“Tradition Lives On” September 9-18, 2011 with the 105th Tennessee State Fair. This year’s State Fair will showcase the culture and promise of the entire state of Tennessee, making it a true state fair. It will epitomize the best of Tennessee, emphasizing agriculture and youth, heritage and future, all in an educational and entertaining atmosphere. During the fair, the Tennessee State Fairgrounds will come alive with traditional competitions, thrilling rides, and a wide variety of must-see events.

This year’s fair will be operated and managed by the Tennessee State Fair Association, a public-private partnership dedicated to the promotion and education of agriculture, horticulture, creative arts, performing arts, industry, commerce, recreation, economic development, natural resources and related areas, to the public through the annual Tennessee State Fair.

 

The Tennessee State Fair has been held every year since 1906, with the exception of a four-year span during World War II. The fair has weathered many storms including the Great Depression, a 1965 fire that destroyed majority of the fairgrounds and another fire in 1970, which ruined the coliseum. Through these hardships, the Tennessee State Fair has remained the highlight of families’ lives for more than 100 years.

Every year, Tennesseans anticipate the thrilling rides at the Midway, the wide variety of competitions, and the staple fair foods such as cotton candy, corn dogs and snow cones. Tennessee students especially look forward to the arrival of the fair because of the designated student day, which offers free admission and a day off from school.

Entertainment is a key component to the Tennessee State Fair and is a big draw for fair goers. Over the years, the state fair has included some of the most popular performers of the time. Even as late as the 1970s, some of the biggest acts in the country, such as Sonny and Cher, Captain and Tenille, ZZ Top, Dr. Hook, Marilyn McCoo, and comedian Bob Hope played the Tennessee State Fair.

Today, the Tennessee State Fair attracts more than 230,000 visitors and participants each year, with recent trends showing a steady growth in popularity.

 

Learn more about the Tennesssee State Fair's history.

 

The specific purpose for which the new board was formed is to promote the education of agriculture, horticulture, the creative arts, performing arts, industry, commerce, recreation, economic development, natural resources, and related areas to the public, through the planning, promotion, conduct, and operation of an annual Tennessee State Fair.

 

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This annual event would not be possible without the generous support of our corporate partners. We would like to thank the following folks for their continued support:

 

The Tennessee State Fair Association would like to acknowledge all the state and local agencies and educational institutions for their participation and support of the 2011 Tennessee State Fair, including but not limited to:

•    International Association of Fairs & Expositions
•    Tennessee Association of Fairs
•    Tennessee Department of Agriculture
•    Tennessee Department of Tourism Development
•    Nashville Convention and Visitors Bureau
•    Pick Tennessee Products
•    University of Tennessee Extension Offices
•    4-H Clubs of Tennessee
•    Future Farmers of America
•    TN USDA
•    Metro Water Services
•    Metro Public Works
•    Metro General Services
•    Tennessee Department of Transportation
•    Tennessee Department of Economic Development

In addition we’d like to thank…

•    The many dedicated volunteers
•    Our loyal sponsors and the people who made this event possible
•    Our vendors
•    Our neighbors and neighborhood organizations
•    Metro Nashville Police Department
•    Metro Mounted Patrol
•    Dickson County Sheriff’s  Office Mounted Patrol
•    The Tennessee Department of Education
•    Metro Nashville Public Schools
•    Davidson County Sheriff’s Office
•    Metro Nashville Fire Department
•    North American Midway Entertainment

...and of course, The American farmer.