It’s become an annual tradition for us to go to the State Fair at least one time when it’s in town. This year we only had a short time to get there because they not only moved it ahead a month, but the duration has been shortened to a mere 3 weeks.

Budget crisis anyone?

Unfortunately it was not only the timing of the fair that was reduced this year, it was also the quantity and quality of the rides. A warning for those of you buying tickets or wristbands – there are very few rides this year that are worth the price you’ll pay, and those rides are mostly the roller coasters.

* Club Idol, the American Idol knockoff that wasn't even playing an Idol music.

Our big joy of the fair is usually the fun house. Moscow Circus has been missing for the last two years, which is a shame because it was the BEST fun house at the fair. It’s been replaced with knock-off American Idol and Michael Jackson attractions, along with haunted houses that appear to be Pandora themed but on the inside are nothing but skulls with glow-in-the-dark paint sprayed on them. I don’t remember any skulls from Avatar, do you?

Other attractions included a veritable cornucopia of food vendors selling things like chocolate covered bacon (delicious), waffle cones (delicious), and corn dogs (yuck). It was a deep fried paradise and let me tell you there were plenty of people partaking in the joy that is fat.

Wow. Just...wow.

As usual there was another gay creature on the carousel, although this time we completely forgot to ride it. We had unlimited wristbands, but for some reason we took pictures and then walked on by. We were hoping for something more magical, but this year fell very flat when it came to the attractions.

After a tour through the pared down midway we spent some time looking through the fine art and contemporary art exhibits, as well as a Disney sponsored animation exhibit that was quite delightful and magical, as one would expect from Disney.

We toured around on the monorail, sampled delicious BBQ beef and pork from our favourite food vendor, then took off to see the baby piglets that had just been born. For some reason we always wind up going from BBQ to livestock when we’re at the fair. Coincidence, or psychotic behaviour? I’m not sure.

Aren't they just yummy looking?

This year we didn’t even go into the main buildings to see the county exhibits or sample the usually delicious fudge. It just didn’t feel like the fair this year. Lots of hottubs, which we always enjoy, and plenty of slushies and fried foods – but it just didn’t feel very fairy for some reason.

The only new attraction this year was an animatronic dinosaur pavillion which we didn’t even get to see because the line was so long. In fact, it was the ONLY line we had to stand in the whole day. Apparently everyone got the memo that the rides weren’t worth waiting for.

Overall it was still a fun time because we were with some friends, and really you can’t beat chocolate covered bacon. But if I had to give it a grade this year it was a C+. The rides get a failing grade, but thankfully the food and the exhibits made up for it somewhat. Better luck next year I guess.

You can see more pictures we took at the fair by visiting my flickr page.