Listen to an interview with fair manager Suzanne Holcomb:
TAMPA -- Hillsborough County is well known as the host of both the Florida State Fair in Tampa and the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City. Hillsborough also has its own county fair, which opens Thursday (23rd).
Fair manager Suzanne Holcomb says the fair focuses on Hillsborough County's historic livestock industry, with more than a thousand youth livestock exhibits. There are also rodeo shows Friday (24th) and Saturday (25th), as well as Mini-Bike Racing Sunday (26th). The second weekend features a Truck and Tractor Pull October 1st and 2nd, and concludes the fair with a demolition derby Sunday afternoon. Those shows require an extra admission fee.
The fair also includes a show with music synchronized to Frisbee-catching dogs, a cowboy camp, and a cattlewoman's beef cook-off. Speaking of eats, fair food is available as well.
Special promotion days include Hillsborough County Employee Appreciation Day September 25th, Heroes Day for military, veterans, first responders and hospital workers September 26th, and Carload Night September 24th and October 1st.
In years past, the fair has closed on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday in between the two weekends. This year, Holcomb says the carnival and rides will be open those three nights.
Adult General Admission is $10, students K-12 $7, Seniors over 65 $5, and children under five are admitted free.
The fair is open 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday. Carnival nights are 5 to 11 p.m.
More information at this link:
Photo: Hillsborough County Fair