Nebraska State Fair
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The Nebraska State Fair is a state fair held annually in Lincoln, Nebraska. It is an approximately ten-day event; since the early 1990s, the fair ends on Labor Day. A bill is waiting the Governor's approval, which will move the fair to Grand Island starting in 2010.
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[edit] History
The first state fair was a territorial fair held September 21-23 in 1859 in Nebraska City.[1] The next fair was held in Nebraska City on October 7-9, 1868; this was the first fair held after Nebraska became a state. Nebraska City also hosted the 1869 fair.
In 1870 and 1871, it was held in Brownville. From 1872 until 1901 the fair switched back and forth between Lincoln and Omaha. In Omaha it was held at the Omaha Driving Park in North Omaha. The Knights of Ak-Sar-Ben ("Nebraska" spelled backwards) was formed in an ultimately unsuccessful attempt to keep the fair in Omaha. In 1901, the Nebraska Legislature named the Lancaster County Fairgrounds in Lincoln as the official home.[2].
Struggling with lowered attendance, Nebraska state fair was thought by some to be threatened with termination in the early years of the new millennium. It was added as a voluntary donation recipient to the annual state income tax and attendance rose enough in subsequent years to give it a second wind.
In 2008, LB1116 was passed by the Unicameral. Governor Dave Heineman has signed the bill which will move the event to Grand Island in 2010.[3].
[edit] Popular culture
In the The Wizard of Oz, the hot air balloon that had transported the Wizard to Oz and which was to take them back home has "State Fair Omaha" prominently written on it. The movie is based on a 1900 The Wonderful Wizard of Oz book by Frank Baum.
[edit] References
- ^ Andreas' History of the State of Nebraska - State Societies
- ^ Official history of the fair
- ^ Thumbs-up for State Fair move
[edit] See also
[edit] External links
- Nebraska State Fair is at coordinates Coordinates:
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