The Volusia County Fair is located in Deland, Florida. It is just minutes from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It is excellent, day or night, with family and friends, to congregate as a community. The vast historical past of the fair and its traditions adds not only to the magic that is the fair, but also to the history of the city of Deland. While holding to the traditions of pony rides, a place for farmers to display their crops and sell livestock, it has evolved over time into an all-out entertainment event for everyone. Every year the fair rolls into town bringing food, games, contests, rides, and fun! There is no place quite like the fair, as my friend Emily and I found out. We ventured out to the grounds from Stetson University and found the location to be quite convenient. The fairgrounds are located on the way toward I-95 and New Smyrna Beach.

There is no question why the Volusia County Fair won in 2001 - 2002 first prize for being the best county fair in Florida. Their facilities are bar none and are constantly growing! Each year, the fair association works with the city of Deland and local vendors to plan to accommodate more people as its popularity grows. The fair is officially called the Volusia County Fair and Youth Show, as thousands of adolescents have opportunities to display their talents via contests, games, and shows. The entire fair is oriented around family and youths, so parents with small children may rest assured that the entertainment and rides are fun for the entire family. Wanting to know what the fair was all about, Emily and I, after living in Deland for the past three years, thought that we should do our duty as local citizens and check out the fair.

As we entered the grounds, our ears filled with music from the rides and live dancing on the Daytona News Journal Stage. Throughout the week the paper sponsors a variety of entertainment, including bands, hypnotists, and dancers. Mesmerized, we stayed to watch a local clogging group jive to everything from pop to folk music. Jesse the pig came up to greet us, only adding to the friendliness and small town atmosphere. There is an endless number of attractions to see, from live snakes and alligators to a house made from a giant redwood where an admission fee is in order to be shocked and amazed. There was, however, plenty to take in absolutely free of charge. Our favorite exhibition was, hands down, the Little Miss and Mr. Volusia County Fair Contest. It was a great way to see and support some of Volusia County's finest youth as they dressed to impress and strutted their stuff. Participants received a variety of honors like Best Smile, Best Personality, Best Dressed, and Most Photogenic, but there can be only one Miss and Mr. Volusia County Fair per age group. The new indoor facility was hosting the contest, which turned into a stage for the bands at night, and was also home to the youth show displaying a wide variety of arts and crafts. The air-conditioning, that was plentiful throughout, made the building a perfect spot to display local Deland vendors, as well as ideal to get out of the Florida heat. After our rest, we decided to relax more with a cool drink, and we were amazed by all of the classic fair food that is the perfect way to get you in the mood for games and rides. Speaking of rides, they are the staple ingredients to make a fair the perfect outing. Rides and carnival games encompassed a gigantic area of the fair with surprisingly quick lines.

The smells, sights, and sounds of the Volusia County Fair and Youth Show are timeless and always a great way to take a break and get away from the daily routine. So the bottom line is: Autumn in Deland plus the Volusia County Fair and Youth Show equal family F-U-N for everyone!

For more information about the Volusia County Fair
please click on one of the links below:

VolusiaCountyFair.com
VCF Photo Gallery

For more information about Deland
please click on one of the links below:

Deland.org - City of Deland
Deland Chamber.org - City of Deland Chamber of Commerce
PlanetDeland.com - Local Business Directory and information
MainStreet Deland.com - The home of the MainStreet Deland Association
Deland Beacon.com - The Deland Newspaper

A Report on the Fall Festival of the Arts

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