Alabama State Fair (Universal Fairs)

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The Alabama State Fair was a yearly event held in August-September between 2008 and 2018 at the Oak Mountain Amphitheater in Pelham. The fair was produced by Fair Nation, a Memphis, Tennessee-based promoter.

The inaugural Pelham fair was held September 19-28, 2008. Originally the event consisted primarily of a midway and about 30 rides which are 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" are 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.

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