Kentucky State Fair 2010

Time running out to pick up veggies

2010-08-30T11:23:00.000-04:00

If you displayed vegetables at the 2010 Kentucky State Fair you have until around noon Monday (today) to pick them up if you want to keep them. If not, the veggies that are still edible will be donated to a local food pantry.

New this year is that if you do go and get your wares, you will also get your ribbons as opposed to years' past where you had to wait for the ribbons to arrive in the mail, usually around mid-October.

Gate 1 has been closed Saturday at the Kentucky State Fair

2010-08-28T15:24:00.000-04:00

To alleviate traffic concerns, Gate 1 at the Kentucky Exposition Center, off Phillips Lane, is temporarily closed.

Traffic is expected to remain heavy leading up to the free Billy Currington concert in Cardinal Stadium at 8 p.m.

Kentucky State Fair attendees are encouraged to use Gates 2 and 4 off Crittenden Drive and Gate 6 off Preston Highway. A notice will be sent when Gate 1 reopens.

This is all according to a release issued by the Fair Board this afternoon.

Even the fish are rooting for the UK Wildcats

2010-08-21T10:13:00.000-04:00

Honestly, I thought I had seen the University of Kentucky UK Wildcat logo used in just about every way imaginable. But I guess there are even some places my imagination won't even go.

Cat fans, be sure to check out the tropical fish displays in the East Wing this year, as you are well represented among the tanks on display. And Card fans, there is even a tank for you too.

That said, this year's aquarium displays are among the best I have seen in several years and there appear to be more of them. They are certainly worth checking out and if you're already in the culinary area they are just a few steps past the homebrew displays.

Notable this year is that the fair has set up a barrier between the crowds and the fish tanks, so you can no longer touch the tanks (not that this was encouraged in the past, but a physical barrier is a much better deterrent than a sign. This may have contributed to more people showing their tanks, knowing the chances of them being bothered are much less this year.

--Rob Gates, online producer

Man vs. Food -- Kentucky State Fair style

2010-08-19T13:46:00.001-04:00

Courier-Journal reporter Chris Quay jumped right into fair mode this morning, heading down and sampling the new Krispy Kreme Cheeseburger.

Chris told me upon return that it was actually rather good. As he is writing in a story to appear later at www.courier-journal.com/statefair.

I’m proud to say I did it and survived.

I downed the heralded donut cheeseburger — it has two Krispy Kreme glazed donuts as buns — at the Kentucky State Fair on Thursday morning.

It’s just one of many eccentric foods to choose from at the fair … barbecue, sausages and cheesesteaks. If you can name it, they can put it on a stick.

The donut cheeseburger doesn’t come on a stick, and it’s not exactly breakfast food although it has bacon. But it’s certainly not for the faint of heart, no pun intended. Diabetics should treat this burger like the plague.

I will say that Chris went prepared, scouring the newsroom for Tums before heading to the fair grounds.

Look for his full story, photos and video later on www.courier-journal.com/statefair

It's drop off day at the State Fair

2010-08-17T08:05:00.000-04:00

Things will be bustling at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds today as exhibitors from all over the state will be bringing in a good deal of the fair's judged displays.

Vegetables and culinary are among the wares that will arrive between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. along with a laundry list of just about anything else you may see at the fair.

Some of the food booths will also be cooking up fair fare today to help feed the workers and exhibitors alike who will be buzzing around the halls.

So if you're exhibiting, what exactly makes a blue-ribbon entry? Watch this interview with a fair judge and find out...

Discounted Thrillway wristband specials availble

2010-08-12T12:07:00.001-04:00

Thrill seekers can enjoy unlimited access to rides on Aug. 19, 23-26 and 29 from 2 p.m. to close for $24 at the 2010 Kentucky State Fair Thrillway.

Kiddie Days at the Thrillway will occur on both Fridays of the Fair, Aug. 20 and 27. Fairgoers 12 years and younger can get wristbands at the Thrillway ticket booth for $12 for unlimited access to all of the Kiddie rides from noon-close.

Discounted Thrillway tickets can also be purchased in advance online at www.kystatefair.org or at participating Kentucky and Southern Indiana Kroger stores, using Kroger Plus Cards.

The tickets, good for each day of the Fair, are also sold in sets of 22 for just $17.

No Kentucky Kingdom, no problem for the Thrillway

2010-08-12T11:07:00.000-04:00

For those thinking the lack of Kentucky Kingdom will curtail thrills and chills at the 2010 Kentucky State Fair, officials say you needn't worry.

Mississippi-based midway operator, North American Midway Entertainment (NAME) will bring more than 50 midway rides, up from 42 in 2009. The midway has several returning favorites worth noting -- among them are the Tilt-a-Whirl, Matterhorn, Crazy Mouse, Fireball, Himalaya, Zero Gravity, as well as the bumper cars, according to statement from fair officials this morning.

NAME, known as the world’s largest travel midway operator, produces more than 115 events annually including 10 of North America's Top 50 fairs.

"We’re bringing in some newer rides that fairgoers haven’t seen before and increased our capacity," said Jeff Blomsness of North American Midway Entertainment. "We think we’ve answered the challenge, fairgoers will find it won't be a replacement [for Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom,] but rather a great substitute."

State Fair 2010 kick off post

2010-01-29T12:40:00.002-05:00

The 2010 Kentucky State Fair concert line up has been announced. This year's featured paid shows will be:

Sugarland: Thursday, Aug. 19

Jeff Dunham Saturday, Aug. 21

Rascal Flatts Sunday, Aug. 29

Ticket prices and sales information for all shows will be announced at a later date.

Don't forget to pick up your exhibits

2009-08-30T17:21:00.002-04:00

If you exhibited something at this year's Kentucky State Fair, don't forget to pick it (them) up.

For most classes, pick-up day is either this evening or Monday. Check your fair premium book for specific times by class. For instance, vegetables and melons can be picked up today between 6 and 9 p.m. or Monday between 10 a.m. and noon.

Antiques and culinary exhibits can be picked up Monday between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m., so as you can see there is quite a range.

Food that was on display and is still edible, will be given to charity if it is not claimed.

However, most other things includes antiques, wines and tropical fish will be disposed of if they are not claimed, according to the premium book.

If you cannot find your book, you can click here to visit the State Fair Web site and find the department-by-department list to figure out when you need to head back to the fairgrounds either tonight or Monday.

Fair officials may close main gate for Swift show

2009-08-29T18:45:00.002-04:00

This release was sent out from officials at the state fair today warning of a potential traffic nightmare Sunday night:

Taylor Swift "Fearless Tour 2009" with special guests Kellie Pickler and Gloriana will perform to a sold out crowd at Freedom Hall during the Kentucky State Fair, Aug. 30. Concertgoers can likely expect heavy traffic delays and are urged to arrive hours earlier than the 7 p.m. concert start time.

In extreme cases, the Kentucky Exposition Center main gate (gate 1) will be closed. The gate closure is due to security and safety concerns, as well as traffic flow patterns. Alternative routes for Fair-bound traffic are:

Gate 2 – South Crittenden Drive
Service Gate 3 – Crittenden Drive (open 24 hours)
Gate 4 – North Crittenden Drive
Gate 6 – Preston Highway

Lots are filling

2009-08-29T13:03:00.001-04:00

With weather that is fair perfect, people are starting to arrive en masse. Many families at this point. Still plenty of parking in the Cardinal Stadium/Broadbent Arena area lots with smaller lines to get in at Gates 2 and 4.
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No traffic, still good parking

2009-08-29T11:30:00.001-04:00

Though still before noon, traffic is light coming into the fair and there is plenty of good parking. Lines for food also not long at all, but that will likely change soon
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Judging underway in Broadbent

2009-08-29T11:05:00.001-04:00

Judging is underway, but running a tad behind in Broadbent Arena. Junior cattle still on the floor with miniature horses up next as of 11:05
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fine arts at the fair

2009-08-27T14:00:00.001-04:00

After looking at each and every quilt, many of the antiques and some of the Christmas trees, my husband, son and I wandered over to the arts and crafts area (next to home brews) in the South Wing, and what to my wandering eye should appear but a beautiful water color painting by my niece, Juliette! It is a self portrait of her holding some balloons that she did last year. I found the colors hypnotizing, the composition profound. And it was darn cute, to boot! Here is a picture of the picture, along with my smiling son, who liked it, too.

- Melissa Poore

The lure of the fair's cake display

2009-08-27T11:32:00.004-04:00

Maybe I like to tempt myself. Or maybe I have deep down dislike for myself. It must be one of those two that makes me return to the cake, pie and cookie displays at the Kentucky State Fair each year.

I love sweets more than most people I know, which makes it really hard to go from aisle to aisle, salivating over the chocolate chip pecan pies, layered creamy cakes and chunky chocolate chip cookies. Yet I do it, every year.

It gets easier for me the later it is in the fair season, since at some point many of the sweets start to look stale and moldy. That's not so appealing for obvious reasons.
It's a really cool display, though, and worth checking out. Despite the fact that you can look, but not eat.

-Andrea Uhde, reporter

Going to the fair twice in one day

2009-08-24T16:48:00.001-04:00

This morning when I went to the fairgrounds to cover the Parade of Dairy Champions, I picked up the 80-page daily schedule for the fair, and now I’m already planning a return trip tonight. Perusing the daily offerings is like catalog shopping at Christmas time – ooh, I want that! And that! And what’s this about singing pigs? Add that to the list!

Oh yes, you read that right. I said singing pigs. The “Pork Chop Revue” is touted like this: “Squeal with laughter as these performing swine jump hurdles, do the waltz and even sing.” How did they type that up without using a single exclamation point? It needs three, at least!!!

I’m also planning to see goats, and a cooking demonstration, and my niece has a pinch-pot on display, and the acrobats, and “Main Street Kentucky,” and live music, and, and…. maybe I’ll just have to go back tomorrow, too.

-- Melissa Poore

Tragedy strikes tonight's concert performer

2009-08-24T11:56:00.002-04:00

If you attend tonight's Jeremy Camp concert at the Kentucky State Fair know that Jeremy's family has just experienced a personal tragedy as explained here on his blog. For those who don't know or don't have time to read, Jeremy and his wife lost their unborn baby.

Despite this loss, the fair has announced that Camp will play tonight's show as planned.

My corn dog discovery at the State Fair

2009-08-24T10:04:00.001-04:00

Call me crazy, but it wasn't until my visit to the Kentucky State Fair on Friday that I realized a new phenomenon (at least, it's new to me) in corn dogs: The painted corn dog.

I walked up to a booth near the South Wing that boasted "original" corn dogs, and when I ordered my $4 lunch, they asked if I wanted anything on it.

I requested some ketchup and watched, amazed, as they literally took a brush (like a paint brush) and painted the ketchup onto the corn dog.

This may all sound silly, but it saved me the effort of having to squirt an uneven, squigly ketchup line onto my food. That's just plain messy.

So check out the booth - it's pretty cool stuff.

---Andrea Uhde, C-J reporter

The difference between a blue and red ribbon

2009-08-21T09:02:00.003-04:00

Went to the fair last night to find that my butternut squash placed second this year, earning me my second red ribbon in the past four years. I'll take that, the squash weren't good enough to win. The difference is consistency in size, shape, condition and color.

See these two photos, one of my squash -- the red ribbon winner -- and one of the blue ribbon winner. There is a clearly a difference, with the winning squash being noticeably better in the three areas mentioned above.

Winning squash

--Rob Gates, online producer

Freddie Farm Bureau on Facebook

2009-08-20T11:52:00.002-04:00

Thanks to Erin Keane over at Velocity who points out this fine 2009 State Fair tidbit...

Freddy Farm Bureau has a Facebook page, which is more than a little weird, but I can't help but smile when I see his freaky giant fake hands and expression of permanent pained surprise every year at the fair's entrance. Freddy Farm Bureau means summer is over and the school year is starting. Freddy Farm Bureau means I can stop having nightmares about being suffocated by the inflatable Uncle Sam in the Phoenix Hill parking lot and start having nightmares about machete-fighting giant wooden farmers. Never mind that my dreams are mashups of "Ghostbusters" and "I *heart* Huckabees."

To read the things Erin looks forward to at the fair, please click here to visit her blog.

Fair food 'to die for'

2009-08-19T17:42:00.003-04:00

In advance of a Health and Fitness story about the calories and fat in all those delicious State Fair snacks, we wanted to get some input on your favorite.

It's a tough decision for me....funnel cake or sausages (yes plural). In the end, I vote for the sausages. Cast your vote. And if you don't see the food you always enjoy, add a note in the comments.

The editor responsible for planning the Health and Fitness story took some grief about taking the fun out of the fair. We all know that stuff is bad for you, but it tastes so good going down.

Moderation, but only in moderation.

What is your favorite „food„ at the... » polls maker
Tags : food kentucky fair indulge louisville entertainment

Keeping it clean...

2009-08-19T11:13:00.003-04:00

It used to always bother and sometimes downright gross me out when I'd visit the livestock exhibits at the fair and watch people touch the animals and then return their hands to their ice creams, corn dogs, smoked turkey legs and elephant ears. Bleccchhhhhh.

Seems in recent year's, fair organizers have also figured out that this may not be the most healthiest of practices. (Let me also say that I am not saying the animals are dirty, but come on, I don't even pat my dog and then use the same hands to handle food.)

But in the modern era of sanitizing gels, the fair has come up with a solution -- cleaning stations placed near most of the livestock barn exits so folks can touch the animals (where permitted, of course -- don't touch the bunnies) and then clean their hands before returning to that porkchop sandwich.

A really great pumpkin

2009-08-18T17:36:00.003-04:00

Visitors to the fruits, nuts, vegetable and melon exhibit at the Kentucky State Fair will be get a special treat.

According to Anna Lucio, superintendent for the exhibit, this year's big pumpkin (seen at left) is most likely a state fair record breaker.

The gourd seen in the photo was the big pumpkin at this year's Indiana State Fair and is being displayed this year in Kentucky, but was not submitted for judging.

Heavily discounted tickets availble for two concerts

2009-08-17T14:33:00.002-04:00

Tickets to see Kelly Clarkson with special guest Gavin DeGraw at the Kentucky State Fair on Thursday and Keith Urban LIVE with special guest Pat Green on Saturday are now being offered at a discounted rate. Both concerts will begin at 8 p.m. in Freedom Hall.

Discount tickets are available from through Wednesday.

Tickets for the Clarkson show are $27 and $29.50 and include admission to the Fair and a facility fee. These tix were originally $47 and $52. For the Keith Urban LIVE show tickets are now $29.50 and include admission. (Originally $52) Lower arena seating is also available for the regular $67.00.

Tickets for Freedom Hall concerts available at the Freedom Hall and Kentucky International Convention Center Ticket Offices and all Ticketmaster outlets. Charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or purchase online at ticketmaster.com.

Exhibitors are gearing up

2009-08-17T09:38:00.002-04:00

While fair gets underway to the public on Thursday, the fair grounds are already buzzing as exhibitors begin bringing their wares, veggies and livestock to Louisville.

The big day is Tuesday when exhibitors in the general categories including antiques, culinary, fine arts, hobbies, textiles, beer, plants, fish, wine, bees & honey, dairy, eggs, fruits & nuts, vegetables & melons, tobacco and country hams will be bringing their entries to the fair grounds.

If you haven't entered, it's too late -- you simply cannot show up with that giant watermelon and grand cake and say "I want in."

I will headed down tomorrow with my entries and will take some photos so get an idea of what it's like behind the scenes before the chaos begins.

-- Rob Gates, online producer