Attractions Blog

by Barbara Ann Weibel of Hole In The Donut

While the majority of the country is hunkering down in freezing temperatures and snowstorms, Florida’s abundant sunshine and warm temperatures signal the start of Fair season.

The RC-48 Coaster is 160' long, 65' deep and stands approximately 53' high, with exciting bank turns. Photo courtesy of South Florida Fair.

Florida’s County fairs focus on the agriculture, trade, entertainment, and heritage of Florida. Annually there are more than 50 fairs and livestock shows in Florida that showcase the past, present and future of Florida agriculture. County Fairs pair carnivals with traditional livestock competitions and displays such as the life-size “Milkable Cow” model that travels in her own exhibit trailer and “There’s A Cow In My Truck!,” an exhibit that portrays the parts of a truck that come from by-products of cattle.

The partial list below provides links to County Fairs that have individual web sites. For a complete listing of fairs around the State, visit Florida-Agriculture.com.

• DeSoto County Fair, January 15-25, Arcadia
• Manatee County Fair, January 15-25, Palmetto
• South Florida Fair, January 16 - February 1, West Palm Beach
• Highlands County Fair, January 23-31, Sebring
• Collier County Fair, February 5-15, Naples
• Martin County Fair, February 13-21, Stuart
• Osceola County Fair & Livestock Show, February 13-22, Kissimmee
• Pasco County Fair, February 16-22, Dade City
• Southeastern Youth Fair (Marin County), February 20 - March 1, Ocala
• Sumter County Fair, February 27 - March 7, Bushnell
• Southwest Florida and Lee County Fair, February 27 - March 8, Fort Myers
• Saint Lucie County Fair, February 27 - March 8, Fort Pierce
• Okeechobee County Fair, March 13-22, Okeechobee
• Indian River County Fire Fighters Fair, March 13-22, Vero Beach
• Sarasota County Fair, March 13-22, Sarasota
• Citrus County Fair, March 16-21, Inverness
• Miami-Dade County Fair and Exposition, March 26 - April 12, Miami
• Suwannee County Fair and Livestock Show, March 26 - April 4, Live Oak
• Brevard County Fair, March 27 - April 5, Melbourne
• Santa Rosa County Fair, March 31 - April 5, Milton
• Clay County Agricultural Fair, April 2-11, Green Cove Springs
• Lake County Fair, April 2-11, Eustis
• Hernando County Fair, April 6-11, Brooksville
• Central Florida Fair, April 16-26, Orlando

Carley Moss, winner of 2008 Miss Martin County Fair Pageant. Photo courtesy of Martin County Fair.

Rosaire's Racing Pigs, photo courtesy of the South Florida Fair

Additionally, the Florida State Fair is scheduled for February 5-16 in Tampa. Except for a couple of years during World War II, this granddaddy of all fairs has been held every year since its inception in 1904. Horse shows, 4-H dog training classes, gun shows and sales, model train shows, concerts, tea times, and history tours join with the traditional carnival and livestock shows to provide 12 days of fun and excitement. If you plan to attend one of Florida’s many fun fairs, be sure to book accommodations well ahead of time, as hotels and motels fill up during these popular events. To find accommodations around the state, visit the UpTake.com Florida hotels page.