The Eastern Idaho State Fair: An Annual Tradition

Levi Ross, Staff Writer

The Eastern Idaho State Fair is held in late August and early September in Blackfoot, Idaho. It is a nine-day event that starts on Labor Day weekend and the fair gathers about 230,000 fairgoers annually. The fair usually begins with a big parade in Blackfoot that starts on Shilling Avenue and goes north. The parade features marching bands, floats, local clubs and organizations, police and department teams, dance teams, cheerleader squads, and musicians. Participants of the parade entertain the crowds and throw candy to people who line Shilling Avenue. The grandstand of Eastern Idaho State Fair features horse races from noon till evening on weekdays.

Live concerts are held during weekends with stars like Gabriel Iglesias and Cheap Trick. Nighttime events also include motocross, rodeo, bull riding, tractor pulls, and a demolition derby. The most popular events include the Idaho Idol contest. There is some mall stage entertainment that also features dance teams, comedians, arm wrestling, and hypnosis. There are livestock and agriculture displays featuring cows, bulls,  horses, sheep, goats, pigs, rabbits, and ostriches, there is also a petting zoo and a reptile show. Personally I think the Idaho fair is great, it doesn’t come often and it is a great place to take your family. There are so many great new things that you can see and hear from great singers or artists. So when the fair comes into town, go to it and have some fun.