August 19-29, 2010

Offering all-day adventures of family fun for more than 100 years, the Kentucky State Fair has captured the hearts of fairgoers everywhere with its wide selection of exhibits, rides, food, crafts, animals, competitions, music, games and entertainment of every sort. This annual celebration of summertime fun is America´s largest air-conditioned fair, filling all 1.2 million square feet of the massive Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville each August, but acres of additional outdoor activities also give fairgoers plenty of reason to explore the thrills of open-air entertainment and exhibits.

Agricultural Roots Run Deep

Founded on the public´s growing desire to create an event that would both showcase and improve the state´s purebred livestock, the Kentucky State Fair was first held in 1902 for the purpose of exhibiting agricultural, mechanical, horticultural, dairy, forestry, poultry and livestock products. From the initial success of that first Fair through today, the Kentucky State Fair has grown in every way imaginable. Today, more than 60,000 entries — including everything from livestock and horses to quilts and cakes — are annually submitted into competition for the State Fair´s iconic Blue Ribbon.

More Than Just Horsing Around

Elegance and sophistication take center stage during the Kentucky State Fair as the accompanying World´s Championship Horse Show trots more than 2,000 of the finest saddlebred horses in the world into Freedom Hall for a variety of equine competitions. The stakes are high as $1.2 million is awarded in premiums and the title of World´s Grand Champion is bestowed upon the winners. Known as the world´s richest and most prestigious saddlebred show, the World´s Championship Horse Show is an upscale component of the multifaceted Fair.

Good Tunes and Good Times

While the Kentucky State Fair´s origins are largely agricultural, professional entertainment has also become a major contributor to the overall success of the Fair. Concerts staged by some of the most popular stars in mainstream music are a staple of the Fair each year, but several regional bands also get into the act to light up the entertainment tents well into the night. Throw in a lengthy list of thrill shows and staged entertainment suitable for the whole family and the Fair´s schedule is quickly filled with activities guaranteed to keep visitors of all ages interested and engaged. Outdoor thrill shows, comedians, kids-only staged entertainment and hands-on activities, talent competitions, cooking demonstrations, the ever-popular racing pigs, exhibit halls filled with free information and too many other events to identify all await fairgoers every year.

Everyone´s Favorite Foods

Walking through the huge exhibit halls and across acres of outdoor activities always works up an appetite, and the Kentucky State Fair offers some of the most delectable solutions to those hunger pangs. While the tried-and-true favorites like corn dogs, cotton candy and funnel cakes certainly abound, much of the state´s homegrown best is also readily available to suit every fairgoer´s taste buds. The Bluegrass State´s commodity groups converge on the Fair to cook, grill, roast, barbeque, and serve up a tantalizing selection of Kentucky-raised foods that leave fairgoers full and satisfied.

Thrill-Seekers Welcomed

Traditional fair midway meets full-sized theme park as the Kentucky State Fair combines forces with Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom to create the enormous and exciting Thrillway. Fairgoers can enjoy the unique atmosphere found on the midway with rides and games for kids of all ages, then, at no additional charge, enter Six Flags Kentucky Kingdom for a thorough dose of roller coaster action. Ride tickets are required for this area of the Fair, but the screams are free.


Whether fairgoers prefer the wild excitement of the Thrillway, the relaxing comfort of air-conditioned exhibit halls, the beauty and sophistication of the World´s Championship Horse Show or a concert lineup that features many of today´s hottest performers, the Kentucky State Fair is easily an all-day adventure of fun for the entire family.

For more information on the events planned for this year´s Kentucky State Fair, call (502) 367-5002, or Visit: http://www.kystatefair.org