State Fair of West Virginia
Encyclopedia
The State Fair of West Virginia is an annual state fair
for West Virginia
. It is held annually in mid-August on the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea
, near Lewisburg, West Virginia
in the southeastern part of the state. The State Fairgrounds consists of a large open field for carnivals and exhibitions, a horse track, grandstands, and several exhibition buildings. Free parking is provided adjacent to the fairgrounds and, until 2006, free camping was also available in a large field with running-water toilets and showers, but no hookups. Campers are now charged a small fee.
on February 1, 1881. The Lewisburg fair evolved from local events that date back to 1854. In 1941 the state government declared it to be the official State Fair. However, World War II
forced cancellation of the event until 1946. The Meadow River Lumber Building
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1997.
with various rides, competitive exhibitions by farmer
s and 4-H
and FFA
members, harness racing
(no gambling is currently allowed), exhibitions by manufacturers of farm machinery and industrial tools, and a nightly concert
by a traveling act, generally country
or oldies acts. Higher stakes Bingo
is conducted at the fair than is normally permitted under state law. A beauty queen
is selected. In political years
, elaborate displays by candidates and political parties
are also a part of the fair.
The 2006 fair generated 174,438 paid admissions, which was the highest number since 2002. Adding children under five (who are admitted free) and various other complementary admissions brings the estimated attendance to 210,000. Prior to the completion of Interstate 64
in 1988 the fairground was difficult to access from most of the state and the event was much more local in nature. However, it has grown greatly since that time.
The Fair is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
. Although the Fair does not release its financial statements to the public, managers claim that it operates on a "small margin." According to a 2006 report commissioned by the Fair, it has an annual economic impact of $8.9 million on Greenbrier County.
The Fair receives no appropriation from the state, supporting itself from admissions, fees charged to vendors, and rental of the fairgrounds to other groups. It does receive support in kind from the state Department of Agriculture and from West Virginia University
.
State fair
A state fair is a competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs....
for West Virginia
West Virginia
West Virginia is a state in the Appalachian and Southeastern regions of the United States, bordered by Virginia to the southeast, Kentucky to the southwest, Ohio to the northwest, Pennsylvania to the northeast and Maryland to the east...
. It is held annually in mid-August on the State Fairgrounds in Fairlea
Fairlea, West Virginia
Fairlea is a census-designated place in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 1,747 at the 2010 census. Fairlea is the location of the annual West Virginia State Fair, held in August.-Geography:...
, near Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg, West Virginia
Lewisburg is a city in Greenbrier County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 3,830 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Greenbrier County.-Geography:Lewisburg is located at ....
in the southeastern part of the state. The State Fairgrounds consists of a large open field for carnivals and exhibitions, a horse track, grandstands, and several exhibition buildings. Free parking is provided adjacent to the fairgrounds and, until 2006, free camping was also available in a large field with running-water toilets and showers, but no hookups. Campers are now charged a small fee.
Schedule
The 87th Annual State Fair ran from August 12 through August 20, 2011. The 2012 Fair is scheduled to run from August 10–18, 2012.History
The first event to be called the State Fair occurred in WheelingWheeling, West Virginia
Wheeling is a city in Ohio and Marshall counties in the U.S. state of West Virginia; it is the county seat of Ohio County. Wheeling is the principal city of the Wheeling Metropolitan Statistical Area...
on February 1, 1881. The Lewisburg fair evolved from local events that date back to 1854. In 1941 the state government declared it to be the official State Fair. However, World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
forced cancellation of the event until 1946. The Meadow River Lumber Building
Meadow River Lumber Building
Meadow River Lumber Building is a historic building located on the grounds of the State Fair of West Virginia at Fairlea, Greenbrier County, West Virginia. It was built in 1928, to showcase the products of the Meadow River Lumber Company . It is a one story, Bungalow-style frame building with a...
was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1997.
The Fair Today
By the standards of large states with a more agricultural economies, the West Virginia event is relatively small. It lasts over nine days. It features a traveling carnivalCarnival
Carnaval is a festive season which occurs immediately before Lent; the main events are usually during February. Carnaval typically involves a public celebration or parade combining some elements of a circus, mask and public street party...
with various rides, competitive exhibitions by farmer
Farmer
A farmer is a person engaged in agriculture, who raises living organisms for food or raw materials, generally including livestock husbandry and growing crops, such as produce and grain...
s and 4-H
4-H
4-H in the United States is a youth organization administered by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture of the United States Department of Agriculture , with the mission of "engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development." The name represents...
and FFA
National FFA Organization
The National FFA Organization is an American youth organization known as a Career and Technical Student Organization, based on middle and high school classes that promote and support agricultural education...
members, harness racing
Harness racing
Harness racing is a form of horse racing in which the horses race at a specific gait . They usually pull a two-wheeled cart called a sulky, although racing under saddle is also conducted in Europe.-Breeds:...
(no gambling is currently allowed), exhibitions by manufacturers of farm machinery and industrial tools, and a nightly concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
by a traveling act, generally country
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
or oldies acts. Higher stakes Bingo
Bingo (US)
Bingo is a game of chance played with randomly drawn numbers which players match against numbers that have been pre-printed on 5x5 matrices. The matrices may be printed on paper, card stock or electronically represented and are referred to as cards. Many versions conclude the game when the first...
is conducted at the fair than is normally permitted under state law. A beauty queen
Beauty Queen
"Beauty Queen" is the second song from Roxy Music's second album, For Your Pleasure. The lyrics refer to Ferry's girlfriend, Valerie Leon, one-time UK beauty queen, B-movie actress and model working in the Newcastle area, circa 1973.-Musicians:...
is selected. In political years
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, elaborate displays by candidates and political parties
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
are also a part of the fair.
The 2006 fair generated 174,438 paid admissions, which was the highest number since 2002. Adding children under five (who are admitted free) and various other complementary admissions brings the estimated attendance to 210,000. Prior to the completion of Interstate 64
Interstate 64
Interstate 64 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern and Southeastern United States. Its western terminus is at I-70, U.S. 40, and U.S. 61 in Wentzville, Missouri. Its eastern terminus is at an interchange with I-264 and I-664 at Bowers Hill in Chesapeake, Virginia. As I-64 is concurrent with...
in 1988 the fairground was difficult to access from most of the state and the event was much more local in nature. However, it has grown greatly since that time.
The Fair is a non-profit organization under section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code
Internal Revenue Code
The Internal Revenue Code is the domestic portion of Federal statutory tax law in the United States, published in various volumes of the United States Statutes at Large, and separately as Title 26 of the United States Code...
. Although the Fair does not release its financial statements to the public, managers claim that it operates on a "small margin." According to a 2006 report commissioned by the Fair, it has an annual economic impact of $8.9 million on Greenbrier County.
The Fair receives no appropriation from the state, supporting itself from admissions, fees charged to vendors, and rental of the fairgrounds to other groups. It does receive support in kind from the state Department of Agriculture and from West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
.
External links
- Official website of the State Fair of West Virginia
- Tickets to the State Fair of West Virginia
- Directions to the State Fair of West Virginia