Lincoln says farewell to State Fair

There's a bit of sadness surrounding this year's Nebraska State Fair.

Sure, the fair will still have all the rides and entertainment that Nebraskans have come to know and love. But this, the 140th fair, has a special meaning to it.
This year's state fair, which kicks off Friday, will be the last one held at Lincoln's State Fair Park, its home for the past 109 years. Next year the fair will move to Grand Island.
"It's going to be a mix bag of feelings," said Joseph McDermott, the fair's executive director. "It's sad to leave, but there's excitement over what's to come in the future."

The fair is expected to have larger crowds then ever before, as it will be the last chance for people to see the fair in Lincoln, McDermott said. And organizers have made sure to have plenty of events to keep fair attendees busy. 
"I feel like we have more entertainment and more family fun this year," said Christine Rasmussen, director of sponsorships and program development. "There's just so much to do at the fair."

The good times will begin at Friday night's opening ceremony, when more than 1,000 kazoos will be passed out to fair attendees. Everyone who gets a kazoo will help play the state fair jingle.
"You don't even have to audition, you just have to show up," Rasmussen said of the kazoo band. "If you're standing there, you're going to get a kazoo."
With the help of some new partnerships, this year's fair will also include a few new events.
"There's groups of folks who just want to use the fair as a showcase. We're that catalyst," Rasmussen said.
One partnership with El Centro de las Americas will result in a day-long Hispanic festival on Sunday. The festival will include a kids' area and lots of Mexican and Colombian food.
"This is a fabulous event and a fabulous opportunity for all Nebraskans," Rasmussen said of the festival.

The Nebraska Farm Bureau is sponsoring the Grand Celebration Parade, which will take place Sept. 7, the last day of the fair. During the parade, 4-H students, various mascots and other types of entertainment will take over the streets.
Ride enthusiasts should be happy to hear there will be 40 midway rides this year. Almost half of those will be new to the fair, Rasmussen said.
And of course, no Nebraska State Fair would be complete without the livestock shows, the outdoor concerts and the delicious fair food.
One last exhibit will help people relive the last 140 years of the fair. Photographs of past fairs will be blown up, matted, framed and hung throughout the various buildings on the grounds.
"This fair is for people to come and relive from the many fairs that have been here," McDermott said.
McDermott said Labor Day, the last day of the fair, will be a difficult one, both for fair attendants and for long-time employees at State Fair Park. 
"We've got an opportunity in Grand Island to do some new things," McDermott said. "But it's still going to be a sad day."

katiesteiner@dailynebraskan.com

If you go:
What: 2009 Nebraska State Fair
When: Friday, Aug. 28 to Monday, Sept. 7
Where: State Fair Park, 1800 State Fair Park Drive
How much: $8 for an adult gate ticket
Parking: Free at State Fair Park. Free shuttle service from Bed, Bath & Beyond on North 27th Street and from the North 27th Street Plaza. Shuttle will run from 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. on the weekends.
For more information visit www.statefair.org.