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For nearly 100 years, Mountain State residents have carried on the summer tradition of celebrating our state and its people with the West Virginia State Fair. Having kicked off its 99th annual event in Lewisburg Thursday, the fair will run through Aug. 17, featuring rides, entertainment, lots and lots of food, shopping and other vendors, livestock events and much more.
Remember, some of those food vendors will be competing in the Best New Fair Food contest. The possibilities are delicious.
But Lewisburg, in Greenbrier County, isn't exactly around the corner for many West Virginians. Perhaps that's just the point. A trip to the fair means a chance to explore the many twists and turns that lead us to the fairgrounds.
"We always tell people that the state fair is the perfect way to celebrate the end of summer, I know a lot of people are getting ready to go back to school, and you're not going out of state, it's a nice little day trip to come down and there's something for everyone," State Fair CEO Kelly Collins told WV MetroNews.
Despite a drought that is proving a real challenge for the state's farmers this year, the fair will celebrate our agricultural heritage and give participants such as the FFA a chance for members to show off their hard work.
"That's really why we're here is to promote agriculture and to promote folks making memories, that's our theme this year is 'Mountain Memories,' it's a perfect segue into celebrating 100 years of the state fair's history and how important we are to the state and to the folks of West Virginia," Collins told MetroNews.
A busy school year for families is fast-approaching. In fact, many students will return to school just a couple of days after the state fair comes to an end. But right now, those looking for a way to close out summer with a little adventure should hop into the car for a trip to the fair (and any of the many wonderful spots Almost Heaven has to offer along the way).