Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show
Arkansas State Fair and Livestock Show
Today through Oct. 19, State Fairgrounds, West Roosevelt Road and Howard Street, Little Rock. Noon to 11 p.m. daily (except Saturdays, when the carnival opens at 10 a.m. and on Monday and Oct. 17, when Family Land rides open at 10 a.m.)
Gate admission: $8, $4 for children and senior citizens, free for children under age 6
Advance admission: $7, $6 each for those in groups of 30 or more
"Night of Destruction: Demolition Derby With Monster Truck Exhibition": 7:30 p.m. Saturday, $12, $8 child, free for children under 2 years old if sitting with an adult
$1 Day: On Monday, parking, gate admission and rides are $1 each
Rodeo: Barton Coliseum, 7:30 p.m. Thursday and Oct. 17-18, and 1:30 p.m. Oct. 18; box seats $16, $13 child; reserved seats $13, $10 child; general admission, $9, $6 child
General Information: (501) 372-8341, www.arkansasstatefair.com
"Night of Destruction" and Rodeo tickets: (501) 975-7575, www.ticketmaster.com
Even when the weather fails to embrace change, there's no surer sign of autumn than the arrival of the Arkansas State Fair. Whether summer temperatures are still hanging around, or an early frost threatens, or rains come along, fair fans will turn out.
And while there are murmurs of moving the fair, it has yet to happen, if it ever does, so look for it where it has been for decades, on West Roosevelt Road.
Expect food, country music, classic rock sounds, rides, games, prize-winning animals and arts and crafts. And there's always something to see in the good ol' Hall of Industry, especially in an election year, when one can count on political parties and candidates with booths and displays and maybe even bumper stickers, pencils or plastic bags to carry the stuff that you pick up elsewhere in the hall, like a new road map, the latest kitchen gadget that will rock your world and antidrug coloring books for the kids. There will be fudge for sale, along with those restful vibrating chairs.
