10 Great State Fairs You Can Visit Now

Back-to-school season is also prime time for state fairs across the nation. State fairs have been late-summer mainstays for at least a century, and the essence has remained much the same: games and rides, delicious treats, and a touch of the unexpected. Following are 10 state fairs worth visiting in the coming weeks.

Raleigh, October 14 to 24 Don't miss: American Idol star Danny Gokey will be performing, and tickets cost just $5. Hang around for the fireworks that are shot off every night at 9:45 — if the kids can stay up that late. Kiddieland Fun Park has games, rides, and shows perfect for youngsters, and all visitors 65 and older get in free every day! Get more information »

St. Paul, August 26 to September 6 Don't miss: Embrace all the agricultural fun at the cow-milking and animal-call contests. Take horse-loving kids to see the English and Western horse shows. The Festival of Nations stage hosts diverse acts from around the world, including Armenian dancers, Thai vegetable carvers, and African drummers. Don't forget to grab a cob of the always-popular roasted sweet corn. Get more information »

Des Moines, August 12 to 22 Don't miss: There are more than 40 foods served on a stick at the fair, including frozen s'mores, fried pickles, and salad (we have no idea how they do that)! See a real Demolition Derby together on Saturday afternoon. Marvel at the amazing sand sculptures being crafted in the Cultural Center Atrium. Young kids love the Little Hands on the Farm area, where they can play farmers. Hurry, the fair ends this weekend! Get more information »

Salem, August 27 to September 6 Don't miss: At the Hart of the Garden, you can walk among 8,000 beautiful flowers and plants from all over the world. Enjoy a bird's-eye view of the fair from the Fairlift, which travels from one end of the grounds to the other. Visit the Days of the Dinosaur Exhibition, where kids can see dinosaur robots and dig for fossils. Or see one of the family-friendly shows, like the incredible Acrobats of Hebei China. Get more information »

Albuquerque, September 10 to 26 Don't miss: A number of classic and modern car shows will appeal to automobile lovers. The Pee Wee Stampede is an adorable mock rodeo, where kids 3 to 6 years old dress up and ride stick horses. The fair hosts one of the biggest parades in the state on the morning of September 11. Get more information »

Salt Lake City, September 9 to 19 Don't miss: Keep your eye out for the legions of roving entertainers doing magic, juggling, and more. Take in a sea lion show. Marvel at the power of a classic tractor pull. Ride down the giant (and we mean giant!) slide together. Not a daredevil? Check out the fishing pond instead. Get more information »

Dallas, September 24 to October 17 Don't miss: More people attend the State Fair of Texas than any other in the nation. They come for the amazing — and a touch revolting — array of food creations, mostly fried. Award-winning snacks from years past include deep fried butter, chicken fried bacon, and something called "fried coke." Kids love to see 52-foot-tall Big Tex, all the massive animals on display, and the seemingly unending midway of games and rides. Get more information »

Indianapolis, August 6 to 26 Don't miss: The Blue Monkey Sideshow is full of shocking and freaky fun for the whole family. Show grandkids how to pitch a horseshoe. See animal shows featuring jumping dogs and grizzly bears. Take the kids to watch a hilarious pig race. Hurry, the fair ends next week! Get more information »

Syracuse, August 26 to September 6 Don't miss: In addition to all the usual fair favorites, the Great New York State Fair has some new attractions for 2010. One, called Eurobubbles, lets you step into a huge plastic bubble and walk like a hamster while floating on water. At the Wild World of Animals, kids can learn about kangaroos, monkeys, snakes, and more. Also, Celebrity chef Mario Batali will be cooking with local produce. Get more information »

Pueblo, August 27 to September 6 Don't miss: The Colorado State Fair is full of great music and rodeo fun. Learn about alligators together as an expert handler catches an eight-foot beast with his bare hands. Kids can also hold a baby gator. Watch adorable little cowboys and cowgirls ride in the Mutton Bustin' rodeo event, in which kids younger than 6 and weighing less than 60 pounds try to ride a sheep for six seconds. If your grandkids are daring, they can compete, too! Get more information »

With summer coming to an end, kids everywhere are gearing up for their return to school. Snap a picture of them with their uniforms or backpacks and submit it to our Back-to-School Photo Contest! See the contest photos »