JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Thrills. Good eats. Cool entertainment... There’s something for everyone to enjoy at the Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair.
Opening night was Thursday, and the fair-goers were in full attendance.
Tracy Scott and Zepora Merritt were enjoying a date night at the fair.
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"We’re enjoying it. Yeah, we just had a belly full. I can tell you that before, right now. No, nothing else to eat right now," Scott said.
Scott said he enjoyed a Philly cheesesteak and fries as his food of choice.
Merritt, on the other hand, loaded cheese fries.
It’s not a fair without fun things for the kids to do also. Lisa Thomas, director of marketing for the Jacksonville Fair, said this year they’ve brought on Degler Attractions to handle the rides for the fair.
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“Degler has, if not the best, I would say the best,” Thomas said. “I would say the best kids ride. So there’s a lot for kids to do, as far as that’s concerned, but we also have the kids zone, which is over by our exhibition center, which is also really fun.”
Then there are the sea lions. Ivo Silva talked about the Sea Lion Splash exhibit.
"We’re so excited to be here. Can’t wait to see everybody come in, check out the show," Silva said. “You can take a photo with them right after the show. Like they do the same thing. You just get close to the stage. They give you kiss.”
The fair has two more years in downtown Jacksonville. In 2026, it will move to the westside.
“We need a lot more room to do a lot more things. We’re going to have an amphitheater that we’re building over there, so we’re going to be music-centered,” Thomas said. “We’re still going to have a fair, but we’re going to be able to bring in a lot of large national acts at the fair with that very big, beautiful, new amphitheater.”
The fair is in town until Nov. 17.