ORLANDO, Fla. – The Central Florida Fair is returning for its 114th year, and among the number of experiences, you can re-live the days of going to a Blockbuster and picking out a movie.
The fair returns Feb. 26 to March 8, and did you know, it comes with a lot of history?
“The Fair organization was established in 1910, with the first fair held that year. The Central Florida Fair is the region’s oldest and largest not-for-profit fair, serving as an agricultural showcase for Orlando and five surrounding counties,” said Michael Tipton, the President and CEO for Central Florida Fair and Expositions Park.
“The Fairgrounds were originally located downtown near Lake Eola and the Bob Carr Theater, but moved to our current West Colonial Drive site in the late 1970s. This year is the 114th year, not the 116th, because the Fair took two years off during World War II when the property was used to house U.S. Army troops.”
The Central Florida fair not only offers rides, food, and a petting zoo, but you can also expect to see some unique entertainment.
The fair provided this list, along with their descriptions:
Robot Renegades – Watch 100 robots battling it out across multiple weight classes (Feb. 28 through March 1)
Live Music in the Beer Garden – rock, country or soulful blues nightly, plus Battle of the Bands Feb. 27 through March 1
Rorring! RC Race Cars - micro-reality 1/10-scale stock car racing system fun for all ages
Zerbini Family Circus - acrobatics, daring stunts, and vibrant entertainment
Circus Inferno Extreme - electrifying side show, featuring breathtaking fire tricks, daring acrobatic stunts
Livestock – youth market exhibitions, contests, auctions
Otter Adventure - one of a kind, up close, and personal animal experiences
Also, on the list, a chance to immerse yourself in a retro Blockbuster, filled with movie displays. Tipton said the experience landed in his lap thanks to someone he worked with years ago.
“As it turned out, an opportunity fell through for them at a Comic-Con-style show, and they were essentially all dressed up with nowhere to go in terms of their show. We worked it out quickly for them to come to the Fair so that their effort wasn’t completely in vain, and the experience blew up on social media. It is a really wonderful installation and just like walking into a time capsule,” Tipton explained.
General admission tickets to the fair are $7 for youth (age 7-11) daily, $11 for adults on weekdays, and $16 for adults on weekends. Children under age six are admitted for free.
For ticket information, click here.