It is that time of year again, when the smell of fried food fills the air, farmers bring out their biggest livestock to be judged and bakers display their ribbon-winning pies. Almost every state has its own official state fair during the summer or fall, but these eight stand out with their funky foods, hefty produce and adorable animal exhibits.<\/p>\n
Native Alaskan performers share their traditional music and dancing<\/p>\n
The Last Frontier\u2019s state fair takes place in the Matanuska-Susitna Valley, where the \u201crich\u201d soil and \u201clegendary\u201d 19 hours of daily summer sun produce vegetables of \u201calmost unbelievable size,\u201d said Travel and Leisure. You\u2019ll likely see cabbages weighing more than 100 pounds, broccoli heads big enough to feed a family for a week and sunflowers that \u201cstand taller than most houses.\u201d Massive veggies aren\u2019t the only draw; there\u2019s a midway, lots of food vendors and Alaska Native crafts and cultural demos, which \u201cgenuinely reflect\u201d the community. Aug. 21-Sept. 7, 2026<\/p>\n
The fair takes place in Phoenix every fall<\/p>\n
The Arizona State Fair is all about the thrills. Head to the Grandstand Arena for heart-pumping monster truck jams and dirt track racing, hit the midway for spins on the coasters and massive ferris wheel and spend the night at Veterans Memorial Coliseum taking in electrifying performances by artists like Public Enemy, The Offspring, Becky G and All Time Low.<\/p>\n
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While organizers keep the food list under wraps until closer to the fair, previous indulgences have included two ice cream cones joined together and double-dipped in chocolate; candy-stuffed pickles and a cake batter shake topped with a mountain of sprinkles and full-size cupcake. Oct. 1-Nov. 1, 2026<\/p>\n
When you hear the words \u201cstate fair,\u201d Iowa\u2019s event is the one \u201cpeople picture,\u201d said Travel and Leisure. It\u2019s one of the country\u2019s largest livestock shows, with sheep, cattle, pig, poultry and rabbit exhibitions, draft horse pulling competitions and an Animal Learning Center where babies are born nearly every day.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a \u201cgenuine reverence for the farming heritage that built the Midwest,\u201d said Travel and Leisure, and that\u2019s shown through crop displays and the beloved butter cow, a fair staple since 1911. A creamy new bovine is carved every year, and despite the line, \u201cit is always worth it.\u201d If you go during an election year, prepare to see at least one presidential hopeful; this fair is often a campaign stop for Democrats and Republicans. Aug. 13-23, 2026<\/p>\n
Horses might be the main attraction, but cows are also a popular part of Kentucky\u2019s fair<\/p>\n
Come August, equestrians descend on the Kentucky State Fair, a fete that\u2019s \u201cpart world-class horse show, part agricultural exhibition,\u201d said Fodor\u2019s. Many of the \u201ctop horses and riders\u201d from across the U.S. come to show their stuff and compete in the World\u2019s Championship Horse Show, held in conjunction with the fair.<\/p>\n
After horsing around, peruse the quilt displays, agriculture exhibits and arts-and-crafts competitions. On the food side, the fare is \u201cheavily influenced\u201d by Southern and Appalachian cuisine, and \u201cjust about everything\u201d is bourbon-infused. Aug. 20-30, 2026<\/p>\n
Come for the food, stay for the llama costume contest<\/p>\n