 299,698 (2015) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.alaskastatefair.org/site/2015-fair-continues-upward-trend/ | title=2015 Fair Continues Upward Trend | date=24 October 2015 }}</ref> || 40.68%
|-
| Arizona ||[[Arizona State Fair]] || [[Phoenix, Arizona|Phoenix]] 
| || 1,102,044 (2015) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/business/2015/11/state-fair-attendance-stayed-on-par-despite-heavy.html | title=State Fair attendance stayed on par despite heavy rain }}</ref> || 16.37%
|-
| Arizona || Navajo Nation Fair || [[Window Rock, Arizona|Window Rock]] 
| || 100,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://nnfair.navajo-nsn.gov/|title=Navajo Nation AG Expo/4th of July PRCA Rodeo > CANCELLED|website=nnfair.navajo-nsn.gov}}</ref> || 57.58% (of Navajo Nation)
|-
| Arkansas || Arkansas State Fair || [[Little Rock, Arkansas|Little Rock]] 
| || 473,106 (2015) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://katv.com/news/local/arkansas-state-fair-sets-new-attendance-record | title=Arkansas State Fair sets new attendance record | date=19 October 2015 }}</ref> || 15.95%
|-
| California ||[[California State Fair]] || [[Sacramento, California|Sacramento]]  
| || 673,237 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Kirk |first=Marjorie |title=California state fair attendance drops 14 percent |url=http://www.sacbee.com/entertainment/state-fair/article91821437.html |website=The Sacramento Bee}}</ref>|| 1.7%
|-
| Colorado ||[[Colorado State Fair]] || [[Pueblo, Colorado|Pueblo]] 
| || 466,576 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://gazette.com/colorado-state-fair-attendance-drops-in-2016-but-event-considered-a-success/article/1584968 | title=Colorado State Fair attendance drops in 2016, but event considered a success | date=7 September 2016 }}</ref> || 8.71%
|-
| Delaware ||[[Delaware State Fair]] || [[Harrington, Delaware|Harrington]] 
| || 262,587 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://delawarestatenews.net/delaware-state-fair/hot-weather-lowers-delaware-state-fair-attendance/ | title=Home - Delaware State News &#124; Bay to Bay News }}</ref> || 28.07%
|-
| District of Columbia ||[[DC State Fair]] || [[Washington, D.C.|Washington]] 
| || ||
|-
| Florida ||[[Florida State Fair]] || [[Tampa, Florida|Tampa]] 
| || 395,435 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.venuestoday.com/news/detail/florida-state-fair-ends-strong-3916|title=Venuestoday.com|website=www.venuestoday.com}}</ref> || 1.99%
|-
| Georgia || Georgia State Fair || [[Hampton, Georgia|Hampton]] 
| || ||
|-
| Georgia || [[Georgia National Fair]] || [[Perry, Georgia]] 
| || 535,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Georgia National Fair sets new attendance record |url=https://www.11alive.com/article/news/local/georgia-national-fair-sets-new-attendance-record/93-337444555 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=11Alive.com |date=18 October 2016 |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 5.30%
|-
| Georgia || North Georgia State Fair || [[Marietta, Georgia|Marietta]] 
| || 320,000 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mdjonline.com/news/visitors-attend-over-north-georgia-state-fair-s--day/article_3e7d9a64-8aa5-11e6-8996-9be40fac4f5c.html | title=320,000 visitors attend over North Georgia State Fair's 11-day run | date=5 October 2016 }}</ref> || 3.17%
|-
| Hawaii || Hawaii 50th State Fair || [[Aiea, Hawaii|Aiea]] 
| || ||
|-
| Idaho ||[[Eastern Idaho State Fair]] || [[Blackfoot, Idaho|Blackfoot]] 
| || 249,892 (2021) <ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-09-16 |title=Eastern Idaho State Fair sets historic attendance records |url=https://www.eastidahonews.com/2021/09/eastern-idaho-state-fair-sets-historic-attendance-records/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=East Idaho News |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 14.08%
|-
| Idaho ||[[Western Idaho Fair]] || [[Boise, Idaho|Boise]] 
| August|| 243,474 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=KBOI News |date=2016-09-09 |title=Western Idaho Fair attendance up 12,000 people in 2016 |url=https://idahonews.com/news/local/western-idaho-fair-attendance-up-5-percent-in-2016 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=KBOI |language=en}}</ref>|| 14.90%
|-
| Idaho || North Idaho Fair <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nisfair.fun/|title=North Idaho State Fair|website=www.nisfair.fun}}</ref> || [[Coeur d'Alene, Idaho|Coeur d'Alene]] 
| || 168,567 (2022) <ref>{{Cite web |date=August 31, 2022 |title='We didn't expect to see that much in growth': North Idaho State Fair sets attendance record |url=https://www.krem.com/article/news/local/idaho/we-didnt-expect-to-see-that-much-in-growth-north-idaho-state-fair-sets-attendance-record/293-84098048-bc8b-44d3-92e6-b6aeb797327e |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=krem.com |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 5.18%
|-
| Illinois ||[[DuQuoin State Fair]] || [[Du Quoin, Illinois|Du Quoin]] 
| || ||
|-
| Illinois ||[[Illinois State Fair]] || [[Springfield, Illinois|Springfield]] 
| || 509,000 (2019) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/politics/ct-illinois-state-fair-revenue-record-20190919-c5baiqh7lvhonbodtco4dhyjdy-story.html | title=Illinois State Fair sets revenue record with Snoop Dogg, Reba McEntire major draws | website=[[Chicago Tribune]] | date=19 September 2019 }}</ref> || 4.00%
|-
| Indiana ||[[Indiana State Fair]] || [[Indianapolis]]  
| || 730,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |date=August 22, 2016 |title=Rainy weather hurts attendance at 2016 Indiana State Fair |url=https://www.wthr.com/article/news/local/rainy-weather-hurts-attendance-at-2016-indiana-state-fair/531-23ea1387-84af-4158-8d1d-db8c12854c7d |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=wthr.com |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 11.07%
|-
| Iowa ||[[Iowa State Fair]] || [[Des Moines, Iowa|Des Moines]] 
| || 1,130,260 (2018) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.iowastatefair.org/about/fair-dates-attendance/ | title=Fair Dates & Attendance }}</ref> || 35.93%
|-
| Kansas ||[[Kansas State Fair]] || [[Hutchinson, Kansas|Hutchinson]]  
| || 359,808 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-24 |title=Kansas State Fair attendance in 2016 third highest ever |url=https://apnews.com/article/e3f75dfc631c433496b346d6dd671806 |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=AP NEWS |language=en}}</ref>|| 12.39%
|-
| Kentucky ||[[Kentucky State Fair]] || [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville]] 
| August|| 609,955 (2017) <ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bizjournals.com/louisville/news/2017/08/31/it-was-a-good-year-for-the-kentucky-state-fair.html |title=It was a good year for the Kentucky State Fair |first=Carolyn |last=Tribble Greer |newspaper=Louisville Business First |date=August 31, 2017 |access-date=November 16, 2017}}</ref> || 13.7%
|-
| Louisiana || Cajun Heartland State Fair || [[Lafayette, Louisiana|Lafayette]] 
| || ||
|-
| Louisiana || Greater Baton Rouge State Fair || [[Baton Rouge, Louisiana|Baton Rouge]] 
| || ||
|-
| Louisiana || State Fair of Louisiana || [[Shreveport, Louisiana|Shreveport]] 
| || 379,700 (2017) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://carnivalwarehouse.com/newsserver/1146 | title=Weather Affects Attendance at State Fair of Louisiana }}</ref> || 9.78%
|-
| Maine || Bangor State Fair || [[Bangor, Maine|Bangor]] 
| || ||
|-
| Maine || Skowhegan State Fair || [[Skowhegan, Maine|Skowhegan]] 
| || ||
|-
| Maine ||[[Fryeburg Fair]] || [[Fryeburg, Maine|Fryeburg]] 
| || 166,838 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.conwaydailysun.com/newsx/128243-fair-roundup-10-10-16 | title=Fair attendance up over last year | date=10 October 2016 }}</ref> || 12.54%
|-
| Maryland ||[[Maryland State Fair]] || [[Timonium, Maryland|Timonium]] 
| || 588,000 (2013) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Patrick |date=2022-09-19 |title=2022 Maryland State Fair sets records with move to three weekends |url=https://www.morningagclips.com/2022-maryland-state-fair-sets-records-with-move-to-three-weekends/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=Morning Ag Clips |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 9.53%
|-
| Michigan || [[Michigan State Fair]] || [[Novi, Michigan|Novi]] 
| || 92,000 (2014) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/metro-detroit/2014/09/10/michigan-state-fair-attendance-up-15/15402603/ | title=Michigan State Fair attendance up 15% }}</ref> || .93%
|-
| Michigan ||[[Upper Peninsula State Fair]] || [[Escanaba, Michigan|Escanaba]] 
| || 80,000 (2013) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://upstatefair.org/?dailyattendance | title=Upper Peninsula State Fair, Escanaba Michigan }}</ref> || .81%
|-
| Minnesota ||[[Minnesota State Fair]] || [[Falcon Heights, Minnesota|Falcon Heights]] 
| || 2,126,551 (2019) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mnstatefair.org/general_info/attendance.html|title=Minnesota State Fair - Attendance|website=www.mnstatefair.org|date=9 June 2016|access-date=4 September 2019|archive-date=9 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141209164621/http://www.mnstatefair.org/general_info/attendance.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> || 37.90%
|-
| Mississippi ||[[Mississippi State Fair]] || [[Jackson, Mississippi|Jackson]] 
| || 733,151 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/local/2016/10/17/mississippi-state-fair-sets-attendance-record/92320290/ | title=Mississippi State Fair sets attendance record }}</ref> || 24.49%
|-
| Missouri ||[[Missouri State Fair]] || [[Sedalia, Missouri|Sedalia]] || August || 349,048 (2023)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Shiner |first1=Ryan |title=Missouri State Fair attendance hits six-year high |url=https://abc17news.com/news/pettis/2023/09/18/missouri-state-fair-attendance-hits-six-year-high/ |website=[[KMIZ]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230927053010/https://abc17news.com/news/pettis/2023/09/18/missouri-state-fair-attendance-hits-six-year-high/ |archive-date=September 27, 2023 |date=September 18, 2023 |url-status=live}}</ref> || 
|-
| Montana || Montana State Fair || [[Great Falls, Montana|Great Falls]] 
| || 54,938 (2015) <ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |title=Montana State Fair numbers solid this year |url=https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/aug/9/montana-state-fair-numbers-solid-this-year/ |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=The Washington Times |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 5.37%
|-
| Montana || MontanaFair || [[Billings, Montana]] 
| || 226,333 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Early numbers for MontanaFair attendance and sales |url=https://www.kulr8.com/news/early-numbers-for-montanafair-attendance-and-sales/article_661335a3-4d25-5f11-8c15-302a81c3addd.html |access-date=2023-03-19 |website=KULR-8 Local News |date=22 August 2016 |language=en}}</ref>|| 22.10%
|-
| Nebraska ||[[Nebraska State Fair]] || [[Grand Island, Nebraska|Grand Island]] 
| || 379,108 (2017)<ref>{{cite news |title=State Fair 2017 attendance nears all-time record |first=Kelli |last=Rollin |newspaper=The Grand Island Independent |publisher=BH Media Group, Inc. |date=5 September 2017 |url=http://www.theindependent.com/news/state_fair/state-fair-attendance-nears-all-time-record/article_8b0d8f2c-9253-11e7-b989-5f9bce347f32.html  |access-date=5 September 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://d2w7gersd1ix5b.cloudfront.net/files.ashx?t=fg&rid=NebraskaStateFair&f=17NSF_Final_Attendance_ReleaseF(1).pdf|title=Nebraska State Fair Sets a New Attendance Record (Press Release)}}</ref> || 19.88%
|-
| Nevada || Nevada State Fair || [[Reno, Nevada|Reno]] 
| || Closed ||
|-
| Nevada || The Nevada Fair || [[Carson City, Nevada]] 
| || 22,000 (2015) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rgj.com/story/news/2015/08/02/nevada-fair-sees-second-successful-year-carson-city/31025065/ | title=Nevada Fair sees second successful year in Carson City }}</ref> || .77%
|-
| New England{{efn|group=n|The Eastern States Exposition, popularly known as The Big E, is a combined state fair for all six (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont) [[New England]] states. Each state has its own dedicated area during the fair.}}  ||[[The Eastern States Exposition|The Big E]] || [[West Springfield, Massachusetts]] 
| || 1,629,527 (2019) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.thebige.com/p/generalinfo/mediacenter/attendance | title=Big e Attendance Records }}</ref> || 10.97%{{efn|grouo=n|Percentage based on combined population for all New England states.}}
|-
| New Hampshire ||[[Hopkinton State Fair]]  || [[Contoocook, New Hampshire|Contoocook]] 
| || ||
|-
| New Jersey ||[[New Jersey State Fair]] || [[Augusta, New Jersey|Augusta]] 
| || 420,000 (2013) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Moss |first=Linda |date=7 July 2013 |title=N.J.'s State Fair Meadowlands wraps up, beats last year's attendance |url=http://archive.northjersey.com/community-news/n-j-s-state-fair-meadowlands-wraps-up-beats-last-year-s-attendance-1.629061 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309072620/http://archive.northjersey.com/community-news/n-j-s-state-fair-meadowlands-wraps-up-beats-last-year-s-attendance-1.629061 |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=NorthJersey}}</ref>|| 4.70%
|-
| New Mexico ||[[New Mexico State Fair]] || [[Albuquerque, New Mexico|Albuquerque]] 
| || 497,000 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://krqe.com/blog/2016/09/29/new-mexico-state-fair-attendance-increased-8-percent/ | title=New Mexico State Fair attendance increased 8-percent | date=29 September 2016 }}</ref> || 23.83%
|-
| New Mexico ||[[Southern New Mexico State Fair]] || [[Las Cruces, New Mexico|Las Cruces]] 
| || ||
|-
| New Mexico || Northern Navajo Nation Fair || [[Shiprock, New Mexico|Shiprock]] 
| || ||
|-
| New York ||[[Great New York State Fair]] || [[Syracuse, New York|Syracuse]] 
| || 1,329,275 (2019) <ref>{{cite web | url=https://nysfair.ny.gov/about/press/attendance/ | title=Daily Attendance }}</ref> || 6.8%
|-
| North Carolina ||[[North Carolina State Fair]] || [[Raleigh, North Carolina|Raleigh]] 
|October-November|| 1,028,364 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Newsroom |url=http://www.ncstatefair.org/2016/Newsroom/attendance.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160726162027/http://www.ncstatefair.org/2016/Newsroom/Attendance.htm |archive-date=26 July 2016 |website=ncstatefair.org}}</ref>|| 10.34%
|-
|North Carolina
|Dixie Classic Fair
|Winston-Salem
|
|357,416 (2011)
|3.7%
|-
| North Carolina ||[[North Carolina Mountain State Fair]] || [[Fletcher, North Carolina|Fletcher]] 
| || 187,819 (2007) <ref>{{Cite web |title=2007 NC Mountain State Fair |url=http://www.ncagr.com/markets/fairs/mtnfair/index.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070427010410/http://www.ncagr.com/markets/fairs/mtnfair/index.htm |archive-date=27 April 2007 |website=ncagr.com}}</ref>|| 1.89%
|-
| North Dakota ||[[North Dakota State Fair]] || [[Minot, North Dakota|Minot]] 
| July|| 293,123 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Attendance-numbers-released-for-ND-State-Fair-388782932.html | title=Attendance numbers released for ND State Fair | date=31 July 2016 }}</ref>  || 39.64%
|-
| Ohio ||[[Ohio State Fair]] || [[Columbus, Ohio|Columbus]] 
| || 921,000 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://wksu.org/post/ohio-state-fair-attendance-just-short-record#stream/0 | title=Ohio State Fair Attendance Just Short of a Record | date=8 August 2016 }}</ref> || 7.95%
|-
| Oklahoma ||[[Oklahoma State Fair]] || [[Oklahoma City]] 
| || 900,000 (2012) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Carnivalwarehouse.com's 2012 Top 50 Fairs |url=http://www.carnivalwarehouse.com/lists/2012list.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602124748/http://www.carnivalwarehouse.com/lists/2012list.pdf |archive-date=2 June 2013 |website=carnivalwarehouse.com}}</ref>|| 23.21%
|-
| Oklahoma ||[[Tulsa State Fair]] || [[Tulsa, Oklahoma|Tulsa]] 
| || 1,206,000 (2016 estimate) <ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.tulsastatefair.com/index.cfm?id=272 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160413131350/http://www.tulsastatefair.com/index.cfm?id=272 |archive-date=13 April 2016 |website=tulsastatefair.com}}</ref>|| 31.10%
|-
| Oregon ||[[Oregon State Fair]] || [[Salem, Oregon|Salem]] 
| || 295,000 (2016 estimate) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/news/2016/10/04/oregon-state-fair-reports-increase-attendance-revenue/91550716/ | title=Oregon State Fair reports increase in attendance, revenue }}</ref> || 7.43%
|-
| Pennsylvania ||[[Great Allentown Fair|Allentown Fair]] || [[Allentown, Pennsylvania|Allentown]] 
| || 500,000 (approx) (2014)   <ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.allentownfairpa.org/index.php/general-info/about-us |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140720124131/http://allentownfair.com/index.php/general-info/about-us |archive-date=20 July 2014 |website=Allentown Fairgrounds}}</ref>|| 3.91%
|-
| Pennsylvania || Butler Fair || [[Prospect, Pennsylvania|Prospect]] 
| || 240,000 (approx) (2011) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bigbutlerfair.com/|title=The Big Butler Fair &#124; Always Over the Fourth|website=The Big Butler Fair}}</ref> || 1.88%
|-
| Pennsylvania || [[Bloomsburg Fair]] || [[Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania|Bloomsburg]] 
| || 364,037 (2015) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Fair Attendance |url=http://www.thebloomsburgfair.net/attendance/2015.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170401160046/http://www.thebloomsburgfair.net/attendance/2015.htm |archive-date=1 April 2017 |website=thebloomsburgfair.com}}</ref>|| 2.85%
|-
| Pennsylvania || The Reading Fair || [[Reading, Pennsylvania|Reading]] 
| || 40,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thereadingfair.org/|title=5 Door and Window Replacement in Berks County, PA|website=thereadingfair}}</ref> || 0.3%
|-
| Pennsylvania || York State Fair || [[York, Pennsylvania|York]] 
| || 555,252 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.ydr.com/story/news/local/york-fair/2016/09/18/york-fair-numbers/90493454/ | title=How many people attended the 2016 York Fair? }}</ref> || 4.34%
|-
| Rhode Island || Washington County Fair || [[Richmond, Rhode Island|Richmond]] 
| || around 100,000 <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.providencejournal.com/entertainmentlife/20160817/50th-washington-county-fair-pulls-out-stops-this-weekend | title=For the 50th, a full slate of favorites }}</ref> || 9.48%
|-
| South Carolina ||[[South Carolina State Fair]] || [[Columbia, South Carolina|Columbia]] 
| || 464,878 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |date=24 October 2016 |title=2016 Fair Closes with Banner Attendance |url=https://www.scstatefair.org/sc-state-fair/fair-news/2016/10/24/2016-fair-closes-with-banner-attendance |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309071535/https://www.scstatefair.org/sc-state-fair/fair-news/2016/10/24/2016-fair-closes-with-banner-attendance |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=South Carolina State Fair}}</ref>|| 9.62%
|-
| South Dakota || [[South Dakota State Fair]] || [[Huron, South Dakota|Huron]]  
| || 211,371 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |title=South Dakota State Fair Attendance Up Slightly Over 2015 |url=http://www.kdlt.com/2016/09/30/south-dakota-state-fair-attendance-up-slightly-over-2015/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062933/http://www.kdlt.com/2016/09/30/south-dakota-state-fair-attendance-up-slightly-over-2015/ |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=KDLT News}}</ref>|| 24.77%
|-
| Tennessee ||[[Tennessee State Fair]] || [[Lebanon, Tennessee|Lebanon]]
| August|| 115,000 (2015) <ref>{{Cite web |title=State fair continues to build attendance from past years |url=http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/local-news/state-fair-continues-build-attendance-past-years |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309064806/http://www.columbiadailyherald.com/news/local-news/state-fair-continues-build-attendance-past-years |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=Columbia Daily Herald}}</ref>|| 1.76%
|-
| Tennessee || Delta Fair || [[Memphis, Tennessee|Memphis]]  
| || about 200,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Delta Fair Attendance Down This Year |url=http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/delta-fair-attendance-down-this-year/546645044 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309062753/http://www.localmemphis.com/news/local-news/delta-fair-attendance-down-this-year/546645044 |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=Local Memphis}}</ref>|| 3.05%
|-
| Tennessee ||[[Tennessee Valley Fair]] ||  [[Knoxville, Tennessee|Knoxville]] 
| ||  180,000 (approx) <ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.tnvalleyfair.org/|title=Tennessee Valley Fair|website=www.tnvalleyfair.org}}</ref> || 2.75%
|-
| Texas ||[[South Texas State Fair]] || [[Beaumont, Texas|Beaumont]] 
| || 175,000 (2014) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/South-Texas-State-Fair-attendance-up-10-000-from-5381431.php | title=South Texas State Fair attendance up 10,000 from last year | date=7 April 2014 }}</ref> || .65%
|-
| Texas ||[[State Fair of Texas]] || [[Dallas]] 
| || 2,547,289  (2022) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://bigtex.com/attendance/ | title=Daily Attendance }}</ref> || 7.24%
|-
| Texas || East Texas State Fair<ref>Waterson, James and Seymour, Rachel Anne. ''Pulling Up Stakes:  East Texas State Fair Says Goodbye Until Next Year''. Tyler Morning Telegraph, October 4th, 2010, p. 1A, 6A</ref> || [[Tyler, Texas|Tyler]] 
| || about 250,000 (estimate from 2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.tylertexasonline.com/east-texas-state-fair.htm | title=East Texas State Fair }}</ref> || .93%
|-
| Texas ||[[North Texas State Fair]] || [[Denton, Texas|Denton]] 
| || 200,000 (estimate from 2023) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Sponsors |url=https://www.ntfair.com/sponsors.aspx |access-date=20 March 2023 |website=North Texas Fair & Rodeo}}</ref>|| .68%
|-
| Utah ||[[Utah State Fair]] || [[Salt Lake City]] 
| || around 300,000 (2014) <ref>{{Cite web |date=2014-10-15 |title=Utah State Fair draws crowds, generates profits for 2014 season |url=https://www.deseret.com/2014/10/15/20550617/utah-state-fair-draws-crowds-generates-profits-for-2014-season |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=Deseret News |language=en}}</ref>|| 10.19%
|-
| Vermont ||[[Vermont State Fair]] || [[Rutland (town), Vermont|Rutland]] 
| || 40,000{{Dash}}50,000 (2022) <ref>{{Cite web |last= |date=2022-08-24 |title=State fair sets new attendance record |url=https://mountaintimes.info/state-fair-sets-new-attendance-record/ |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=The Mountain Times |language=en-US}}</ref>|| 9.83%
|-
| Virginia ||[[State Fair of Virginia]] || [[Caroline County, Virginia|Caroline County]] 
| || 238,000 (2014) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/caroline/storms-muddy-state-fair-of-virginia-s-traffic-revenue/article_ad663144-8fec-59e5-b88b-15d91d0d194f.html | title=Storms muddy State Fair of Virginia's traffic, revenue | date=6 October 2015 }}</ref> || 2.86%
|-
| Washington ||[[Central Washington State Fair]] || [[Yakima, Washington|Yakima]] 
| || 312,191 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |date=3 October 2016 |title=Final weekend pushes state fair attendance over 312,000 |url=http://www.khq.com/story/33306397/final-weekend-pushes-state-fair-attendance-over-312000 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309061208/http://www.khq.com/story/33306397/final-weekend-pushes-state-fair-attendance-over-312000 |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=KHQ}}</ref>|| 4.42%
|-
| Washington ||[[Evergreen State Fair]]  || [[Monroe, Washington|Monroe]] 
| || 342,631 (2016) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.heraldnet.com/news/attendance-at-evergreen-state-fair-second-highest-in-6-years/ | title=Attendance at Evergreen State Fair second-highest in 6 years | date=17 September 2016 }}</ref> || 4.85%
|-
| Washington ||[[Northwest Washington Fair]] || [[Lynden, Washington|Lynden]]  
| || 189,154 (2015) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Townsend |first=Debbie |title=Attendance up at Northwest Washington Fair in Lynden |url=http://www.bellinghamherald.com/news/local/article32384508.html |website=Bellingham Herald}}</ref>|| 2.68%
|-
| Washington ||[[Washington State Fair]] || [[Puyallup, Washington|Puyallup]] 
| || 1,117,323 (2012) <ref>{{Cite web |title=Puyallup Fair attendance tops 1.1 million, beats last year |url=http://blog.thenewstribune.com/street/2012/09/24/puyallup-fair-attendance-tops-1-1-million-beats-last-year/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113115122/http://blog.thenewstribune.com/street/2012/09/24/puyallup-fair-attendance-tops-1-1-million-beats-last-year/ |archive-date=13 November 2013 |website=The News Tribune}}</ref>|| 15.82%
|-
| West Virginia ||[[State Fair of West Virginia]] || [[Fairlea, West Virginia|Fairlea]] 
| || 155,000-160,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Austin |date=25 August 2016 |title=A look back at the 2016 State Fair |url=http://www.wvva.com/story/32843849/2016/08/Thursday/a-look-back-at-the-2016-state-fair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170309064331/http://www.wvva.com/story/32843849/2016/08/Thursday/a-look-back-at-the-2016-state-fair |archive-date=9 March 2017 |website=WWVA}}</ref>|| 8.65%
|-
| Wisconsin ||[[Wisconsin State Fair]] || [[West Allis, Wisconsin|West Allis]]  
|August|| 1,015,815 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |last=Shafer |first=Dan |date=16 August 2016 |title=Wisconsin State Fair attendance tops 1 million |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/news/2016/08/16/wisconsin-state-fair-attendancetops-1-million.html |access-date=2023-03-20 |website=www.bizjournals.com}}</ref>|| 17.64%
|-
| Wisconsin ||[[Central Wisconsin State Fair]] || [[Marshfield, Wisconsin|Marshfield]] 
| || 85,000 (2015) <ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.marshfieldnewsherald.com/story/news/2015/09/09/central-wisconsin-state-fair-sets-record/71955258/ | title=Central Wisconsin State Fair sets record }}</ref> || 1.48%
|-
| Wisconsin ||[[Northern Wisconsin State Fair]] || [[Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin|Chippewa Falls]] 
| || 90,000 (2016) <ref>{{Cite web |date=18 July 2016 |title=Nearly 90K people attended the Northern Wisconsin State Fair |url=http://www.wqow.com/story/32472134/2016/07/18/nearly-90k-people-attended-the-northern-wisconsin-state-fair |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082822/http://www.wqow.com/story/32472134/2016/07/18/nearly-90k-people-attended-the-northern-wisconsin-state-fair |archive-date=5 August 2018 |website=wqow.com}}</ref>|| 1.56%
|-
| Wyoming || [[Wyoming State Fair]]|| [[Douglas, Wyoming|Douglas]] 
| || ||
|}

;Notes
{{notelist|group=n}}

===State fair police departments===
Several state fairs maintain their own police departments, including:
*[[California Exposition and State Fair Police]]
*[[Iowa State Fair Police]]
*[[Minnesota State Fair Police Department]]
*[[Wisconsin State Fair Park Police Department]]

==Provincial exhibitions in Canada==

A few annual exhibitions in the summer in Canada are similar to state fairs in the United States:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Province !! Fair Name !! Location !! data-sort-type="number"| Attendance (year)
|-style="display:none;"
|!a||!a||!a||-9999
|-style="display:none;"
|!a||!a||!a||10000000000
|-
| Alberta || [[Calgary Stampede]] || [[Calgary]] || 1,275,465 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://calgary.ctvnews.ca/second-highest-attendance-record-set-at-calgary-stampede-1.4508262|title=Second highest attendance record set at Calgary Stampede|work=CTV News Calgary|publisher=BellMedia|date=July 15, 2019|access-date=April 2, 2021}}</ref>
|-
| Alberta || [[K-Days]] || [[Edmonton]] || 702,327 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|title=Weather to blame for lowest K-Days attendance since 2006, Northlands says|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5698846/edmonton-2019-k-days-attendance/|last=Ramsay|first=Caley|publisher=Corus Entertainment|work=Global News|access-date=April 2, 2021|date=July 29, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| British Columbia || [[Pacific National Exhibition]] || [[Vancouver]] || 731,708 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.pne.ca/files/uploads/2021/01/AR19-PNE-Annual-Report-Web.pdf|title=2019 Pacific National Exhibition Annual Report: April 1, 2019 - March 31, 2020|year=2021|access-date=2 April 2021|website=www.pne.ca|publisher=Pacific National Exhibition}}</ref>
|-
| Ontario || [[Canadian National Exhibition]] || [[Toronto]] || 1,500,000 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/canadian-national-exhibition-attendance-up-ex-annual-fair-numbers-higher-1.5268288|title=Ex attendance rises to an estimated 1.5 million this year, CNE officials say|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|website=www.cbc.ca|last=Draaisma|first=Muriel}}</ref>
|-
| Ontario || [[Ottawa SuperEX]] (defunct)|| [[Ottawa]] || 422,095 (2009)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ottawa.ctvnews.ca/superex-attendance-higher-than-last-year-1.430329|title=SuperEx attendance higher than last year|publisher=Bell Media|work=ctvottawa.ca|date=31 August 2009|access-date=10 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| Ontario || [[Royal Agricultural Winter Fair]] || [[Toronto]] || 300,000 (average per annum)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.com/news/city_hall/2018/11/01/locked-out-workers-to-picket-royal-winter-fair.html|title=Locked out workers to picket Royal Winter Fair|last=Rider|first=David|date=November 1, 2018|access-date=April 2, 2021|work=Toronto Star|publisher=Torstar Corporation}}</ref>
|-
| Ontario || [[Western Fair]] || [[London, Ontario|London]] || 170,000 (2015)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://lfpress.com/2017/09/16/western-fair-blessed-with-fair-weather-but-attendance-figures-under-wraps|title=Western Fair blessed with fair weather but attendance figures under wraps|website=www.lfpress.com|last=Daniszewski|first=Hank}}</ref>
|-
| Manitoba || [[Red River Exhibition]] || [[Winnipeg]] || 203,624 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|title=Red River Ex sees uptick in 2019 attendance|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/5426559/red-river-ex-sees-uptick-in-2019-attendance/|last=Thompson|first=Sam|publisher=Corus Entertainment|work=Global News|access-date=April 2, 2021|date=June 24, 2019}}</ref>
|-
| Manitoba || [[Royal Manitoba Winter Fair]] || [[Brandon, Manitoba|Brandon]] || 110,000 (2018)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.discoverwestman.com/local/winter-fair-attracts-more-than-100-000-visitors-but-registers-attendance-drop|title=Winter Fair Attracts More Than 100,000 Visitors But Registers Attendance Drop|date=April 1, 2018|access-date=April 2, 2021|publisher=Golden West Broadcasting|work=Discover Westman}}</ref>
|-
| Saskatchewan || [[Canadian Western Agribition]] || [[Regina, Saskatchewan|Regina]] || 121,326 (2019)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://industrywestmagazine.com/features/jump-in-international-buyers-inaugural-maple-leaf-finals-rodeo-and-record-setting-registrations-among-highlights-at-agribition-2019/|title=Jump in international buyers, inaugural maple leaf finals rodeo and record-setting registration at Agribition 2019|last=Vorrieter|first=Karlee|work=Industry West|publisher=IW Media Group|year=2019}}</ref>
|}

==Awards==
State and county fairs are famous for a variety of competitions that award ''ribbons''. Awards are generally given according to the following scale:{{citation needed|date=February 2015}}<ref name="It's official: State Fair a goner" />
* First place – blue ribbon
* Second place – red ribbon
* Third place – white ribbon
* Fourth place – yellow ribbon
* Fifth place – green ribbon
* Sixth place – orange ribbon
*Seventh place – purple ribbon
*Eighth place – brown ribbon

==Attendance==
As of 2019, the largest attendance at a state fair in the US is in Texas with the fair having attracted  2,514,637 visitors.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Daily Attendance|url=https://bigtex.com/about-us/daily-attendance/|access-date=2021-09-25|website=State Fair of Texas|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=State Fair of Texas Welcomed More Than 2.5 Million Fairgoers in 2019|url=https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/state-fair-of-texas-welcomed-more-than-25-million-fairgoers-in-2019/1965548/|access-date=2021-09-25|website=NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth|date=21 October 2019 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=How Much It Costs To Visit the 10 Biggest State Fairs in the US|url=https://finance.yahoo.com/news/much-costs-visit-10-biggest-193142848.html|access-date=2021-09-25|website=finance.yahoo.com|language=en-US}}</ref> Even though it is longer than an average state fair, any advantage is negated by the size of the physical state since those days would be required for the states citizens to have equal opportunity to attend.

The largest average per day attendance is at the Minnesota State Fair averaging just under 200,000 people per day.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.mnstatefair.org/about-the-fair/attendance/|title=Attendance|date=9 June 2016}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Agricultural show]]
* [[Rodeo]]
* [[Trade fair]]
* [[World's fair]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Parties}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:State fairs| ]]
[[Category:Culture of the United States]]
[[Category:Culture of Canada]]
[[Category:Annual fairs]]
[[Category:Annual events in the United States]]