State Fair Offers Adventures in Food and Fun

By Mitch Traphagen

mitch@observernews.net

TAMPA - If you took four and a half tons of hot dogs and laid them end to end, they would stretch from Tampa to Orlando - and back again. That, according to organizers of the Florida State Fair, is the approximate number of hot dogs consumed during the 12 day run of the fair.

OK, if that is not enough to send you off on a diet, how about this: one of the new feature foods is...no one could even guess this...deep fried Twinkies. And if just a plain, battered deep-fried Twinkie isn't enough for you, don't worry, they'll even sprinkle it with powdered sugar.

Of course one deep fried Twinkie won't kill you, in fact four of them probably wouldn't even kill you. And that is part of the fun of the Florida State Fair. The Fair is a place to live a little, a place to be a kid again and indulging in a deep fried delicacy is all part of the fun. Of course those with less adventurous tastes will also find treats in places like DeLuca's Italian Eatery. In all, more than 80 food and beverage vendors are on hand.

In its 99th year in Tampa, more than 500,000 people are expected to visit the 2003 State Fair. It is an event that is far more than rides and food, for many area young people it is the highlight of the year.

In all, more than 1,000 Florida youth livestock exhibitors will show animals this year, earning $176,000 in prize money. Despite the rapidly growing population of South Hillsborough County, agriculture is a significant, if not the most significant, part of our area. The $54 billion dollar agriculture industry is second only to tourism and Hillsborough County plays a big role in that.

The fair makes it possible for 'city folk' to learn a bit more about that role. Ag Ambassadors, a group of outstanding young people selected to represent Florida's agriculture industry will be on hand throughout the livestock barns to greet visitors and provide information.

Of course it wouldn't be a fair without rides. With more than 100 rides, the Florida State Fair boasts one of the largest midways in the southeast. From the tried and true Ferris wheel to the gut-wrenching Afterburner, the rides are largely organized based on age group and stomach strength. The rides for the younger children tend to be grouped together as are the rides for the more adventurous.

As with all of the attractions at the fair, Hillsborough County officials have tested them to ensure safety and fairness.

In addition to the food, rides and bovines, the fair also has several exposition halls highlighting everything from art to dogs to health.

The Florida State Fair runs through February 17. Gates open at 9 a.m., parking lots open at 8 a.m. - officials recommend arriving early to enjoy the full day. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for children age 6-11 and free for children five and under. The fairgrounds are located near I-4 and U.S. 301 in Tampa. For information call 621-7821.

Finally, here's a suggestion for those who do give the deep fried Twinkies a try - you may want to hold off on the Sling Shot or Tango rides for an hour or two afterwards.