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It's the best of Virginia! Come see
Virginia’s finest animals and agriculture,
exhibits and shows, toe-tappin' music,
fine arts and crafts, blue ribbon
competitions and more! Plan now to
be a part of one of Virginia's greatest
annual traditions since 1854. |
Posted:
9/10/2009 1:21:39 AM
DOSWELL, VA (July 28, 2009) – Visitors to the 2009 State
Fair of Virginia are in for a special, never-before-offered experience from the
moment they arrive: new and returning attractions, animals, competitions,
thrills, rides and food, all within the State Fair’s new home at The Meadow
Event Park in Caroline County, Virginia. The Meadow Event Park is located 20
miles north of Richmond and 30 miles south of Fredericksburg in Doswell,
Virginia (Interstate 95 at exit 98 next to Kings Dominion). Here, the State Fair
is presented in a beautiful, rural area, with open grassy fields and views of
rolling hills and forest. Within The Meadow’s 360 acres, the State Fair
continues its mission of showcasing the best of Virginia’s animals and
agriculture, while offering families a fun, safe experience with competitions,
exhibits, shows and rides.
The Meadow Event Park presents a delightful experience to new and returning
State Fair visitors. From the main parking area, visitors can purchase
Walk-Around Fair admission tickets at the Ticket Plaza to enjoy all the new and
returning attractions. Visitors will pass by the Festival Stage, featuring the
FREE Toyota Tacoma Concert Series: Jason Michael Carroll w/ Dean Brody (Sept.
24), Colgate Country Showdown (Sept. 25), Step Show & Competition (Sept. 26 – 12
noon) and Percy Sledge (Sept. 26 – 7:30 pm), Praise Palooza Gospel Show (Sept.
27), James River Ramblers (Sept. 29), Plain White T’s (Oct. 1), Randy Houser
(Oct. 2), Luke Bryan with Tailgate Down (Oct. 3) and V Factory & Joey Page (Oct.
4). From here, visitors can enjoy the new Equine Complex, featuring the Southern
States Legends Stable, a modern 143-stall barn, as well as four show rings for
horse shows, the 4-H Dog Show, the new Tundra Tough Trucks Bull Riding event and
more!
From Festival Stage and the main ticketing area, Starting Gate Lane leads
visitors through a pedestrian tunnel under Route 30. From here, Arrowhead Trail
takes visitors towards the Entertainment Area; they will pass the new Theater
Stage, featuring a variety of live music
daily, as well as the new Magic of Lance Gifford, a magical illusion show.
Visitors can follow sounds of cheers and laughter to the ever-popular Racing
Pigs, where Wayne Rosaire and his brood of swine entertain audiences year after
year. Arrowhead Trail connects to Festival Loop, one of several areas offering
vendors and many Fair food favorites: funnel cakes, candied apples, sausages,
giant turkey legs and more! From here, follow the roars and rumbles to the
Thrill Pit area, where visitors can experience Tractor Pulls (Sept. 25 - 27),
the new FMX Freestyle Moto-X – a dirt bike stunt show (Sept. 29 - Oct. 1) – as
well as the State Fair of Virginia Demolition Derby Championships (Oct. 2 -
4).Leave the Thrill Pit and stroll along Chenery Lane to the new Heritage
Village and Natural Resources Area. Here, education and history come to life in
cultural exhibits, demonstrations and animals – from real Oxen used by pioneers
on the Oregon Trail, to Civil War and African American heritage.
Visitors can connect back to Festival Loop, which leads them to Ferris Wheel
Lane and all the excitement and thrills found in separate – but adjacent –
Midway and Kidway areas! By purchasing ride tickets or ride wristbands, visitors
of all ages will find over 60 rides to enjoy. After one ride – or many –
visitors can step inside the new 63,500 square-foot Farm Bureau Center, located
behind Festival Loop, for more vendors and shopping. Be sure to check out the
Great American Duck Races – a returning family favorite! Nearby, more exhibits
and competitions await in the new Commonwealth Hall and the Arts & Crafts Hall.
From here, visitors can take Starting Gate Lane and Elm Walk, offering
spectacular views of rolling hills and farmland, and access the Agriculture
Area. The new Americraft Pavilion houses Virginia agricultural exhibits –
including Aquaculture, Crops and Vegetables with Giant Pumpkins, as well as
vendors selling Virginia-grown products and foods. The adjacent Livestock Loop
offers more vendors, Young McDonald’s Farm and the Dairy Cattle Birthing Center
(both presented by Virginia Farm Bureau), along with numerous pavilions and show
rings for Cattle, Swine, Sheep, Goats, Pigeons, Doves, Rabbits and Poultry. Near
Livestock Loop, visitors will enjoy entertainment with the Extreme Canines Stunt
Dog Show, new Lumberjack Show and new Fire Safety Show.
Along every Loop, Lane, Walk, Trail and Path, the State Fair of Virginia
delivers the same traditions of celebrating Virginia’s cultural heritage – in a
new environment at The Meadow Event Park! Complete entertainment and ticket
information and schedules can be obtained at
www.statefairva.org or
by calling 1-800-LUV-FAIR (1-800-588-3247) or (804) 994- 2900. The State Fair is
handicap accessible.
An annual fair in Virginia
evolved over time as farmers and tradesmen gathered to sell or exchange their
wares down by the James River in Richmond. Over the years, others came – among
them tumblers, singers and musicians – who saw the opportunity to entertain for
money tossed from the crowds. Competitions arose over who had the best, largest,
tastiest, fastest, prettiest – and prizes became an important part of early
fairs. Farmers and townspeople challenged each other to horse races, which
became an important part of the activities.
Download the 2009 State Fair Daily Guide
State Fair Map Page 1 -
excerpted from the Daily Guide, includes overview of Fairgrounds, Equine and
Festival Stage areas
State Fair Map Page 2 -
excerpted from the Daily Guide, includes Entertainment and Agriculture areas
Fair History
1854
The first “organized” fair in Virginia was established in 1854
when a group of forward thinking Richmonders formed the Virginia State
Agricultural Society and established a definite location and date. Places were
assigned for each merchant, and rules were set forth to make things orderly. The
new society’s main purpose was to inform the public of new manufacturing and
agricultural methods and prosperity they could bring. Western Square, today’s
Monroe Park, was chosen as the location of the first 1854 event.
1867
The Civil War interrupted the staging of a fair in Virginia, but
it resumed in 1867. In 1877 a visit by President Rutherford B. Hayes was the
crowning jewel. During this period, fair organizers moved to a new location at
West Broad Street near today’s Science
Museum. The Agricultural Society became ambitious over the next
10 years. Extensive building programs and improvements led to heavy debt and,
finally by 1896, the general cessation of what had become known by then as the
State Fair.
1906
In 1906, another group of
citizens organized the Virginia State Fair Association to bring back Virginia’s
big annual event. They recognized the benefits such an event had for the
Richmond area economy and its potential as a vehicle for educational and
promotional dissemination. Richmond’s westward growth made it impractical for
the new organization to use the West Broad Street site, so they rented land from
the old Bryan Estate bounded by Old Hermitage Road and North Boulevard, the
current location of the Diamond. Agricultural competition and livestock breeding
again became a central feature of the Fair. Horse racing, horse shows and
grandstand events remained crowd favorites. Nearly everything grown or
manufactured in Virginia could be found on display at the State Fair.
1941
When World War II intervened, the government appropriated the
fairgrounds for a military transportation depot. The Association immediately
purchased the old Davenport Estate “Strawberry Hill” for a new and permanent
home for the State Fair of Virginia, but due to government-imposed restrictions
of fairs and transportation as part of the war effort, no improvements were made
to the new site for some time. Unfortunately, before the war ended, the State
Fair Association’s major stockholder died and the future of the State Fair was
again in doubt. Public-spirited citizens again came to therescue. They raised
money, bought the stock, and changed the association’s name to Atlantic Rural
Exposition, Inc. to give the fair a larger scope. Famed New York architect
William Lawrence Bottomley was retained to design new exposition grounds,
although little of the original design was built due to financial constraints.
1946
On October 7, 1946 the first exposition on Strawberry Hill was
held and the following year the Virginia General Assembly designated the
Atlantic Rural Exposition, Inc. as the “Official State Fair of Virginia.” The
Fair continued to grow and reflect the changing times. In 1949, modern
television was introduced to mass audiences in Virginia and the South through a
demonstration at the Fair. In 1961, due to the cold war nuclear threat, the
State Office of Civil Defense constructed a bomb shelter at the Fair; popular DJ
Tony Sposa (WRNL) was sealed in the shelter the duration of the event –
broadcasting live several times daily. Also during this period, famous
performers included the Rockettes, the Lone Ranger (AKA Clayton Moore), Frank
Sinatra and cowboys Gene Autry and Tex Ritter. In 1976, an authentic
reproduction of American pioneer lifestyle “Pioneer Farmstead” debuted. This
concept continued to evolve into the American Heritage Village. In 1963, the
fledgling Virginia State 4-H Horse Show moved to the State Fair and was held
there for 38 continuous years, through 1999. It had grown to 500 exhibitors and
their families, the largest State Fair horse show.
1985
A significant new direction came in 1985 when the Board of
Directors decided that non-fair activities should be expanded. During the next
ten years, the facility grew to include a 70,000 square foot Exhibition Hall, a
10,000 person capacity Classic Amphitheatre, Covered Ring for horse activities,
and five million dollars in improvements and renovations.
1989
In 1989, The State Fair Scholarship Program was established. The
Program currently awards students with scholarships for their hard work and
achievements in 29 competition areas. Since its inception in 1989, the State
Fair Scholarship Program has awarded 1,926 scholarships and has dedicated over
$1.7 million to youth education. In 1994, a vital thrust forward in this effort
was realized with a generous merit scholarship endowment from Miss Emmy Lou
Thomson honoring her father, Herbert Bruce Thomson, Sr. the first chairman of
Atlantic Rural Exposition, Inc. and recognized by many as the “Father of the
State Fair of Virginia.”
1999 Atlantic Rural
Exposition sold the Fairgrounds on Strawberry Hill to Richmond International
Raceway, Inc. in 1999 due to the need to nexpand both the State Fair and NASCAR
events. In July 2003, The State Fair of Virginia, Inc. purchased The Meadow, a
348 acre site in Caroline County and birthplace of famed thoroughbred
Secretariat. In February 2004, the Atlantic Rural Exposition name was retired in
favor of The State Fair of Virginia, Inc. (SFVA). SFVA broke ground for The
Meadow Event Park in April 2008. SFVA remains committed to its mission to
celebrate Virginia’s heritage – to heed its roots in agriculture, advance its
youth through scholarships, encourage friendly competition and foster
multicultural celebrations in a fun, safe atmosphere.
TODAY
The Meadow Event Park officially opens with the State Fair of
Virginia being held September 24 through October 4, 2009.
Download the 2009 State Fair Daily Guide
State Fair Map Page 1 -
excerpted from the Daily Guide, includes overview of Fairgrounds, Equine and
Festival Stage areas
State Fair Map Page 2 -
excerpted from the Daily Guide, includes Entertainment and Agriculture areas
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