What started out as a dream on July 23, 1964, is now a must-see event.
The St. Lucie County Fair is the largest single event to be held in the county.
The first fair was held next to the St. Lucie County International Airport on St. Lucie Blvd. in 1964. This event turned out to be so spectacular, that it outgrew the airport site.
In 1996, the Fair Committee, a non-profit organization of volunteers, purchased 250 acres at its 15601 West Midway Rd, Fort Pierce, FL.
The Fair moved to its current location in 2002.
The fair like all large and small fairs around the country has its number of livestock shows, contests, rodeos, fair queens and courts, home arts, carnivals and of course tons of food stands.
The Carnival rides and games at the St. Lucie Fair are run by Strater Shows.
"Strates Shows has a history dating back to 1923 when James E. Strates, a Greek immigrant, began his first show. Mr. Strates came to America in 1909 and, like many immigrants, worked at a number of odd jobs. In 1919, he joined a carnival athletic show as a wrestler taking on all challengers. In 1923, James E. Strates acquired Southern Tier Shows and in 1932 changed its name to James E. Strates Shows. Mr. Strates continued to build and manage the carnival until his death in 1959. At that time his son, E. James Strates, assumed responsibility for the carnival and still operates it today."
The St. Lucie County Fair currently welcomes only 4-H or FFA youth 8-18 to show livestock. Beef Breeding and the Goat show have additional eligibility for "Open Show".
Each year the education building at the St.Lucie County fair creates a contest for the purpose of promoting education. All public schools in St. Lucie are elligibale to enter by creating their own exhibits. This year's theme being " Race to Greatness".
The exhibits are judged and cash prizes are awarded to the winning schools.
As our tour of the grounds came to end the small group of drum corps followed us out.
The St. Lucie County Fair runs for ten days straight and always starting around the last week of February.
(source)
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