Delaware State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Delaware State Fair |
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| Genre | Fair |
| Begins | 18 July 2024 |
| Ends | 27 July 2024 |
| Frequency | Annually |
| Location(s) | Harrington, Delaware |
| Years active | 1919–1941, since 1946 |
| Inaugurated | 27 July 1920 |
| Area | Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland |
The Delaware State Fair is a super fun yearly event in Harrington, Delaware. It's the official fair for the state of Delaware. This exciting fair lasts for ten days every July. It's a great place to find entertainment, cool exhibits, and delicious food!
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History of the Delaware State Fair
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The very first Delaware State Fair was held in Wilmington. People talked about the "Delaware State Fair" in newspapers way back in 1869.
In 1878, the fair moved to Dover. It was held at the Fairview Park Fair Grounds. Important speakers, like a former governor and members of the U.S. House of Representatives, attended.
In 1917, the fair moved again to Elsmere. A group bought land and built a fairgrounds there. It had racetracks, farm exhibits, and stages for shows. This group later had financial problems. A new fair group then held the Wilmington Fair in 1927 and 1928 at the same spot.
The first fair on the current grounds in Harrington was in 1920. It was called the Kent and Sussex County Fair. It lasted four days and covered about 30 acres. In 1962, this fair officially changed its name to the Delaware State Fair.
Today, the fairgrounds are huge, covering over 300 acres! You can enjoy concerts, wrestling, rodeos, races, and lots of farm exhibits. There's also a fun midway with rides and games. The Harrington Raceway & Casino is also located here.
The fair has only been canceled a few times. It stopped from 1942 to 1945 because of World War II. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the fair still happened. They made changes to keep everyone safe, like requiring masks and encouraging social distancing.
Concerts and Entertainment
The Delaware State Fair is a big place for entertainment. It brings in people from Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. It's one of the few places in the area that hosts big concerts. Many popular music artists have performed here, including:
- David Cook
- Kelly Clarkson
- Gin Blossoms
- Demi Lovato
- Chuck Wicks
- Julianne Hough
- Darius Rucker
- Jeff Dunham
- Brad Paisley
- Toby Keith
- Flo Rida
- New Found Glory
- Paramore
- Carrie Underwood
- Daughtry
- Gloria Estefan
- Milli Vanilli
- New Kids on the Block
- Tiffany
- Color Me Badd
- George Jones
- Tammy Wynette
- Alan Jackson
- LeAnn Rimes
- Joe Diffie
- Lynyrd Skynyrd
- The Presidents of the United States of America
- Savage Garden
- Pam Tillis
- Hank Williams Jr.
- Charlie Daniels Band
- Travis Tritt
- Jo Dee Messina
- Larry the Cable Guy
- Bill Cosby
- Shai
- Sawyer Brown
- Brooks and Dunn
- Tracy Lawrence
- Young MC
- Trace Adkins
- Three Days Grace
- Miranda Cosgrove
- Greyson Chance
- Ke$ha
- Big Time Rush
- Rascal Flatts
- Lady Antebellum
- The Ataris
- Yellowcard
- TNA Wrestling
- Austin Mahone
- Casting Crowns
- Keith Urban
- Meghan Trainor
- Staind
- 3 Doors Down
- Brantley Gilbert
- Jason Aldean
- Dan + Shay
Harrington Raceway & Casino
The Harrington Raceway & Casino is right on the fairgrounds. It's open all year! It has a harness racetrack where horses race. There's also a casino with slot machines, table games, and sports betting.
Winter Season Activities
During the colder winter months, the Centre Ice Rink is located on the fairgrounds. You can go public skating there. They also host exciting Ice hockey games and practices.
