Panhandle-South Plains Fair
October 1, 2012
This year the Panhandle-South Plains Fair was held from September 21st through the 29th. According to the local website, over 11,000,000 people have entered the gates since the first fair was held in 1914. Known as the “Granddaddy of West Texas Fairs” the South Plains Fair ranks second only to the Dallas State Fair in attendance and continuous history. Since its launch in 1914, the fair has opened continuously every fall with the exception of the years from 1942-1945 due to World War II.
There is something for all ages at the fair whether you come for the food, rides, games, concerts or the livestock shows. Wow, who would have guessed that cows are allowed into the South Plains Fair? There are exhibit buildings that show animals such as beef and dairy cattle, goats and lambs. The stock shows are packed full with eager spectators each year.
Coronado’s own Kassie Smith was at the South Plains Fair this September 29th showing her lamb. This was her first time to show a lamb and Kassie’s mother stated that she and the Agriculture teacher were excited to see how things would go. A Coronado student spotted at the fair said, “The cows are fat and the lambs are loud, but the atmosphere is fun and inviting. Just eat before you go in because you won’t want to after you leave the stock shows.”
There is a wide variety of activities to do such as the carnival rides and the games that are seen all along the midway, so many fairgoers continue to test their luck with these games year after year. To cut ones expense each year, a person may want to purchase the “Mega Pass.” This is a onetime fee for the entire length of the fair and allows a person access to all the rides by simply showing an armband.
There are specials discounts throughout the entire week such as “Buck a Ride Night” and “Senior Citizens Day” as well as many others. The parking alone has gone from 25 cents a day in 1914 to 5 dollars a day in 2012.
A few other events that can be enjoyed at the Fair are the Children’s Petting Barnyard, exhibits in the Merchants building, all of the wonderful food to be tasted, and concerts held in the Fair Park Coliseum. The coliseums’ claim to fame is that a young Elvis Presley played there in 1956. Yesm Elvis was seen in Lubbock at the Fair!
