Fair time

• FUN staff
• Published: Oct 23, 2009

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Autumn means a lot of things in Louisiana: leaves that turn brown instead of colorful and then just fall off the trees, the smell of melted Halloween candy in your kid’s pocket and the wild screams of people trying to outlast a gyrating carnival ride.

The screams are happening now at the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair, which will continue through Sunday, Nov. 1, at BREC’s Airline Highway Park/Fairgrounds.

The fair actually opened its 11-day run last night and is going full tilt with food, exhilarating rides, games, music and more.

Rides are, of course, the main attraction and there are more than 40 to pick from that’ll suit everybody from youngsters to very daring adults.

There’s also free music every night on the covered stage ranging from rock and Irish music to Cajun and Latin bands. Some of the musical highlights include The Neal Family, The Iguanas, David St. Romain, Jenny Brooks, Danny O’Flaherty, Julio and Cesar and Lillian Axe.  See the full music schedule below.

 Weekends are extra wild at the fair because of lawn-tractor pulls, hosted by the Southeast Louisiana Pulling Association, both Saturdays at 2 p.m., and the crazy Mutton Bustin’ Kids Rodeo both Sunday afternoons.

By the way, if your kids have never ridden a pony, there are free pony rides, 1-5 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 24, in the Livestock Tent.

There are also entertainers moving around the fairgrounds at all hours. There’s Al the Artist riding in his cartoon car doing caricatures of fairgoers, there’s also magician Tim Spinosa, musician Riverboat John and Tall Tex, a man you can really look up to.

Admission to the fair is: general admission, $5; children under 48 inches tall admitted free (but everyone must have a wristband or ride coupons to ride); ride-all-the-rides wristband, $15 per person, any age.

Admission also includes The Farm Experience, which has barnyard animals for kids to interact with. There will also be junior livestock shows held each weekend in the Agriculture Pavilion.

The Greater Baton Rouge State Fair is a not-for-profit event whose proceeds are dedicated to the Greater Baton Rouge State Fair Foundation, which makes grants to youth-oriented worthy causes in a 5-parish area.

The schedule of hours is 5-10 p.m.  Mon.-Thurs.; 5 p.m.-midnight Fri.; 1 p.m.-midnight Sat.; 1-10 p.m. Sun.

For more information and a detailed schedule visit http://www.gbrsf.com, or call (225) 755-3247.