115 years ago in the Tampa Hotel was the beginning of the Florida State Fair. Today the Tampa Hotel is now the University of Tampa and the Florida State Fair now boasts of 15 acres of land with over 500,000 visitors and has the largest midway in North America with over 110 rides.

The fair returns this year in a huge way. The midway will be here, the rides will be here the entertainment will be here, and of course ….. the food (deep fried anything now!!!!).  

The Florida State Fair will be running from Feb 7th – 18th at the fairgrounds off of I-4. It will be loaded with entertainment this year for fans of all ages. 

This year the fair features Christmas in the Country as it returns to the Florida State Fairgrounds. Experience a 19th Century Florida Christmas in the Country at Mildred W. and Doyle E. Carlton Jr’s Cracker Country Cracker Country is a living history museum that represents aspects of home life, commerce, and transportation as it was in many rural Florida communities just before the turn of the 20th Century. 

During Christmas In The Country, guests will be able to create holiday keepsakes like salt dough ornaments, beeswax candles, sachets, and cornucopias. Visitors will also be able to churn butter and do laundry on an old-fashioned washboard. This stroll through the 4-acre complex will include 13 original buildings. Including a train depot, historic homes, general store, post office, and a blacksmith shop.

These are just the highlights and there is much much more not to be missed. For more information you can visit www.floridastatefair.com. As a follower of the Thrillfreak you have an exclusive chance to enjoy the fair for free!!!!!!  As well ride!!!!!

Click the huge ferris wheel below below for a chance to get 4 admissions to the fair as well as 4 ride all day armbands to enjoy all 110 of those rides on the monster fairway.