Carnival & Fair News

While chilly weather has put a close to carnival and fair season in many states, Tallahassee, Florida brought on a bevy of pre-Thanksgiving fun for the 82nd edition of the North Florida Fair which ran November 7-17 on the Tallahassee fairgrounds.

The eleven-day event brought a lively carnival, classic and unique fair foods, and a wide range of free entertainment for attendees. There were over 100 rides, games, and concessions.

Fair admission was $10.00 per adult for those ages 13 and up, $7 for kids aged 6-12 and seniors, and free admission for kids 5 and under. Midway ride tickets were .50 each.

But there were other options for admission and carnival rides. On opening day, the fair offered free admission and a $25 unlimited ride wristband; on the 8th and 15th, a “midnight madness” promotion provided unlimited carnival rides for $30, and admission was $7 for adults and $5 for kids. Ride wristbands were $35 on both Youth/Senior Citizen Days Saturday November 9th and November 16th, admission prices were again set at $7 adults/$5 kids; however, between noon and 2 p.m. both days, admission for kids and seniors was free.

On both “Sunday Fundays,” fairgoers were admitted for $5 adults and $3 kids between noon and 1 p.m., with unlimited ride wristbands again priced at $35. Monday the 11th was Freedom Day at the Fair with unlimited ride wristbands priced at $30. Tuesday the 12th and Wednesday the 13th, admission was just $2 for all kids and adults, with ages 5 and under admitted free; midway rides were each priced at just $2 as well. On Carload Night, November 14th, $60 allowed a max of 8 people per vehicle into the fair, covering both gate admission and unlimited rides. Non-riders paid the regular gate pricing. Other fair cost options included a VIP Pass priced at $37, good for any single day of the Fair. Fair parking was provided free. Each of these options was well promoted online and in social media.



Running the midway for the 17th year was Strates Shows. The carnival ride wristbands and other ride specials paid off for the company, with a spokesman explaining “Strates Shows recently celebrated a remarkable milestone at the 2024 North Florida Fair in Tallahassee, Florida, achieving a record-breaking year for midway ridership. Total gross revenues increased by 5% compared to the previous record set in 2023. Over the course of the 11-day event, five all-time daily gross records were shattered.”

The biggest day was Saturday, November 16th, which Strates Shows indicated was the “single largest grossing day in Strates Shows' 17-year partnership.”

Among the most popular rides was the Wave Swinger, which glittered with the debut of a brand-new LED light package provided by Stevie Ianni, Jr. The carnival company describes the massive swing ride as lifting “riders high above the bustling carnival crowd… in suspended basket seats” that rose and rotated clockwise before tilting for added thrills. Additionally, thrillers such as The Zipper, The Claw, Pirate, the Giant Wheel, and Cliffhanger were also big draws. Games included the popular balloon darts, fishponds for little ones, shooting ranges and basketball; Kiddieland rides ranged from the popular Wacky Worm to mini Indy cars.



Strates also provided some of the food options at the fair, stressing the slogan “The Fun Is in the Yum!” Throughout the fair, food choices ran the gamut from funnel cakes to Korean corn dogs and pickles in Dr. Pepper. First place “best booth” food winners this year were Taylor's Cotton Candy with its variety of classic fluffy sweets and Fryson's Kitchen serving up crispy fried treats.

From fries with vinegar to caramel apples and softshell crab, there were plenty of treats to consume. As part of the Midway Menu Takeover, fairgoers could try out the tangy Dilly Dog made by Red Carpet Amusements – a large dill pickle that was hollowed out and stuffed with an all-beef hot dog, then dipped in corn dog batter. Or for those who like meat and sweets, there was a donut hamburger available. Pupusas were popular, too. For dessert there were plenty of deep-fried options like cheesecake, Snickers, Oreos, or brownies, as well as a variety of specialty funnel cakes like Reece's Fancy Fingers or the Doughboy, and for those seeking cooler fare, a rolled ice cream treat.

On the beverage side, the Deep Brewing Company beer garden served up local craft brews to those over 21. And for adults who preferred wine, there were wine slushies to cool off with.

Many of the food booths and market businesses skewed local. As North Florida Fair manager Mark Harvey notes, locals often benefit from name exposure as well as sales, and never more so than this year, when hurricane damage in the area caused serious disruptions in the business of some of the vendors. Among the local food selections this year were the Jim's Deep-Fried Tacos and Bop's Kettle Corn.



Entertainment options also abounded, from the Show Me Safari Swine races with the famous Pork Chop, to performances from the Fearless Flores Family, whose thrilling motorcycle actions included a Globe of Death and aerial stunts. There were also daily hypnotist shows and a strolling RoboDog as well as Megamorph the transforming robot car. Local musical performers also appeared daily, including a well-attended performance by Tradicion Latina.

There were several exhibition barns at the fair as well, including a cattle barn, goat barn, poultry and rabbits, and local 4H exhibiters, but for those whose interests' skewed to the more exotic, the petting zoo included zebras and a kangaroo. Also on exhibition were fine arts, horticulture, and local agriculture, including locally grown sweet corn.



And of course, local businesses also stood out, with first place booth winners Appalachee Beekeepers Association and High Art Tattoo among them. Fair attendees purchased craft items, home-made soaps from Seed of Life Soaps & Creations, jewelry, and art – including the work of JC Airbrush and signs, as well as local foods such as jams and jellies.

While attendance numbers have yet to be finalized, last year Harvey noted over 130,000 attendees, and typical fair attendance tops 110,000 most years during the fair's 11 day run. With the increase in carnival riders and revenue, the fair appears on track overall to have had a stellar year.