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ALL THE FUN
Dan West Striving For Another Amazing Show
R OLL-UP, ROLL-UP - From
January 11 to January 21, the
Manatee County Fair Association
will host approximately 180,000 guests at
the Fairgrounds in Palmetto for 10 days
and nights of fun! There will be exciting
exhibits and vendors, youth livestock
shows and auctions, competitions, a
thrill-packed midway, a variety of great
entertainment, and - of course - lots of
fair food!
There’s so much to do at the 102nd
annual fair… there’s really something for
everyone.
If arts and crafts are your thing, in the
Chaires Building, you find over 2,000
works of art exhibited and judged. Are
biting fair rides are for you. A music lover
Check the website for the long list of
talented performers on stage this year.
Up for a challenge and looking for that
just about every fair food you can think
of… and more!
A favorite tradition at the fair are the
pageants. The Fair Queen Pageant, which
includes Queen, Junior Miss, Little Miss,
and Mini Miss categories, had a new
crowning date this year and was held in
October at Palmetto High School. This
gives the winners more time to participate
in fair activities.
Other pageants include the Miss Manatee
River, Miss Manatee County, and the
Outstanding Teen Pageant. All three
winners will continue to the Miss Florida
Pageant to represent Manatee County.
And don’t miss the Baby Contest. They
are adorable!
Fairgoers will also find a hay bale
decorating contest, a whip popping
contest, a BBQ Cook-Of f, the
Distinguished Citizen Presentation, a
cheerleading competition, and so much
more…
Back in August, the 2018 Steer Weigh-
In took place in the Mosaic Arena and
refer to October 7th as Super Check-In
Day. That’s the day all other animals are
checked in for fair competitions.
NEXTGEN went behind the scenes
organization and planning behind one of
the biggest and most popular events in
the County…