Score FREE State Fair Tickets!

Want to know how you can get four free tickets to the annual Florida State Fair? Just share you photo memories of visits to the Florida State Fair for an opportunity to win free tickets.

“We want our friends and followers on Facebook to share the good times they have had at the Florida State Fair”, said Rip Stalvey, Director of Marketing for the Florida State Fair Authority. “We love talking with our fans so we can make the Fair even better than before,” he added.

If you are a fair fanatic, history lover, equestrian enthusiast, event planner, agriculture buff, or are interested in our events check out our Facebook page. Just click on the “like” button on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/floridastatefairgrounds to keep up to date with what’s going on. You can read guest testimonials, receive updated event news, see photographs and watch fair videos, and get information on Fair 2011 shows, competitions, and highlights.

Each week, beginning in December and continuing through February 4^th, the Florida State Fairgrounds invites fans to post images of their visit to a past State Fair, or a Fairgrounds event, to the Florida State Fairgrounds Facebook page. If you’re not a Facebook user you can still enter by emailing photos directly to Jennifer Becker at beckerj@doacs.state.fl.us.

At the end of each week, one fan will be randomly selected to become the “fan of the week” and receive four free 2011 State Fair tickets. Plus, the winner will have their photograph highlighted as the Florida State Fairgrounds Facebook profile picture for one week.

The annual Florida State Fair is a salute to the best in the agriculture and equestrian industries, plus an abundance of shows, crafts, music, rides, food and family fun for 12 consecutive days. The 2011 Florida State Fair will take place February 10-21, 2011 in Tampa, Florida.

“We can’t wait to see everyone’s state fair photo memories: It’s the event that truly is the ‘Best Time of the Year’,” Stalvey concluded.

Internship Opportunities

Are you a college student looking to gain real life marketing experience? The Florida State Fair Authority is currently seeking interns to assist in marketing efforts for the annual Florida State Fair.

“We have been fortunate to have some very talented young people working with us as interns in years past,” said Rip Stalvey Director of Marketing and Museum Operations. “They have helped in many areas, from graphics design, video production and public relations,” he added.

Marketing at the Florida State Fair is a fun, fast paced and rewarding experience. It offers students a chance to gain hands-on learning in many fields and gain a broad spectrum of experiences.

This year the Authority will be offering paid internship opportunities in the areas of public relations, graphic design, social media, and general marketing campaign efforts for the state fair. Fair dates this year are February 10^th through the 21^st of February. Internships are available now and will run through the end of the fair.

The Fair Authority’s Marketing Department is looking for creative and energetic students with a passion for working with people. Interested individuals should contact the Fair Authority’s human resources department at 813-621-7821 for more information.

“This is an excellent opportunity for college students to gain experience in marketing at one of the largest outdoor events in the area,” Stalvey concluded.

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For more information, contact Rip Stalvey, Director of Marketing and Museum Operations for the Florida State Fair Authority at 813-477-3138 or by e-mail at stalver1@doacs.state.fl.us

Florida State Fairgrounds is trimming up for the biggest event of the year!

Hey this is Scott from the Florida State Fair! I just found a fact that I would love to share with all of you!

We at the fair grounds have a lot of property to maintain. Not only that, all that property has trees, bushes, weeds, flowers, and other landscaping challenges that our staff compete with all year long. They have now officially kicked it into high gear.

Over our entire property, to make sure our guests are surrounded by Florida beauty, we trim over 400 palm trees on our grounds, along with 250 oak trees!

Now that's a big yard! I got more cool facts to come! Hope to see you here in February.

Stained glass, cozy quilts, and other unique gifts

Hey fans of the fairgrounds, the 17^th Annual Buckler’s Craft Fair will be here at the Fairgrounds this weekend! Come see award winning exhibitors and crafters displaying and selling handmade items. Grab a friend and come browse through unique one-of-a-kind items and gifts, custom home décor, sample delicious fudge and gourmet delights, try on custom made gold and silver jewelry, find that perfect piece of handcrafted furniture. You’ll also find country and traditional crafts, folk art, dolls, hair accessories, candles, baskets, baby items, artwork, pet items, quilts, wearable art, flags, painted glass, yard art, CD’s, framed prints, note cards, scrapbooking, herb pax, primitive, personalized items, and much more. Hourly giveaways of $20 shopping sprees!!

Adults $ 6, Kids 4-12 $1. One paid admission good all weekend with a hand stamp. BUY ONE ADMISSION – GET ONE FREE. Print this out or bring a canned good for this offer. Benefits the local food bank. 

Times:

Saturday 10am-5pm & Sunday 10am-4pm

Parking & Location:

Located inside Entertainment Hall. Please enter through 301 gate.

Tampa Bay Boat Show to bring the boating sales event of the season!

Hey Fairgrounds followers, Jennifer here. Are you in the market for a boat or just looking for a fun way to spend your afternoon? Come visit the Fairgrounds this weekend (Friday November 19th-Sunday November 21st) and see 2011 boat models, the latest in boating and fishing supplies, and millions of dollars of boating inventory.

St. Pete Times presents
the Tampa Bay Boat Show

This three-day sales event offers a great way to see and compare all available makes and models in one location. The main floor will be filled with new boats, trailers, docking and safety equipment, and many outdoor-related exhibits! The show will feature everything from wave runners to pontoons.

Also, come in on Saturday and Sunday and learn from the area’s top fishing experts & captains sharing their expertise in a variety of fish-y topics—presented by the Gulf & Bay Florida Fishing School.

Admission is free!--$5.00 for Parking

Friday, November 19, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Saturday, November 20, 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday, November 21, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

This event is located in Entertainment Hall. Please enter through the 301 gate. 

Hey, Fairgrounds followers! The Fall Pet Adoption Expo is here!

Saturday, Nov. 13 between 10am and 4pm

Come visit and see hundreds of cats, kittens, parrots, dogs and puppies of all sizes and colors all looking for a loving home. This is the largest pet adoption in the bay area with more than 60 shelters, rescue groups, and pet vendors all under one roof. There will also be a wide variety of pet products, giveaways, trainers, and educational displays.

If you are interested in adopting bring a valid photo ID, proof of address, and renters’ permissions. All adoptable pets will come spayed/neutered and vaccinated against rabies.

Also, as a special tribute for Veterans Week, Pets for Vets! The Fall Pet Adoption Expo is themed in red, white and blue décor with “Pets for Vets” discounts for both active and retired military and their families.  Special guests include K9’s for Veterans as well as the Mac Dill Honor Guard 10th Mobility Wing for the official Presentation of Colors.  

 Free parking and admission too.  

Visit our Events Calendar for more details about this event!

Welcome!

Welcome to the Blog of the Florida State Fairgrounds.  We hope you visit often to learn about all things Fairgrounds related.  Whether its updates about the annual Florida State Fair or other events coming to the fairgrounds, you’ll find information about it here.

Fairgrounds staff are working very hard since the fall and early winter months are always busy ones.  There are lots of great events scheduled to be held here in the months ahead.  Other events many don’t think about us hosting are horse shows.  The Florida State Fairgrounds has one of the premier horse show facilities in the state, the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center.  For information about upcoming horse shows you can visit http://www.bobthomasequestriancenter.com to learn all about them.

In just about three months the 106^th Florida State Fair will debut.  The 2011 Florida State Fair promises to be one of the best on record.  There’s so much to see and do and it’s also one of the best values around.  Make sure to save the dates, February 10-21, 2011, so you can savor all the great fair food, ride all the thrill rides you can, plus see lots of great entertainment as well as agricultural shows and displays.  When you buy your tickets in advance you can save up to $4 on the regular adult admission price.  Check back often to learn more about everything that we have in store for our fair guests.  You can also visit us on-line at www.floridastatefair.com for updates to the Florida State Fair.

We are committed to offering guests and exhibitors a great experience while they’re here at the Florida State Fairgrounds.  If you have suggestions or ideas for us, I would love to hear from you.  You can email me, Rip Stalvey, Director of Marketing and Museum Operations, at stalver1@doacs.state.fl.us to share your thoughts.