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State Fair Goes For Touchdown

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BY D'ANN LAWRENCE WHITE

dlwhite@tampatrib.com

Published: February 4, 2009

TAMPA - It's not just midway rides hurtling thrill seekers through the air at breakneck speeds, although there are more than 100 of those.

It's not only exhibits of pigs, bunnies, sheep, goats and cows courtesy of middle and high school FFA and 4-H clubs, although they certainly abound.

It's not simply the opportunity to gorge on forbidden food such as Italian sausage sandwiches, cotton candy and walking tacos, either. Did we mention this year they've added chocolate-covered bacon?

And it's not just a chance to see some Vegas-style entertainment at a fraction of Vegas prices.

It's being able to do all of this in one location that attracts hundreds of thousands of people to the Florida State Fair each year, said Paul Wilson of Wilson Media, which handles publicity for the fair.

Capitalizing on Sunday's Super Bowl in Tampa, the theme of this year's fair is Touchdown Tampa Bay. Entertainment will include the Vegas-style show "Blitz, A Tribute to Halftime Shows" to attract visitors who haven't gotten their fill of football. The fair opens Thursday and runs through Feb. 16.

"I think we're going to see the afterglow from the Super Bowl," Wilson said. "People are going to be looking for some fun on a community level, something that's affordable."

At $10 for the adult entry fee and $25 for an all-you-can-ride armband, Wilson said, the cost isn't a deterrent during these hard economic times.

In 2008, more than 480,000 people attended during the fair's 12-day run, the fourth-largest number of visitors in the fair's 105-year history.

In addition to the usual favorite fair fare, you can sample Lakeland resident Cindy Griffen's chocolate-dipped bacon along with her Oreos, strawberries and pretzels.

And back by popular demand is the Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator National Finals, Feb. 14 and 15.

Fair tickets can be purchased at the gate or online at www.ticketmaster.com. For information and a complete schedule of events, visit www.floridastatefair.com.

Reporter D'Ann Lawrence White can be reached at (813) 657-4524.

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