Double dose of attractions planned for fall weekend

Sports fans will have plenty of reasons to check out the State Fair of Louisiana this year as opening day features an allstar weekend when the Dallas Mavericks take on the New Orleans Pelicans Oct. 23 in an NBA pre-season matchup at the CenturyLink Center.

That same day is a “dollar day” at the fair, with $1 parking, $1 gate admission and $1 carnival rides.

The State Fair of Louisiana is celebrating its 108th edition this year with the theme “Ticket to Fun.” When fairgoers see all that this year’s ticket bestows, the reason for the theme is easy to understand. The fair opens Oct. 23 and runs through Nov. 9 and is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.

The Entertainers and Food

The fair will present new free attractions for the entire family, including Welde’s Big Bear Show, featuring live performing bears; Shel Higgens, a street performer who swallows a sword while jumping rope on a unicycle; Star Cristy’s Alaskan Malamute Show; New York Daredevil High Dive Show and Cowboy Bootcamp.

“I am particularly excited about our third year of having Veterans and Military Appreciation Day on Nov. 9,” Chris Giordano, president and general manager of the State Fair of Louisiana, said. “All military, whether active or retired, and their families will receive free parking and free gate admission to the State Fair on this day. The Veterans Celebration Committee has a large parade planned for 2 p.m., and there is a Veterans Recognition Program following the parade at the Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club. We will also be handing out 5,000 American flags to our guests on this day.”

Each year, food concessionaires at the State Fair of Louisiana bring new fair foods to the midway. This year, fairgoers can try Texas-fried ribs, Kool-Aid pickles, scorpion and cricket pizza, red velvet cookie dough on a stick, fried pies, croissant doughnuts and bacon-covered caramel apples.

“Don’t forget some of the popular traditional fair foods, such as McKinney’s corn dogs and funnel cakes, turkey legs, cinnamon rolls, cotton candy, barbecue, elephant ears,” Giordano said. “You can event sit down inside the comfort of the Cattlemen’s Kitchen and enjoy a ribeye steak dinner or steak sandwich.”

We also have a couple of new mobile marketing exhibits coming to the State Fair this year,” Giordano said. “AT&T GoPhone Freedom Tour will be here Oct. 30 through Nov. 9, and Cupcake Vineyards Truck Tour will be here Oct. 24-26 offering free wine sampling.”

At the State Fair of Louisiana, all concerts are free with fair admission. Some of the favorites performing this year include: The Navy Southeast Band “PRIDE” performing Oct. 23 and 24, Cole Vosbury with special guests Wizards of Voz on Oct. 25, Frank Foster with special guest Lainey Wilson on Nov. 1, T.K. Soul on Nov. 2 and Wayne Toups with special guests Cody Cooke & The Bayou Outlaws on Nov. 8.

“We also have over 25 local bands performing throughout the State Fair,” Giordano said.

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Rodeo and Livestock

For some, the fair means just one thing: rodeo.

Frontier Rodeo Company is bringing in one of the best announcers in the nation, Greg Simas, and the 2012 and 2013 PRCA Clown of the Year, Justin Rumford. Frontier Rodeo Company is also known for its award-winning rodeo animal stock, including some of the toughest bulls and horses in the industry. The State Fair of Louisiana Pro Rodeo is Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 (which is also “Tough Enough to Wear Pink” night at the rodeo).

“We encourage you to wear pink and come enjoy the rodeo. Two dollars per ticket sold to Saturday night’s performance will be donated to Susan G. Komen Northwest Louisiana to help fight the battle against breast cancer,” Giordano said.

The State Fair of Louisiana also features the largest livestock shows in the state. 4-H and Future Famers of America members from all over Louisiana will come to the State Fair to compete with their livestock projects.

“The State Fair of Louisiana Jr. Livestock Show and Sale is a collaborative agricultural state event that offers the youth of Louisiana an opportunity to exhibit and demonstrate their projects to the public in an educational, safe and family oriented environment for the enjoyment of all,” Kay Stough, ALTAC executive director, said. “The 4-H and FFA members develop positive self esteem and valuable life lessons on which to build successful futures. Most of the youth projects take yearround planning and care. Kids are busy during the summer and have less time to go astray when they have responsibilities and chores to do.”

Stough said not only does the program help to build character and responsibility with our youth, but participants also have the chance to earn a spot in the Ark-La-Tex Agricultural Council Jr. Livestock Sale that will be held Oct. 29 beginning at 9 a.m. Those who make it to the Jr. Livestock Sale will be able to sell their animals in an auction to raise money for their future education.

Discount Days

Bargain hunters can look for the discounts the fair is offering this year.

“We have several special days including free fair days,” Giordano said. “Each weekday that we are open, parking is free and gate admission is free from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays are half price Wednesdays where gate admission is $5 beginning at 3 p.m., and carnival armbands are $15 all day. Thursdays are dollar Thursdays where parking is $1 and gate admission is $1 beginning at 3 p.m. Carnival rides are $1 each all day on Thursdays.”

Also, Nov. 8, for the first time, a Shreveport-Bossier Mavericks ABA professional basketball game will be held in Hirsch Memorial Coliseum and will be free for all of those who attend the State Fair that day.

Want to go?

Regular admission to the State Fair of Louisiana is $10 per person and parking is $5 per vehicle. Regular prices for carnival armbands that are good for unlimited rides for one day on any day of the State Fair are $30. For more information, including a detailed calendar of events, visit the fair’s website at www. statefairoflouisiana.com.