Plan a Day of “Unforgettable Fun” at the State Fair of WV

August 8, 2018

Celebrate some of the best West Virginia traditions at the State Fair of West Virginia in Fairlea, August 9-18!

The 94th annual edition of the fair is featuring a theme of “Unforgettable Fun.” There will be something for the whole family, whether you’re in search of a diverse menu of fair food, thrilling carnival rides and games, delicately created arts and crafts and more.

Adrenaline Rush
No trip to the state fair is complete without a sampling of Reithoffer Ride’s thrills! The 2018 edition of the State Fair will feature classic rides for the kiddos: the Dizzy Dragon, mini-Himalaya, Tea Cups, and a mini-version of the swings.

For kids-at-heart looking look for their own thrills, Reithoffer is bringing back some old favorites: the Full Tilt, the Wild Mouse, the Starship and the dizzying Tornado. And this year, State Fair officials have revealed that Reithoffer is bringing a brand new roller coaster to the festivities (the third largest portable roller coaster in the country)—and, so new, it doesn’t even have a name yet.

And if you’re looking to catch a unique view of all the action, check out the sites from the top of the ferris wheel. Especially if you catch the view at night with all the sparkling light displays!

Let them entertain you
For those who either need a break from the rides or are looking for something a little different, there are as many entertainment options at the fair as laughs coming from the Midway.

The State Fair boasts an eclectic line-up for their grandstand venue. This year, visitors can get tickets to see musicians like country star Chris Young, Christian rock group MercyMe, classic rock group 38 Special, and the Southern Uprising Tour which features Travis Tritt, the Charlie Daniels Band and the Marshall Tucker Band.

And if you’re looking for a grandstand event for your kiddos, Sesame Street Live! “C is for Celebration” will have two shows on Sunday, August 12.

In addition to the ticketed events, the fair offers plenty of free entertainment, too. Exciting acts will be featured every day, multiple times a day. Bewilder your mind at the Kardenni Magic Show, learn more about our bovine friends at Cowtown, look for those bare necessities from the Bears of Bearadise Ranch, witness the acrobatics of the Nerveless Nocks Thrill Show or catch the quirky antics of Rollo as he will be traversing the grounds delighting fairgoers. You can check out the daily schedule of the free shows here.

Come for the thrills, stay for the food
There’s no shortage of food options at the fair either. Highlights include Cinn-sational Cinnamon Rolls (be early so you can get a good spot in the long line!) or a Cattlemen’s Association Steak Sandwich. Make sure to hit up the classic and annual staple of the Mountaineer Diner and their famous Mountaineer Burger.

This year, visitors to the State Fair will be in for a treat: the debut of brand-new menu items at favorite food stops:

Creighberhill Fry Station – Poutines
GEHS FFA – Pig Out Biscuit
Gilette’s Pizza – Bacon Mac ‘n Cheese Calzone
Josephine’s – Giant Glazed Donut
Miller’s Smokehouse – Moonshine Chicken on a Stick
Smokin Gun – Redneck Nachos
TCT’s Steak Eze – Philly Fries
Trudy’s Dairy World – Homemade German Chocolate Ice Cream
Spare Time Concessions – Deep Fried Cornbread with Whipped Cream
Zul’s – Homemade Pepperoni Rolls

If you’re curious about what’s available, be sure to check out the menus to plan out your food-scapade.

4-H, agriculture and crafts…oh my!
Entertainment and thrilling carnival rides aren’t all the fair has to offer. Visitors can see West Virginia’s vast agriculture industry on display from livestock shows and exhibits to produce displays. Take the kiddos to see the rabbit or the avian centers. The young duckling slide in the Poultry Industries Center is always a good way to wait out an impromptu rain storm!

4-H’ers and FFA members from across the state will show off their agriculture knowledge showcasing their livestock: cows, goats, sheep, pigs and horses too, the event is a great way to see the learning process in action. And be sure to check out the Agriculture Education opportunities at the Farm-to-Food pavilion and Dairy Birthing Center.

If you need to cool off for a minute, head into the Cecil H. Underwood youth building where you can view the FFA’s produce exhibits and 4-H members’ annual projects, from photography shows to needlework and more. There are interactive displays too!

Whether you’re in it for the food and rides or agriculture and Appalachian craft work, there’s no shortage of things to do at the fair!

What will you do at the State Fair of West Virginia?