Eastern Idaho State Fair facts for kids
The Eastern Idaho State Fair is a super fun event that happens every year in early September! It's held in a town called Blackfoot, Idaho, which is southwest of Idaho Falls. It's one of three big state fairs in Idaho, where people come together to celebrate agriculture, enjoy exciting rides, and eat yummy food. The fairgrounds open up around Labor Day weekend, ready for everyone to have a great time!
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History of the Fair
How the Fair Started
Back in 1902, some cattle ranchers bought land because they wanted to show off their animals. They called their event the "Southeastern Idaho Fair." Things got tough financially in 1918, so the fair had to stop for a bit until 1920. In 1925, Idaho lawmakers helped the fair become a "district fair," focusing on livestock and entertainment. To compete with the Utah State Fair, its name was changed to the "Eastern Idaho State Fair." In 1925, the fair lasted for four days.
Fair During World War II
The fair closed in July 1942 because of World War II. The buildings at the fairgrounds were used to store extra items. In December 1942, a fire destroyed some buildings, burning stored potatoes and coal. Also in 1942, about 500 Italian prisoners were housed at the fairgrounds and helped dig sugar beets and potatoes. The fair started up again in 1944.
Native American Influence and Agriculture
The Native Americans from Fort Hall have always been a big part of the Eastern Idaho State Fair. An exciting Indian Relay Race has been a tradition throughout the fair's history. The fair has also always been a place to show off local agriculture. Farmers from the area display their fresh produce and healthy livestock for everyone to see.
Recent Fair Records
In 2017, the fair celebrated its 115th year! That year, it set a new record for how many people visited, with 239,103 attendees. This broke the old record from 2016. In 2020, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, only the fair food, livestock show, and rodeo were held, and the event was shorter, lasting only four days.
Opening Day Fun
One of the most exciting events on opening day is the annual parade in Blackfoot. The parade starts at the south end of Shilling Avenue and goes all the way to the north end. Many local clubs, organizations, high schools, police, fire departments, businesses, and dance teams march in the parade.
The local police and fire departments lead the parade, sounding their horns and sirens. High schools often have their own floats, with cheerleading squads, student council members, and dance teams. People on the floats cheer and throw candy, while also telling everyone about the fair. Businesses in town help sponsor the parade with music, candy, and brochures. Dance teams show off their moves as they walk down the street, entertaining the crowd.
Exciting Fair Attractions
Delicious Fair Food
You can find all kinds of yummy food at the fair, including Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, American, and Indian dishes! Some popular treats are teriyaki bowls, elephant ears (which are fried dough), scone nuggets, big turkey legs, hamburgers, funnel cakes, curly fries, and ice cream. People also make food in Dutch ovens. A super famous and unique meal at the fair is the "ice cream potato"! It's actually ice cream made to look like a baked potato, with toppings that look like cheddar cheese, bacon, and sour cream. It's a must-try!
Daytime Races and Relays
On weekdays, exciting horse races are held at the grandstands from noon until late afternoon. After some of the horse races, the thrilling Indian Relays take place. In these relays, Native American tribes have three horses each. Riders take one horse for a lap around the track, then quickly switch to the next horse. The riders jump off their slowing horse and quickly jump onto the next one. It's a very fast and exciting race!
Nighttime Entertainment
When the sun goes down, the fair lights up with amazing nighttime events! These include motocross races, exciting bull riding, a fun rodeo, powerful tractor pulls, live concerts, and a smashing demolition derby. The concerts feature different music styles and performers each year. In 2015, for example, Gabriel Iglesias and Cheap Trick were some of the main performers.
On two smaller stages, you can find other fun shows. These might include hypnotists, arm wrestling contests, "Idaho Idol" singing competitions, local dance teams, and comedy shows. Around these stages, you might also find a petting zoo, displays of camp trailers, and even a reptile show!
Rides, Games, and Animals
The fairgrounds are full of fun rides and games for everyone! There are rides for younger kids and bigger, more thrilling rides for older kids and adults, like the Zipper, Fun Slide, and House of Mirrors. You can buy tickets or wristbands to enjoy all the rides and games. The rides are brought by Butler Amusements.
You can also see many different animals at the fair, including dairy and beef cattle, various types of horses, sheep, pigs, goats, chicken, rabbits, and even ostriches! Young people involved in the 4-H program often show off their livestock at the fair.
Fairground Buildings
The buildings at the fairgrounds offer lots to see. Some have information about farming, while others advertise things like hot tubs, trailers, fireplaces, and siding for houses. Smaller buildings often display beautiful craft items. You can see handmade blankets, clothes, and other stitching work. There are also amazing photographs of animals, nature, children, weddings, families, and more!
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