I recently had the pleasure of visiting the State Fair of Louisiana with a group of travel journalists during a tour of the city. Wandering the midway in search of cricket pizza and deep-fried Kool-Aid, it was a real joy to see the State Fair – something that locals may take for granted – with new eyes.
The State Fair of Louisiana is an institution in Shreveport-Bossier. The 2012 edition, which closes at 10 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 11, is the 106th installment. For me, the fair is about eating outlandish foods, visiting sideshows and occasionally riding a ride or catching some live music. If you’re planning a visit this weekend, here are a few experiences that I would highly recommend:
Louisiana Veterans Honor Parade, 2 p.m., Sunday – On the closing day of the State Fair of Louisiana, a parade consisting of floats, marching bands, ROTC drill teams and veterans organizations will parade down the midway beginning at the Fair Grounds Field baseball stadium and ending at Hirsch Memorial Coliseum. Free admission and free parking will be provided for all veterans and their families. Veterans are encouraged to wear their organizational veteran caps, military vet ball caps and t-shirts.
Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun Live, 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., Saturday – One of the most commercially successful zydeco acts of all time, Wayne Toups and ZydeCajun will perform two shows on Saturday night. Admission is free with your ticket to the fair. Wear your dancing shoes!
Fried Wisconsin Cheddar – One of the best things I ate on the midway was this fried Wisconsin Cheddar cheese. It probably took a year off of my life…but what was I really going to do with that year, anyway? There’s a fantastic variety of unusual things to eat at this year’s fair. See a partial vendor list here.
For admission prices and more information, visit the State Fair of Louisiana website.
