Bright lights, rich history light up 81st Annual North Florida Fair

Heidi Copeland
Updated ·4 min read

Fairs are more than amusement. Fairs in general have a rich history rooted in the ancient, Roman world. Nonetheless, county, regional, and state fairs remain popular even today as a tradition woven into the fabric of nearly every American community.

The 81st Annual North Florida Fair is Nov. 2-12, 2023.
The 81st Annual North Florida Fair is Nov. 2-12, 2023.

For over eight decades, the North Florida Fair, which opens at 5 p.m. Thursday, has encouraged individuals to celebrate and commemorate. The North Florida Fair strives to offer a wide variety of unique foods, merchandise, and entertainment options for everyone to enjoy.

Gate admission is free on opening night with a Midway Special of $25 for unlimited rides. You can enjoy 100 Minutes of free rides on Saturday, Nov. 4, from noon-1:40 p.m. as Strates Shows celebrates 100 Years of operating. Find details on admission, tickets and deals at northfloridafair.com.

Families and friends of all ages enjoy opening night of the 80th Annual North Florida Fair on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.
Families and friends of all ages enjoy opening night of the 80th Annual North Florida Fair on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.

The North Florida Fair offers a place to buy, sell, and trade, as well as a place to offer exhibition, education, amusement, and entertainment for individuals, families, communities, states, and even the world. The North Florida Fair is not just a yearly carnival.

According to Google, there are over 3,000 fairs in the United States, employing over 24,000 people and bringing in a revenue of more than $2 billion each year. The Steuben County Fair of Bath New York has been continuously running ever since 1819, which makes it the oldest continuously running fair in the United States.

Families and friends of all ages enjoy opening night of the 80th Annual North Florida Fair on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.
Families and friends of all ages enjoy opening night of the 80th Annual North Florida Fair on Thursday, Nov. 3, 2022.

The North Florida Fair began as a county fair in 1939; the fair was not held for a few years during World War II. Since 1942 the North Florida Fair has been a regional fair. The North Florida regional fair draws crowds from 24 north Florida counties as far west as Escambia County, to eastern Hamilton, Levy, and Gilchrist Counties. Over 100,000 people visited the North Florida Fair in 2022.

The 81st annual North Florida Fair is an excellent opportunity to learn new things. The North Florida Fair has an impressive range of experiences, exhibits, and entertainments for the entire family. 4-H and other school age youth can participate in highly anticipated livestock shows, plant identification, baking contests, forestry competitions, and other contests.

4-H members competing in the Horticulture ID Contest in the 4-H Building during the North Florida Fair.
4-H members competing in the Horticulture ID Contest in the 4-H Building during the North Florida Fair.

Additionally, the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Extension (UF/IFAS) hosts a building where regional UF/IFAS extension agents host educational demonstrations and a variety of kid friendly experiential learning opportunities. Even in an urbanizing world, fairs help remind us of the key role that agriculture plays in our daily lives.

Do you want to showcase your creativity? Check out the Exhibitors section on the North Florida Fair website for a complete list of departments and the rules related to entries.

Youth and adults can enter a variety of exhibits, from livestock to sculpture, at the 81st Annual North Florida Fair.
Youth and adults can enter a variety of exhibits, from livestock to sculpture, at the 81st Annual North Florida Fair.

Handcrafted treasures abound in the Home and Fine Arts building. Exhibits include high quality and varied subject matter in fine arts and crafts, handcrafted treasures, and even canned foods, baked goods, and Home Agriculture that allows for the great variety of FRESH, edible, home-grown products to be entered and displayed. Examples of these products include, but are not limited to, eggs, citrus fruits, fruit, nuts, vegetables, fungi, and herbs as well as wine or other cordials.

Or perhaps your interest lies in the extensive midway, live performances (musical and dance), animal displays, or even the food. Each year the fair is a little different but there is something for everyone.

Tallahasseeans line up to get their fair food fix during the Carnival Food Fair at the North Florida Fairgrounds on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020.
Tallahasseeans line up to get their fair food fix during the Carnival Food Fair at the North Florida Fairgrounds on Friday, Nov. 6, 2020.

Do you like to eat? Over 40 vendors are selling food and beverages with variety from sweet to savory, fried or frozen – there is even a vegetarian jackfruit entrée this year.

But the fair is not just the food and fun. The fact is, fairs bring people together. Many fairgoers return to their favorite fair year after year, yearning for not only a familiar taste but for an experience to learn from and share. I think you will be impressed with the contests, quality exhibits, food, and educational and learning experiences at the 81st Annual North Florida regional Fair. Make a plan to visit and have fun!

Heidi Copeland
Heidi Copeland

Heidi Copeland is a retired Family and Consumer Sciences Agent with UF/IFAS Extension Leon County, an Equal Opportunity Institution. For gardening questions, email the extension office at AskAMasterGardener@ifas.ufl.edu.

If you go

What: 81st Annual North Florida Fair

When: Opening at 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 2. Runs through Nov. 12, various times

Where: North Florida Fairgrounds, 441 E. Paul Russell Road

Details: Visit northfloridafair.com

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Celebrate food, fun and fowl at North Florida Fair opening Nov. 2