Florida County Fair Season Begins

county fair season opens
October is one of the best months for a Florida vacation.  The heat isn’t quite as oppressive as it is during the summer months, and the massive crowds of tourists have mostly packed up and headed home.  It’s also the start of fair season – a great opportunity to experience the local culture on the cheap!
While much of the midwest associates county fairs with summer, Florida’s fair season begins in the fall and runs through the winter and into late spring, ending just before the temperatures begin to creep up again.  (And thank goodness, because I have to imagine that the Florida summer heat mixed with livestock and metal buildings would create a very unfestive environment.)
The first of Florida’s 50 county fairs starts at the beginning of October, just a few short weeks away.  Use this guide to mark your calendar and plan your October weekends all over the Sunshine State.
Florida County Fairs in October 2010
Baker County Fair (Oct 1-9) – Macclenny
Central Panhandle Fair (Oct 4-9) – Panama City
Jackson County Fair (Oct 11-13) – Marianna
Walton County Fair (Oct 11-16) – DeFuniak Springs
Greater Hillsborough County Fair (Oct 13-17) – Brandon
Northeast Florida Fair (Oct 14-24) – Callahan
St. Johns County Fair (Oct 19-24) – Elkton
Pensacola Interstate Fair (Oct 21-31) – Pensacola
Greater Holmes County Fair (Oct 26-30) – Bonifay
Columbia County Fair (Oct 29 – Nov 6) – Lake City
While some county fairs feature little more than agriculture competitions, others pull out all the stops bringing in big names in entertainment.  The Pensacola Interstate Fair in Pensacola will be featuring 38 Special, Dora and Diego, Seven Mary Three and the Charlie Daniels Band this year.  Check out what’s available in your area (or when you’ll be in town).
Photo by Britt Reints