State Fair starts Thursday! Am I the only one ...

[Robin Garr]

... who enjoys the Fair primarily as a foodie adventure? It's always a blast to sample all the old goodies (first corndog of the season! bloomin' onions!) and see what's new. Food on a stick! And best of all, the big Kentuckiana producers tent with all the pork, lamb, beef, poultry and fish dishes. Who's going out on the first day?

We always look forward to the fair with great anticipation for much the same reason.

Unfortunately I have arthroscopic surgery on my ankle this thursday, after which I'll be on crutches for six weeks making this the first fair I've completely skipped in years. If I only I'd realized the timing when it was scheduled, I'd have made it Friday so I could do the fair thursday.

My wife teased that I should rent an ECV/scooter, but I think I'm a little too vain for that.

I always go out to volunteer for the Trial by Jury demonstration in the south wing. It is fun. local actors play the part of all the witnesses and local attorneys and judges do an abbreviated trial. The audience gets to decide who wins or loses.

afterward, I go stuff my face with all sorts of fair food.

Are there any fried twinkies, snickers, etc at the fair?

I have yet to try one, and I have been told it is worth the try.

I never really enjoy the fair...too hot. The only reason I'm going this year is to see Def Leppard/Styx/Foreigner.

I never really enjoy the fair...too hot. The only reason I'm going this year is to see Def Leppard/Styx/Foreigner.

Pour some sugar on Mr. Roboto with double vision?

I like working the local homebrew clubs' booth for some awesome people watching. Maybe we could have a best/worst mullet contest with photos.

Robin,

Not sure we'll be there the first day, but I will be going for the same reasons you do! (Love that pork from the pork producers!)

Plus Slow Food Bluegrass is going to have an Iron-Skillet Chef Competition on Friday the 25th at the kitchen demo area. We are lining up some local chefs to compete against Chef Nancy Russman (JCC/KYAG) a la "THe Iron Chef" and if you know Nancy, it should be quite a fun competition! I'll post something on a separate thread with the details.

Deb

The food and the people watching are my favorite parts. The first thing I do is head for the Dole Whip stand.

Robin -

Is this maybe a chance for a forum offline? We've gone to the fair, but I don't remember stuffing my face with food - maybe it was the effect of seeing my food in it's "still living" state at the livestock exhibits. This year, eat...THEN tour

Back in the days when Junior Achievement was still a program done primarily in the evenings, and not in-school, I spent a week at the Ohio State Fair as part of the "all-Ohio JA Company" We stayed in dorms with other HS kids who were part of the fair choir and band and other programs. The food in the dorm was close to putrid, but we all tried to save enough money to have one meal a day on the midway - ahh the pure ecstacy of fair corn dogs, real ice cream and other delicacies when you were a starving 17-year old!

Seriously, it was a fun experience having the fair as your playground for the week! But, back to the Kentucky State Fair....

If anyone else is interested in an offline, make yourself known and we can move to the other forum to organize!
Melissa

For all of you foodie loving fair goers - The Juggernaut Jug Band is playing starting Tuesday, the 21st through Sunday, the 26th from 11:30am-3:10 pm at the Kentucky State Fair Lawn Party, on the West Lawn

Heather,

What's the "State Lawn Party"? Is this new? I LOVE the Jugggernaut Jug Band! But when we've seen them before at the Fair, they've been entertainment in one of the big food tents: maybe Michael Linnig's?????

Hey Deb! I am so glad you like the band! I am a bit biased though - in the interest of full disclosure - it's my dad's band. I asked him for more specific info and here is what he had to say:

"We are playing in the "Q" tent. I'm not sure if the "Q" is for bar-b-que, or means that it is being sponsored by a radio station with Q as one of it's call letters. In any case, my parking pass has me parking in Lot N which is directly in front of the west wing, where we've always parked. So I believe the tent is directly in front of the west wing, fairly close to the circle in front of Freedom Hall. In years past this was the Miller Tent, then the Budweiser tent. We are not in the tent near Mike Linnigs which is where we were the last time we played the fair a couple of years ago. None of these tents are that far from each other, and they all have "sandwich boards" in front of them telling you who is playing in the tents and what time. Pops"

I am a bit biased though - in the interest of full disclosure - it's my dad's band. I asked him for more specific info and here is what he had to say

Loved the Actors Theatre Shakespeare a couple of years ago when they were on stage performing. What a blast!

Aw thanks! I will pass the kind words along to him. He is Mr. Fish - the bass player. They had a great time doing "As You Like It" and I am certain they never thought they would end up being part of a Shakespearean productions!

I didn't know the forum had so many jug band fans! I will keep everyone posted about the National Jug Band Jubilee that's taking place in October at Iroquois Amphitheater.

Heather - We're big fans, too. I'm hoping my husband can get some time off so we can go during the week to see them. Thanks for sharing the specifics.