Nebraska State Fair facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nebraska State Fair |
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|---|---|
| Genre | State fair |
| Dates | 11 days |
| Location(s) | Grand Island, Nebraska, USA |
The Nebraska State Fair is a big yearly event in Grand Island. It's a fun state fair that lasts for about eleven days. Since the early 1990s, the fair always finishes on Labor Day. Before 2010, the fair used to be held in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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History of the Nebraska State Fair
Early Beginnings: The First Fairs
The very first fair in Nebraska was a "territorial fair." This means it happened before Nebraska was even a state! It took place from September 21 to 23 in 1859 in Nebraska City.
After Nebraska became a state, the first official state fair was held on October 7–9, 1868, also in Nebraska City. Nebraska City hosted the fair again in 1869.
Moving Around the State
In 1870 and 1871, the fair moved to Brownville. From 1872 until 1901, the fair switched back and forth between Lincoln and Omaha. In Omaha, it was held at the Omaha Driving Park in North Omaha. A group called the Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben (which is "Nebraska" spelled backwards!) tried to keep the fair in Omaha, but it didn't work out. In 1901, the Nebraska Legislature (the state's lawmakers) decided that the fair's permanent home would be the fairgrounds in Lancaster County, which is where Lincoln is located.
Saving the Fair from Trouble
In the early 2000s, fewer people were coming to the Nebraska State Fair. Some people worried that the fair might even stop happening. To help, the state made it possible for people to donate money to the fair when they paid their state income tax. This helped a lot! More people started coming, and the fair got a "second wind," meaning it became strong again.
The Big Move to Grand Island
In 2008, Nebraska's state lawmakers made a big decision. With help from the University of Nebraska, they decided to move the fair to Grand Island. The university wanted the land in Lincoln for a new project called the Nebraska Innovation Campus.
Some citizens didn't agree with the move and tried to challenge the law in court. They said the law unfairly helped some groups. However, in May 2010, the Nebraska Supreme Court said their arguments were not valid. There was also an attempt to let people vote on the move, but not enough signatures were collected to put it on the ballot.
The state spent $42 million to build brand new facilities for the fair in Grand Island. These new buildings are right next to the city's existing fairgrounds, arena, and horse track at Fonner Park and the Heartland Event Center.
Fair Cancellations Over the Years
The Nebraska State Fair has been canceled a few times throughout its history. It was canceled in 1917–18 and again from 1942–45, likely due to big events like wars. In 2020, some livestock shows at the fair were canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
