TN State Fair: Nashville Predators Balloon art

One of the highlights of the 2017 Tennessee State Fair is Sam the Balloon Man. His featured balloon art was this 8 foot tall Nashville Predator. He is even able to get inside this and bounce around.

Sam Cremeens also made headlines that year with a similar balloon for the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs:
www.tennessean.com/story/sports/nhl/predators/2017/06/05/...

2017 TN State Fair: FFA Christmas Booth

At the 2017 Tennessee State Fair, the Mt. Juliet Future Farmers of America presented this Christmas booth. There are a lot of interesting details here, but my favorite is the deer tree-topper.

Model Railroad Bates Motel

Happy Halloween!

At the 2017 Tennessee State Fair, the Model Railroaders from the Tennessee Central setup their railroad display. They have a similar setup every year, but this was something I'd never noticed before: a replica Bates Motel with the creepy mansion on the hill. Look closely and Norman Bates is coming down the stairs.

Lumberjack Ganes: Log Rolling

At the 2007 TN State Fair was a travelling lumberjack games crew from Wisconsin. In this "game" the two contestants balance on a floating cedar log and they spin the log with their feet to get the other to fall first. The guy on the right won.

TN State Fair: Ferris Wheel

The 2015 Tennessee State Fair is going on now. Here is a picture of the Ferris Wheel in 2010. The Wheel was overlooking the parking lot, so I was able to look up to see it.

Tennessee State Fair Racing Pigs

The 2015 Tennessee State Fair is only a week away!

Ferris Wheel at Dusk

The county fair season is fast approaching. This photo of a Ferris wheel was taken at the 2007 Tennessee State Fair.

The Spam-mobile

How would you like to have a free sample of Spam? This travelling Spam Roadshow is bound to show up at fairs and festivals throughout our country. I saw it (and got a free sample) a decade ago at the Tennessee State Fair.

Farming for Legos

Part of the Lego Experience which was seen at the 2009 Tennessee State Fair.

A Camel sighting in Tennessee

Usually this time of year, if I see a camel, it is part of a nativity scene. Instead, this camel was seen at the petting zoo at the Tennessee State Fair.

Happy beginning of Fall: Scarecrows

At the 2008 Tennessee State Fair, these decorative scarecrows and jack-o-lanterns were in an annex building between the Creative Arts building and Exhibitors building. These were for sale, along with fall plants such as mums.

TN State Fair - Misfit Vegetables

Thinking back to the classic Christmastime special, Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys, There is a place at the State Fair for Misfit Vegetables. It's called the Most Unique Shape contest. As you can see, the blue ribbon winner was these three irregular potatoes.

2011 TN State Fair: Creative arts Muscle Car Quilt

Top row: 77 Firebird, 67 GTO, 69 Chevy Camaro SS, 67 Chevelle SS
2nd row: 70 Chevelle SS, 55 Belair, 68 Pontiac Firebird, 69 Buick GS
3rd Row: 57 Chevy Belair, 70 Camaro, 58 Impala, 70 Oldsmobile 442
4th row: 70 Olds 442, 67 Firebird, 70 Pontiac Judge, 70 Chevelle SS
I think this is the manliest quilt I've ever seen at a fair.


In addition to the few fair photos I have uploaded to flickr, I have many more which have been added to this gallery on the SeeMidTN.com website:
seemidtn.com/gallery/index.php?album=nashville%2F2011-tn-...

12 Days of Christmas Quilt

Seen at the 2009 Tennessee State Fair in Nashville, this is a blue-ribbon winning First Place Quilt in the Creative Arts building. This quilt represents the 12 Days of Christmas. You may need to view the image at the Original size to see all the detail.

Tennessee State Fair: Types of animals on display

There are several different types of animals you can see at the Tennessee State Fair, or most any county fair. Still, it depends on what time you go, as different animals are judged on different days. Also, this doesn't include the petting zoo, which also has a diverse selection.

Tennessee State Fair: Creative Arts

Here are examples of some of the displays at the Tennessee State Fair in the Creative Arts Building from recent years:



This pencil drawing was a blue ribbon winner and best in show!



If you look closely at this stamp montage, look at any state and that part of the display is made of US Postage stamps depicting that state. This was also a best in show



Fashion Design



Leathercraft



Breadmaking

Tennessee State Fair: Rabbit Barn

A trip to the fair isn't complete without visiting the animals first. If you go earlier in the fair, you might even see some animals that won't be there later. Some of the bunnies are for sale! My wife and I bought a fair rabbit once, and it was a breed you're not going to find in the pet store and at a better price.

Tennessee State Fair starts this weekend - The YOYO ride.

Well, actually is started yesterday and will continue on through to the following Sunday. Looks like we're going to have some great weather.

The YOYO along the midway is a modern variant to the old fashioned Tornado/Tennessee Waltz type ride, and is my wife's favorite type of ride on the midway.

Things to see at the Fair: Swine

You can stroll the aisles and see all kinds of pigs and hogs, like this female. If you show up at the right time, you might see a pig owner trying to wash their pig in the pig shower, which involves the owner usually getting really wet.

One caveat, Compared to many of the other show animals, the swine are not treated like pets! Pigs can be stubborn and have to be strongly coerced to move sometimes, which might be upsetting to children (or sensitive wives, like mine) if you go during the judging.

Two peas in a pod

One of the cuter entries in the Creative Arts building, this has got to be one of my favorite things I've seen submitted at the state fair. I even have a few people I know that are so close to each other, I've sent them this picture. This was seen at the 2009 Tennessee State Fair.