FAIRLEA, W.Va. — Tents, rides, animals and fair food have taken over the State Fairgrounds in Greenbrier County for the 94th Annual State Fair of West Virginia.
This year’s event opens at 11 Thursday morning and runs through Saturday, August 18. State Fair CEO Kelly Collins told MetroNews affiliate WJLS the weeks leading up to opening day are always busy, but nothing is overlooked. All aspects of safety and security are evaluated before the gates can open and the fun can begin.
“We always take time to look at our security plan every year. We meet with all of the local law enforcement before the fair and come up with a plan. We have great response from our local security and the West Virginia State Police so we’re very proud of that.”
Ride safety is always a top priority for organizers and local first responders alike. Inspections on all rides happen on a regular basis leading up to and during the fair.
“We actually did a mock ride safety training this year with the local law enforcement, EMTs and fire departments,” said Collins. “It was really good to get everybody together and everybody talking at once. They don’t deal with carnival rides everyday. It was really good to have those law enforcement folks working together and see them learning about this side of the fair.”
This year’s show lineup hopes to bring entertainment for the entire family. The first concert of the show series sold out a couple of months ago. Country artist Luke Combs, with hits such as “When it Rains it Pours” and “She Got the Best of Me” currently on country radio, will take the stage Thursday.
Other shows throughout the fair will include artists Chris Young with Adam Doleac, MercyMe, Travis Tritt with The Charlie Daniels Band and 38 special. The full show schedule and ticketing information can be found on the fair’s entertainment website.
Debuting at this year’s fair is the New Fair Food Contest. Collins views this as a fun way to further promote the popular food vendors.
10 days of unforgettable fun, 10 new fair foods to try.
The new creations will be featured on menus around the fairgrounds.
The winner will be announced Saturday, August 18th.#sfwv2018 pic.twitter.com/txoTrgezQx— State Fair of West Virginia (@SFWV) July 20, 2018
“That’s everybody’s favorite. Vendors have submitted ideas for their new fair food. Fairgoers will get to vote on it all week and at the end of the week we’ll announce the best fair food for 2018.”
An estimated 160,000 fairgoers will attend this year’s event. There are also roughly 600 livestock exhibitors participating in the event. This provides a yearly boost to the Greenbrier Valley’s economy.
“We’re filling up hotel rooms, people are filling up their gas tanks, the sales tax that we send back to the state is also huge,” said Collins. “We have people that have been coming back since they were kids and now they’re here bringing their families. It’s so nice to see the tradition that’s continuing for our 94th year.”
A full schedule, ticketing information and directions to the fairgrounds can be found on the State Fair of West Virginia’s website.