There’s Something for Everyone at the Utah State Fair

Chances are, the last time you stepped foot in the Utah State Fairpark, it was for the X Games, Kilby Block Party or perhaps the esteemed Craft Lake City DIY Festival. And maybe you’ve already marked your calendar for REDWEST or a jaripeo — a rodeo known for its adrenaline-pumping bull-riding. But when was the last time you went for the actual Utah State Fair?

I’m no stranger to a good fair. As a kid, I was a regular — I even won People’s Choice for my chocolate chip cookies at 13 and later held the glamorous title of Miss San Juan County in 2019. But somewhere along the way, the fair dropped off my radar. It just didn’t feel like it had anything to offer me as an adult.

At least, that’s what I thought, until I sat down with Larry Mullenax and Nicki Claeys, the executive and deputy executive directors of the fair. “The fair has been a reflection of Utah for a long time,” Mullenax tells me. “Some people would argue we’re not as relevant today, but we are. They like to say baseball is what keeps the fabric of society together. We’d argue it’s fairs.”

“They like to say baseball is what keeps the fabric of society together. We’d argue it’s fairs.”

As Mullenax says this, he and Claeys show me huge, yellowed scrapbooks from their archives. There’s everything from ancient newspaper clippings advertising 25¢ fair entry (10¢ for kids!) to a former participant’s collection of fair awards. One 1929 blue ribbon reads “First Prize: Cock,” presumably for premium poultry.

That’s when I learn the fair is actually older than the state of Utah itself. Its roots go back to 1856, just a few years after the first Mormon pioneers arrived. What started as an agricultural showcase has slowly and steadily morphed into a reflection of Utah’s evolving identity.

“I like to say that the fair was the first internet. It’s where you came to get all of your knowledge right in one place,” Mullenax says. “If you wanted to learn about farming, tooling, whatever … that’s where you went to get all your knowledge.”

“The fair was the first internet. It’s where you came to get all of your knowledge right in one place.”

In the early days, it was the original life hack: Learn how to plant a better tomato, see a new textile loom in action or marvel at butter-churning techniques. But over the decades, the fair has expanded with Utah’s shifting demographics and sensibilities, becoming less about tractors and more about connection.

“We’ve been the consistent thing in Utah’s history from day one,” Mullenax says. “And while we still do our best to maintain a relationship with our core roots, we have evolved as society has.”

This year’s fair runs September 4-14, and its tagline, “Nowhere but the Fair,” couldn’t be more appropriate. I mean, where else can you eat a funnel cake, ride a rollercoaster, watch a farrier shoe a horse, catch a demolition derby and see a life-size sculpture of a cow carved entirely from butter all in the same day?

For 11 days, the fair will host hundreds of events: live cook-offs, fine art competitions, trapeze artists, stunt dog shows, wildlife rescue presentations and yes, plenty of rodeos, but what Mullenax and Claeys really want people to know is that the fair isn’t just for spectators. It’s a showcase for creators of all kinds.

“More people will see fine art at the state fair than [at] all the other galleries combined during the whole year.”

“We believe that there’s actually a resurgence in participation — we’re seeing younger people starting to get more involved as makers,” Mullenax says. “We also have one of the largest fine arts collections in the state. More people will see fine art at the state fair than [at] all the other galleries combined during the whole year.”

There’s something unexpectedly joyful about watching a cow milking demo before wandering over to the quilting exhibit, grabbing a fried pickle and ending your day with a monster truck rally. “There’s something for everyone,” Mullenax says simply.

Visit utahstatefair.com to grab presale tickets while they’re discounted, or follow along on Instagram at @utahstatefair for updates. Yeehaw!

Read more about events held at the historic Utah State Fairpark:
X Games History Was Made in Salt Lake City
Kilby Block Party 6 @ Utah State Fairpark