On the last day of 2025 Ky State we explored this place. Got stuff like a Bruce Lee t-shirt, Atlanta Falcons cup, and cheap jewelry. Got food from healthy Acia Bowl with fruit, peanuts which was fresh and light. Also an Italian Sausage Sandwich with onions from Savori which had mighty flavors on soft thick bread. We ended up walking 10,000 steps and enjoyed the experience. The weather was great and crowds lighter as well. read more

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Another great experience at the Kentucky State Fair! Going to the fair isn't the cheapest, but you're guaranteed to see some funny, awesome, one-of-a-kind things. This includes: * The cow costume contest! I know I wrote about this in my past review, but this seems to be an overlooked aspect of the fair. Cows and their kid handlers dress up in coordinating costumes. The creativity, the uncooperative cows and inopportune moos, the announcer just trying to keep up with it all -- it is a sight! * All of the livestock and animals you can get up and close with. These folks really take pride in their animals. Love to see it! * The great arts, crafts and other odd bits entered to win ribbons. I love it with people go big on their niche interests, and this is the Super Bowl (or at least the state version) for this. * The food! Every year something more and more adventurous and out there gets introduced. I didn't get to do as much epicurious exploring, but you know it's all there. * The rides. My kids are getting old enough to look forward to this. While this is sure to make an expensive experience even more so, I know we'll be spending more time here in years to come. There was construction around the fairgrounds this year, which made getting to where we needed to go a bit difficult, but I'm excited to see what the expo center expansion means for the fair in years to come. The state fair is its own thing, and I'm here for it. read more

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FAIR DAY! The place I have a caramel apple for breakfast, pet a cow , declare a shuttle as the best ride of the day, got a flu shot and a corn dog in the same hour, yearn to visit every county festival and state park, refuse 100x to sign up for windows and gutter guards, watch Jeremy sample pickles and fudge, pick up enough bandaids to last for the rest of the year, view antiques I played with as a kid , am mesmerized by gourds that look like critters, judge the judges distributing ribbons, question why I've never - not even once - built and entered a miniature display, and admit I'll never, ever be as fancy as the people in the horse show. read more

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A great day at the state fair. I secured tickets early at $9 each which includes parking. We arrived a little before noon and spent our first couple of hours in rhe Bud Tent watching out favorite local band, Most Wanted. It was hot but they sounded exceptional and it was fun to watch the talent of this band. We rode the shuttle around the fair grounds, ate some junk food, but also stopped by the car a time or 2 to grab a healthier snack from the cooler we packed. We cruised through the livestock and saw cows, chickens and rabbits. We sat in Freedom Hall and watched some riders practicing for the horse show. We looked at all the culinary exhibits, the crafts and the art and photography. We also stop to chat with Freddie, the farmer. So much more to do and see, on another day. read more

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Our group decided to attend the 2024 Kentucky State Fair on Tuesday for FREE senior day for ages 55 and older. None of us had to show our ID, so I suppose our gray hair and showing up before 11 AM was proof enough. :) Parking was $10 per carload and a shuttle is offered at the outer perimeter of the parking lot. It can be quite a trek; however, we are quite spry and also wanted to get our steps in -- almost hit 10,000 for the day. The goal was to see and do as much as possible in a few hours and we ended up being on premises for 6 hours. Midday rides open at 3 PM, so we hoped to vacate before school dismissed for the day. Lots to see and do! Watched a magic show, watched a dogs doing tricks show, visited the beer tent for great live music, sampled food and drink (corn dog $9, pineapple whip $5, fried green tomatoes $8, roasted corn $5, beer $8), viewed displays (quilts, Christmas trees, doll houses, baked goods, cows, sheep, ducks, hay bales, Vietnam War memorial, honey, etc), and even watched chicks hatching in real time in an incubator. It is also possible to get a flu shot while at the fair and receive a free Thrillville Ride bracelet for unlimited use for the day ($30 value). Great venue. Appreciated the daily schedule printouts available in a multitude of Info kiosk locations. read more

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Went to the Kentucky State fair on 8/19/25. They have a parking lot for Handicapped people in the front. Walked around looked at the booths. Had blood pressure checked. Looked at the arts and crafts,cakes,antiques, photography. Watched a dog show. Looked at the animals in the west wing. Had an ice cream from Ehrler's, it was delicious! Overall had a very nice time. read more

SOOOOO MUCH FUN!!!!!!!! I went to the Kentucky state fair August 15 they had lafufu dogs it was weird but the rides were fun read more

Great family fun. Lots to do and see. Animals rides shopping food. What more can you expect it makes for a great day.

The Kentucky state fair held annually in Lousiville Kentucky at the fairground and exp center off Phillips lane is always a big week long celebration usually taking place in the 1st or 2nd week of August for the state and city. Being a Lousiville resident born and raised I've visited the fair more times that I can remember. From trips to see Freddy the farmer the big talking farmer with my kids and as a kid to myself, to the free summer concerts (I've seen country acts such as Gary Allen, Eric church, Dwight yokum, blake Shelton Travis tritt and other genres ranging from boys II men and nc hammer), to the amusement park rides and shopping the massive flea market I've seen just about all the fair can offer. My personal favorite things to see annual Are Freddy, the petting zoo, the flea market, the baby chicks, the oversized crops such as largest pumpkins and the livestock. They use to have some really big names come in and doing free nightly concerts. They still have the concerts nightly but the acts and names are way less known now. Not sure why but that has been a bummer. I enjoy taking my kids through the flea market part as they have a lot of interactive areas that they love and adore. They also enjoy the annual magic shows and the ugly lamp showcase that is held in the indoor wings of the fair. Pricing wise it is very overpriced. Especially for food. My family of 7 it costs around $100 for maybe $20 worth of actual food. So we've recently packed a lucky or just haven't eaten at the fair. For me the fair use to be a five star experience. However it is rapidly dropping. The shows and activities are dwindling. The items and bargains at the flea market are disappearing and the pricing has skyrocketed. I'm Hopeful this trend changes as we've always loved the fair. But it is becoming harder and harder to justify or find a reason to visit each year. Overlap plenty of great and wonderful memories have been created for me as a youth and a parent here. It's a shame it has fallen off but I'm hopeful it can be revived to what it once was. read more

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the ONLY bad thing at the fair this year was the price of food. Don't blame Trump- this is plain greed and if your a person who waits a year for the pork producers of Ky's pork chop sandwich, forget it. this is not the old delicious sandwich of the past. this group has "store bought written all over it. PLUS it's $5 more than last year. Don't waste you money! kystatefair bring back the Ky Pork producers from now on. read more

It's the state fair! Lots of fun, fun foods, fun rides, fun shows, and fun food! What's not to like?

The Kentucky state fair is an annual fair in Louisville Kentucky. It is for the entire state of Kentucky obviously because Louisville is the largest city. We have a great time every time we visit the Kentucky state fair. We like all the food the animals and the free concerts that come along with the purchase of a ticket. I will return and I suggest everyone else do as well read more

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2021 was my first time at the Kentucky State Fair.... The only fair I had to compare it to was the Texas State Fair (aka the largest in the country) so it was definitely smaller BUT I still found it to be a lot of fun! I absolutely LOVE fair food so I'm in heaven at any fair. My go-to fair food is a classic corn dog, and I also got the fried oreos and a funnel cake... so delicious! There was a great variety of carnival games (which you can never, ever win) and the fair contests (like largest vegetables) are so much fun to look at! I will be back next year for sure! read more

Kentucky State Fair - Fried Oreos & Funnel Cake - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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The fair is a stable event if you are from Kentucky. I honestly didn't start going to the fair until I was in high school so I was missing quite a bit. I'm not going to lie, the process to getting into the fair takes forever to get in. It's nonstop traffic and if you have multiple people paying separate in one car, it can take some time. Also, everything at the fair is expensive as hell. You can easily spend $100 in no time at all. My favorite part about the fair is inside the expo center with all the booths and animals. It's also an escape from the heat outside. The food selection is always great. It's the perfect excuse to eat like a pig and see how much grease you can consume without regretting it. The best items in my opinion are the giant turkey legs and the doughnut burger (yes, the burger is actually one of the best things you can get). In my opinion, the best time to go is the afternoon. It's still crowded but not as bad as it is at night. You are also avoiding the teenagers and the drunks. I think it's more relaxing to go in the afternoon honestly. The Kentucky State Fair is so important to us Kentuckians and it's something I like to go to at least once a year. read more

Kentucky State Fair - A leg cup full of booze - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

The KY State Fair is one of my absolute favorite events. I love everything about it. The people-watching, the shows, the enormous produce, the giant belt buckles, complimentary yard sticks and tote bags, livestock, rides, and fried food. So much to offer for such a reasonable admission. Hint: Buy tickets at Kroger the month before the fair to save $. Last year -2020- the fair was closed to spectators, but it's back for 2021. This year masks are required indoors but not enforced. It was not crowded at all on the Tuesday afternoon/evening we went. I did notice that the amount vendors for 2021 has been reduced from previous years and slim pickings on the free stuff. But still tons of fun to be had. If I could do it all over, I would have purchased the unlimited ride wristband and taken advantage of the short lines for rides. I also would have gotten my food outside. I ate a catfish sandwich from an indoor booth and was disappointed. The offerings outside looked much better and included a food truck that sells deep-fried macaroni & cheese balls. Next time! I can't wait to return next year to get my free yard stick. read more

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I have such a love-hate relationship with the Kentucky State Fair. Literally everything is overpriced, it can be a dirty environment and a lot of sleazy people, but then again there are so many fun, classic elements to the fair that keep me coming back every year. My favorite part about the fair is inside the expo center. I love seeing all of the cakes, artwork and animals. I love browsing through the vendors and grabbing myself a deep-fried something to indulge in. I love riding the rides, even though the rides can be creaky and seem a little unsafe. The live music can be great, and just an overall nice place to hang out for one summer night. It's definitely a place I wouldn't go more than once a year to, and I'm definitely not a fan of the crowds. If you stay past 10, you'll be swimming through a crowd of drunks. The parking gets so insane that you could be walking a pretty long distance to get back. Luckily they do have trams that go to the parking lots (That get very crowded also.) It's a bittersweet tradition, to say the least. read more

Grate fair amazing games and food Everything is great! Spend a good amount of money but fun read more

Kentucky State Fair - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Many go just for the fair food and midway rides, and those people are truly missing out. There is so much pride in all of the exhibits- artwork, crafts, quilts, honey, heirloom tomatoes... I seriously could go on forever listing all the amazing things made/created/grown in Kentucky and on display at the fair. I never knew there were so many types of pigeons. A 600 pound pumpkin is as impressive in real life as the Statue of David. Cakes worthy of the fanciest of Food Network baking competitions made me jealous that I can't even make "happy birthday" look pretty in icing. Make sure to go early in the week if you want to see all the animals- many lot go home after judging and the ribbons are awarded. Don't skip the corn dogs, fried Oreos, and handmade lemonade, just make sure they're not the main attraction in your day. read more

Kentucky State Fair - Beautiful bird on display. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Once upon a time in America there were things called World's Fairs which were showcases of innovation, technology and imagination. It seems to me that state fairs are the opposite of that, a celebration of traditional culture and traditional values but not much that pushes the envelope. And like a lot of things that are so entrenched in tradition, the result is a mixed blessing, with plenty of nostalgia but usually with a feel that's pretty exclusively old and white and rural. This old guy can certainly find things to dig. The cooking competitions are great. I love to see all the amazing quilts and cakes and admire the prize-winning livestock. And a close scan of the program always finds terrific performances -- this year features Chinese acrobats and the Kentucky New Play series. But the fried food is truly banal. Yelpers understand that they would do so much better eating in the city than on the fairgrounds, an ironic reality given how fabulously the fair showcases 4-H here. Similarly, you'll likely have a better time listening to local musicians than paying for many of the larger shows at the fair. And I'm too much of a curmudgeon to even bother exploring the midway. But if you can put up with the inescapable corporate vibe and the smog-choked parking lot, the State Fair is still worth a visit. read more

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The 1st thing we did when we got into the fair was jump onto the FREE tram ride. This tractor pulled ride actually makes the complete loop around the fair grounds with plenty of stops to get on or off. The ride starts at 9am and goes until everyone is to their cars at night. Also there are several of the trams running at the same time which makes it nice when it's crowded. As we rode the complete loop it gave us ideas of what we wanted to go see and do next. I've always heard that the Kentucky State Fair has the largest indoor activities out of all the state fairs and I think that's true. We spent alot of time inside lookig at all the entries competing for ribbons. From art to crafts to sewing to food and even Christmas & non Christmas themed trees, (just to name a few) there is a catagory for all and all ages. Of course what's a fair without animals..... Plenty of live stock to pet and look at along with all the horse stables out back. Freedom Hall was set up for all the horse shows while any seat inside there is a good seat. If it's food your after, the fair offers plenty of choices there too. With all the food trucks/trailers you can find just about anything you want. Eating lunch and dinner there gave us a chance to experience it twice!! There were plenty of FREE side shows going on all day. We watched 2 different dog shows, a motorcycle inside a ball, a singing show and a guy on a tall pogo stick which was amazing!! As the sun began to set we headed over to the mid way. Something we noticed was there were (2) double of the bigger more popular rides which helped cut the line time down quite a bit. Plenty of cool rides for all ages. Each night offered a FREE concert in the main concert area while a few tents had their own FREE bands playing as well. For the crowd each and every day the grounds were clean. I don't recall seeing any trash laying around anywhere!! Also, the crowd was friendly and every food truck we ordered from they were nice and polite too. Great family atmosphere the whole time we were there!! read more

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Ridiculous prices. Large crowds. Horrible traffic. Rides that seemingly are about to fall apart. People peddling the latest and greatest product. Deep-fried fair food that will most certainly send you to the grave. But I'm not sure that I'd have it any other way. Give me deep-fried Oreos, a jumbo turkey leg, and a Krispy Kreme doughnut burger, and I'm a happy boy. read more

Kentucky State Fair - Giant Kangaroo. Because. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Way to go KY State Fair- you made a few upgrades this year! The app was convenient and helped schedule our visit. Express lane with advance parking purchase My last few experiences trying to get through the traffic to park kept me away for a few years! Obviously, there is a wide variety of food and drinks! One change that I don't understand is moving the free concerts from Cardinal Stadium that has shade and seating to the open area. I love the concerts but we were standing in the direct sun with no covered areas. I'll see what happens next year! read more

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We look forward to our annual trip to the Kentucky State Fair. It's priced pretty reasonably, especially if you purchase your tickets online. It also makes driving through the gates a bit quicker since you can use the express lane. As far as food, we've tried it all. The donut burger, the corn dogs, gyros.. you name it. It's allll good. We also look forward to walking through the booths and snagging free stuff from all of the different counties. There's plenty to do and see. read more

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One of my favorite times of the year...the fair! Who can resist the bands, beer tents and mullets? I always enter into something (this year peanut butter cookies) so I can take advantage of the exhibitor tickets. Saturday I took the family and the weather was great so, of course, it was packed. We went to the free Chevelle concert and it was rockin'. We'll be back Wednesday and Saturday again to see more. Possibly even Sunday... You all need to go at least once a year! read more

Kentucky State Fair - The midway - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

I love the fair. There were some huge improvements this year that made it even better. I like that all the FFA stuff got moved out of a random hall into the south wing. It was nice to have the agriculture area and it flowed a lot better. I always enjoy the pride of counties and seeing what the counties have going on. I always leave with a list of places I want to visit. I've been attending the fair for as long as I can remember and this year was one of the better years in recent memory. I'm not a huge fan of where they moved the concert series. Standing. On concrete to watch a concert after walking around all day was a bit much. The fair is a yearly tradition so I'll be back for sure. read more

Kentucky State Fair - View from the fountain. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

For a foodie, this place is a gem! Plenty to see and do. Animals are everywhere. Always a show going on somewhere. Parking isn't bad, but expect a hike from your car. read more

Kentucky State Fair - Doughnut burger is amazing - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Every August, Kentuckians have the ultimate opportunity for people watching and fried food consumption at our State Fair. Although the weather usually makes the concrete jungle that is the Fair & Expo Center feel like the surface of Mars, this year we were fortunate to have a freak, cool snap. Perfect time to enjoy a blue-ribbon winning, 875 lb pumpkin; lots of fuzzy livestock; and more junk food than your arteries can handle. I took advantage of discount tickets available in advance of the fair, at our local Kroger stores, and saved myself some cash. You can also get a great deal by park and riding from Papa John's stadium, but I wanted to have my car on-site since we were also going to a concert that ended late-ish. Make sure you look out for specials and deals like the senior day and carload pricing - it can save you and the family a bundle! I scoped out the daily events calendar and maps on the Fair's website beforehand to avoid congestion and frustration. With a plan and cash in hand (you don't want to be short when the desire for a funnel cake arises), we set out for a full evening at the Fair. Parking can be purchased in advance, but we paid at the gate (pick one of the secondary entrances to help cut down the wait time spent in long lines). At $8 a car, they are making a killing on parking especially when your entry fee is another $10 for adults. Thankfully, they do offer a free shuttle to get you from the back 40, where you will undoubtedly have to park, to the center of the fun. We enjoyed seeing all the agricultural, artistic, and culinary items on display as well as enjoyed the free concert on the turf at Cardinal Stadium. We didn't venture into the midway, but did partake of some local food including fried catfish from the KY Aquaculture Association, grilled corn from a regional vendor, and a scrumptious chocolate-dipped fruit kabob and cannoli (which had to be healthier than a fried oreo). At the end of the evening, we dragged our tired bodies onto a shuttle and then to the car. We headed home having experienced an annual phenomenon that is always memorable. read more

Kentucky State Fair - KY Aquaculture Association's catfish sandwich. - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

First time going to the fair in years, they changed some traffic patterns and it turned out to be great! Didn't have any problem getting inside the fair or leaving, so that made the day great. We started our day by checking out the livestock, (mules, cattle, goats, rabbits etc), very nice display. Once we got through the livestock we made our way to the rides. I feel like the prices were pretty fair for ride tickets, but I also feel some of the rides cost too many tickets. We had a blast and I finally got to try the Krispy Kreme cheeseburger. It wasn't what I expected and that's a good thing lol. It was very awesome. I was trying to find where the Mac n cheese burger was but couldn't locate it. All in all our fair experience was great, I wish food and drink prices were a little more manageable though. $10 for a burger, chips and drink is pretty outstanding. My Krispy Kreme burger was $9, and my fiancé got poutine and a lemonade that ran her $19! Again we had a blast, but I wish they would change up some of the prices for food and drinks. read more

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The Kentucky State Fair sure is an interesting place. In actuality, it's pretty damn weird. But, I've gotta say, overall I enjoy it. Of course, one of the best parts of the fair is the food! And, since most of the food vendors are located outside of the exhibition hall, you have to walk through the goodies to get to the actual fair. This is great, because you can grab a bite or a drink to take inside with you! I know most people love the animals, but I'm not so much into that part, because it makes me sad. I'm sure the animals at the fair are treated much better than so many other farm animals in the world; however, it doesn't change the fact that they're food, and to me that's really depressing. So, I opt for looking at the other exhibits. My favorite exhibits are the counties, the scrapbooking, the quilts, and the food! The moldy food is actually my favorite part, because it's so interesting to me that we set cakes, candies, and other food goods in a display case for everyone to come view and then allow them to rot there. It's so strange, and it's awesome. The counties are really cool too, because you can learn so much about your state just by talking to the people working those booths. Plus, we do awesome stuff at the fair like auction off a country ham for charity (and it sometimes goes for TONS of money), enter giant monster produce and then judge it based on how large it is, deep fry absolutely everything, and watch fairgoers do crazy contests and karaoke. I've been going to the fair since I was young, and I even used to compete in this strange academic championship called the Avian Bowl, which, you guessed it, was basically an academic team match where all of the questions are about and/or relating to poultry. Thanks Kentucky 4-H! If you live in Kentucky and haven't been to the fair, I definitely recommend going to check it out! And if you're visiting Kentucky during the fair and want to see some of the weird things we put on display there, you should definitely check it out as well! read more

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My first time! On my way home (Columbus, Ohio) from Nashville, we stopped to have some fun in Louisville. I've gone to the Ohio state fair almost every year since before I can even remember, so it was really neat to see what the Kentucky fair had that was different than what I'm used to. read more

It's easy for someone who goes to the fair every year, like yours truly, to get a little jaded at the idea, only agreeing to get dragged along because the kids want to go.. I mean, the prices are exorbitant, the crowds are panic attack inducing, and trying to find a place to park can take half the day if you're not early enough. Convince the six yo that we are NOT here for Kentucky kingdom, convince the 12 yo that her dollar flip flops will NOT survive being stepped on my a million bustling people so put some real shoes on, and convince the seven yo that I am NOT made of money and she really would rather have a free coloring book than a balloon dolphin on a stick. Once you get there and get settled in with your fried foods and krispie kreme donut burgers, the real reason to eat at the fair, the magic really sets in. The exhibits are my favorite part. Cakes, 4-H, ginormeous vegetables, arts and crafts, antiques, getting the kids pictures taken with all the tractors and police cars, watching baby chicks being born and sheep being shorn, the proudest parts of Kentucky are why it's totally worth going. I hate it, love it, and will be back next year. read more

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LOVE the state fair. But, this year felt a little different. Not as many vendors open after 6pm in the "county" area. Going early on I feel we missed seeing some animals and shows. However, the Sheila E. concert was free and entertaining. The walk to the concert venue is long, dark and off the beaten path. Didn't feel very safe. The food is good like usual. The rides were fun and seemed like more this year. Planning to go back to see what I missed. read more

Kentucky State Fair - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

Went to the Kentucky State Fair for the first time on Thursday. (Moved here 3 years ago) The weather was perfect and made for a great day and evening. I have to say that I am very impressed. The fair is absolutely fabulous! We spent over 14 hours at the fair. There is pretty much something for everyone at this fair. I could not get over the numerous exhibits. The entries were impressive. They have categories for just about anything you can imagine. The fair is spread out over the Kentucky Expo center and grounds and even though it was a very busy day, we never once felt crowded. There is a free tram to ride that stops at many places around the venue and parking lots. On the midway you can find many rides and games. They even have two of some of the rides on each end of the midway so you won't have long lines. There are a large number of food trucks outside and many food and snack stations inside as well as a food court inside the south wing. There are also numerous shows throughout the day that are family friendly. As well as concerts in the evening. (They were all free this year, don't know if this is always the case). We will definitely be making this an annual event to attend. If you have not managed to make it to the fair, I highly recommend you get yourself there. read more

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Loved it. Hit it on an off day. Wednesday after opening. Weather in upper 70's, low 80s. Couldn't have been more perfect. Low crowds, easy parking. Got there super fast thanks to google drive. Monarchs in the Sivori tent. Lots of seating. Awesome, beautiful night. Monarchs spot on Able to leave and get home in less than 20 minutes (Crescent hill). Perfect. Pray for this next yr. read more

The fair was great 2021. I was shocked to find out they had no sun lotion for the kids. They didnt have pumps or anyone selling it. I was really shocked, everywhere has that. Must be inexperienced millennials running the place. William read more

Love the fair every year. From the food to the shows to the fancy cakes to the vendors to the awesome balloon sculpture to the freebies to the animals to the midway and so much more. I was a bit disappointed when I asked where the ugly lamps were and was informed that due to Lynn's Paradise Cafe closing, they are no longer a thing... boo. Yes, the prices and parking go up it seems like every year, but if you're a state fair pro, then you know the workarounds ;) Main tips: Avoid going on weekends. Weekdays during the days are best. Bring cash Wear comfy shoes and dress in layers (a light sweater for the inside exhibits are recommended) Do some research and somewhat plan out your day before you go. Follow the fair's Facebook & Twitter accounts If it applies to you, take advantage of senior day, military day, and any other discounted days that they advertise on the above pages Enjoy! read more

Awesome time at the fair. Great live music and food. A bit disappointed with the food trucks serving frozen corn dogs. However found one that made them fresh to order. Overall good time! read more

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Five Stars for the Kentucky State Fair! Yes, you read that correctly, for the Kentucky State Fair! Why, you ask? Because there's so much sh-t to do and see there! Held each year for 10 days in late August at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds in Louisville, the Kentucky State Fair features a cornucopia of food and drinks; free concerts; shows; games; rides; and vendors. It's also -- in my opinion -- THE premiere event for people-watching because you see all kinds of folks: some are young, some are old; some look rich, others seem poor; some are from the city, many are from the country. Admission to the fair isn't that bad: $10 for adults and another $10 for parking. So, if you like: eating corndogs or elephant ears; or drinking freshly squeezed lemonade or bourbon; or watching horse shows or pig competitions; or witnessing people riding motorcycles in cages or people standing on a stack of chairs; or looking at roosters and cows; or riding the ferris wheel or the Himalaya; or staring at quilts or ugly lamps; or learning about fish and wildlife...then you need to go to the Kentucky State Fair. Bottom line: It's pure entertainment. If you haven't attended the Kentucky State Fair yet...then shame on you! read more

Kentucky State Fair - Stadiums & Arenas Near Me - Louisville, Kentucky

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Fair has really gone down this year. Smaller and smaller. Always was my favorite time of year. Probably be my last year coming

I've lived in KY all my life and had not been to the State Fair! I decided to see what the fuss was on the 26th; First let me say it is something every Kentuckian should do at least once. Second I don't think it is the "most incredible" experience/fair everyone hypes it up to be. -Parking- Unless you arrive at opening time plan on walking a ways to the fair or waiting on their trams -Rides-If you have children then the rides seem to be a big hit. I'm unsure for adults because we don't ride them but they appeared to be mostly kiddie carnival rides and maybe some screams for teens (you know, the usual carnival rides). -Food-All of your typical carnival/fair foods are represented here and repeated throughout the fair. There are some cool choices like doughnut burgers and deep fried candy bars. The prices are probably typical (e.g. A pulled pork plate $14, nachos $5, popcorn $3.50). My suggestion is to buy the large souvenir cup $5-7 and then refill for $2-3 throughout the fair. -Shopping- Yes there is shopping to be done here! The shops in the South Wing have a variety of your large indoor flea market items (all new, no second hand stuff). Lots to test, free items/demos, etc. Plan on bringing that $ and perhaps even doing some xmas shopping! Other carnival stuff like tshirts and blow up animals on sticks etc are also throughout the fair. -Animals- There are several contests going on for farm animals and you can walk through the areas they are being kept (stalls) and visit with them. Several other animal exhibits and encounters are throughout the fair as well. -Exhibits- Lots of sweets, produce, crafts etc on display and contests going on inside West Wing and the other large buildings. -Fun- Several shows are scheduled throughout the day. Most are free (Marvelous Mutts, Aussie Kingdom, The Flying Wallendas) but some have a fee. We really enjoyed The Flying Wallendas high wire act -Getting around- There are trams/shuttles set up throughout making seeing everything easier and perhaps faster It was a pleasant experience and one we would do again read more

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