Alabama State Fair (Universal Fairs)

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The Alabama State Fair is an annual fall carnival promoted by the privately-owned for-profit Universal Fairs of Cordova, Tennessee, which also operates under the affiliate names "Fair Nation" and "Expo South". The company uses the name "Alabama State Fair" without express sanction. The former Alabama State Fair Authority, a non-profit independent authority constituted by the City of Birmingham, dissolved in bankruptcy in the late 1990s.

From 2008 to 2018 the event was held at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham.

The inaugural Pelham fair was held September 19-28, 2008. Originally the event consisted primarily of a midway and about 30 rides which were set up in the parking lot adjoining the Pelham Civic Complex. When announcing the event in 2008, comments made by the event's promoter were disputed by then-Birmingham mayor Larry Langford as well as Music Center general manager Patrick Boone. Langford claimed that the rights to the name "Alabama State Fair" were owned by the city.

With the 2012 fair, held August 31September 9, the promoters reintroduced livestock contests, amateur talent shows and more local vendor booths.

In 2019 the fair relocated to the Birmingham Race Course, offering carnival rides, fair food, and live music and shows during the week between September 13 and September 22.

In 2022 admission prices were kept the same, but the cost of ride passes and food increased.

References

  • Bryant, Joseph D. (June 4, 2008) "Birmingham Mayor Larry Langford blasts carnival promoter over state fair comments." The Birmingham News
  • Drexel, Keysha (August 30, 2012) "Alabama State Fair at Pelham tries to revive traditional fair values." The Birmingham News
  • Poitevent, Bobby (September 16, 2022) "Inflation hitting the Alabama State Fair." ABC3340.com

External links