Can you smell it???? Cotton Candy, Corn Dogs, Sausage, Peppers and Onions...

Must be time for the Louisiana State Fair!!!

Alright, if you have read any of my past blog posts you know how much I love Louisiana. This time of year is one of my favorite times because I get to make memories with my family by visiting the State Fair of Louisiana. That's right, one of the highlights of the year is a trip to the state fair for a fun-filled day of eating, playing, riding, and having fun.

Trips to the fair bring back childhood memories of days gone by. Some things have not changed; the food, the smells, the carnies, and the rides.

This year's State Fair of Louisiana begins October 21 and runs through November 7. For a complete listing of all that the fair has to offer, visit their website State Fair of Louisiana. There are a series of concerts, rodeo, football classic, livestock shows, exhibits, rides and more. To view the special entertainment click here.

One event of interest is the World Championship Blacksmiths on October 22, 23, 24, 2010 at the Louisiana State Exhibit Museum; visitors can watch a competition of blacksmiths creating a horseshoe.

An insider's tip: if you are able take off from school or work and get there between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. and it is free to park and get into the fair; this will give you extra money to buy food or ride more rides!

Don't forget to visit the livestock barn and exhibit building while you are there. Many people have worked hard on different items to show at the fair from canned goods to arts and crafts.

Admissions
Ticket Prices
    * $8.00 Gate Admission
    * $28.00 Pay-One-Price *Includes Gate Admission and Ride Armband

FunPass - $75.00
    * Gate admission and armband for each of the 14 days the State Fair is open.
    * Once through the gate, redeem at Lowery Carnival office for FunPass ID.
    * Good for one person only. Non-transferrable.

Special Discount Tickets can be purchased at Brookshire's and Super One Foods.
Parking: $5.00
Hours of Operation : 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Opening Day Special - Dollar Day
Official Opening Day: Thursday, Oct. 21
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Free Parking & Admission
3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: $1 Parking/Admission/Rides*
Even Many Food Items will be sold for $1!

Autumn has arrived in North Louisiana - The State Fair of Louisiana opens today

Autumn ushers in crisp cool weather. It is the time of year that beckons you outside. It's the time of year to grab your family, friends and neighbors and head on out to the State Fair of Louisiana. Once there you will hear children shrieking with pleasure, smell the aroma of corn dogs, sausage rolls and funnel cakes, and see the flashing lights of the carnival rides. It is the time of year meant for having fun and making memories.

This year the State Fair of Louisiana will run from October 22-November 8 at the Fairgrounds in Shreveport, Louisiana. There are plenty of things for everyone to enjoy form food, carnival rides, exhibits, concerts, livestock shows and more.

Make memories that will last a lifetime at the Louisiana State Fair in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Gate admission is $8.00; Pay-one-price is $28.00; Parking is $5.00. The hours are Wednesday-Thursday, 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m.-11 p.m. ; Sunday from 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. and closed on Monday and Tuesday.

________________________________________________

Opening Day Special - Dollar Day
Official Opening Day: Thursday, Oct. 22
10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.: Free Parking & Admission
3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.: $1 Parking/Admission/Rides*
Even Many Food Items will be sold for $1!
Sponsored by:
Kilpatrick Rose-Neath
* Opening Day $1 Special applies to Bill Lowery Carnival rides only.

_________________________________________________

Free Till 3
Wednesday, Thursday and Friday the Fair will open at 10:00 AM but there will be no charge for parking or gate admission until 3:00 PM. Armbands to ride unlimited Lowery Carnival rides are $10 from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM. Special $10 armbands are not accepted at rides after 3:00 PM. Join us for lunch Wednesday-Friday and see what the Fair has to offer.
Sponsored by: KTBS 3

_____________________________________________________

Hispanic Heritage Day
Sunday, November 8
We invite our Hispanic community to celebrate at the State Fair
Great Hispanic Music and Food
Sponsored by: Nicky's and Invasora 92.1 FM

_________________________________________________________

State Fair Entertainment

October 23, Doors: 6:30 PM, State Fair PRCA Championship Rodeo
October 24, Doors: 6:30 PM, State Fair PRCA Championship Rodeo
October 25, 5:00 PM, Gran Jaripeo Baile Gran Jaripeo Baile
October 31, 7:30 PM, Doors: 6:00 PM, State Fair Championship Demolition Derby & Monster Truck Exhibition
November 7, 12:00 Noon, State Fair of Louisiana Baton and Dance Line Competition
November 8, All Day, State Fair of Louisiana State Cheerleading Championship hosted by Spirit Celebration

___________________________________________________

Musical Entertainment

October 22, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, 3 Chord Truth
October 23, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, LA Outlaws
October 24, 11:00 - 5:00 P.M., 11th Annual Gospel Music Celebration
October 24, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, Wayne Toups & Zydecajun

October 25, 3:30 PM, Dixie Tradition
October 25, 6:00 PM, James Otto
October 28, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, Blues Express
October 29, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, Anxious

October 30, 8:30 PM, Randy Rogers Band
October 31, 12:00 noon - 5:00 PM, 2008 Gospel Mega Fest
October 31, 8:00 PM, Cowboy Mouth
November 1, 2:00, Hand II Heart Puppet Show
November 1, 6:00, Bar-Kays

November 4, 7:00, 8:30, Windstorm & Their Tribute To Michael Jackson
November 5, 6:00, 7:00, 8:00, Homemade Jam
November 6, 7:00 PM and 9:00 PM, The Ultimate Eagles Experience - 7 Bridges Band
November 7, 12:00 Noon Bayou State Arm Wrestling Championship
November 7, 7:00, 9:00, John Conlee
November 8, 2:00 PM, Hispanic Heritage Day

Source of times and events From the website of The State Fair of Louisiana
For more information on detailed events and specials visit The State Fair of Louisiana Website.

There's still time to visit the State Fair of Louisiana

The State Fair of Louisiana is open until November 9th. There's still time to enjoy the sights, sounds and smells of the State Fair.

My family enjoyed the State Fair of Louisiana on Thursday. The weather was so wonderful. The sun was a little warm but there was a nice breeze that kept us comfortable.

I grew up going to the fair with my family. It was a fun, family time. I remember my father dragging us through the exhibit buildings. Now, I love the exhibits. There aren't as many as there were when I was little but they are still good. I enjoy seeing all of the crafts and projects that people submit. I enjoy getting literature on different products and industries in Louisiana. I enjoy visiting with folks that promote our great state.

The exhibits in the Agricultural building include products that are grown or made right here in Louisiana. There is a great display of an old house that is full of products you can find right here in Louisiana. Agriculture and forestry are very important to our state. Lots of people depend on Louisiana farmers for their food. The State Fair of Louisiana is a great place to see just what Louisiana has to offer the world.

Food, glorious fair food...any type of food you can imagine...corn dogs, cotton candy, meat pies, kettle korn, tiki tea (sweet tea in a small jug), ice cream, sausage and peppers, pizza, steak, are you hungry yet? Yeros, tacos, taquitos, salt water taffy, BBQ, hot dogs, candy apples, oh so much more...I'm ready to go back!!

If you haven't been to the fair in a while, it's time to go back. There's lots to do and see. There's plenty of security. It is a great place to take your family. Never did I feel uneasy. It was one of those days that you look back on and think, "I had a great time".

If you don't have a great deal of money, don't worry, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday it is Free to park and Free to enter. Armbands to ride all of the rides are only $10.00. Some of the food is reasonable and some isn't...I had a meat pie for $2.00; the tiki tea was $3.00 with $1.00 refills (I thought that was very reasonable); the large corndogs were $5.00 and the smaller ones were $3.00 (they weren't very small). With games and rides we spent about $60.00.

This year the fair is helping 4-H celebrate their Centennial Birthday. There are many exhibits around the fair which showcase 4-H and the contributions 4-H has made to the world in the past 100 years. Be sure to check out the 4-H exhibits while you are there. Many talented children worked long and hard to put those projects together. 4-H is a wonderful organization and it began in Louisiana.

Hurry, the State Fair of Louisiana ends November 9th. Don't miss out on the fun!