JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The fair fun officially begins Thursday night when the gates open to eager fairgoers waiting to experience new rides and eat good food.
Preparations for this year’s 68th annual Jacksonville Agricultural Fair began early as vendors and attractions sat up to entertain anticipated crowds.
Tiffany Williams and her children were among the first people to walk into the fair to keep up with her family tradition.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a child, so I guess 20-plus years,” Williams said.
Michael Gullion, chairman of the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair Association, talked about some of the new and exciting attractions at this year’s fair.
“It’s going to be very exciting. We’ve got all the rides. We’ve got new experiences,” he said.
A part of that new experience Gullion mentioned is the addition of the sea lion experience and a shark encounter where people can see sharks during their live show with divers.
Ed Cox said he had an awesome time being that it was his first Jacksonville fair and since he is accustomed to Midwest-style fairs with farms but not aquatic animals like sharks.
A new fun fair fare on the menu included pizza with pickles as a topping.
Williams shared what she believes are some good eats to try at the fair.
“I wouldn’t say it’s the best thing but I’m looking for this corn and they dip it in butter and you put your topping and stuff on it,” she said. “It’s really delicious.”
Michelle Stamper, however, said her go-tos are candy apples and funnel cakes. As for Tiffany Stokes, she enjoys the taco in a bag and her husband comes every year for the donuts.
This year and 2024, the fair will be housed downtown but in 2025, the festivities are moving to the Westside near the Jacksonville Equestrian Center. The move could make way for additional rides and parking.
“That would be better for me, less traffic,” Stamper said in response to the fair moving. “But having more kids’ activities I think would be better.”
The fair is here until Sunday, Nov. 12.
For more information and tickets, visit www.jacksonvillefair.com.