A state fair is an annual competitive and recreational gathering of a U.S. state's population, usually held in late summer or early fall. It is a larger version of a county fair, often including only exhibits or competitors that have won in their categories at the more-local county fairs.

This article uses citations that link to broken or outdated sources. (February 2023)

State fairs began in the nineteenth century for the purpose of promoting state agriculture, through competitive exhibitions of livestock and display of farm products. As the U.S. evolved from a predominantly agrarian to an industrial society in the twentieth century, and the more service economy of the 21st century, modern state fairs have expanded to include carnival amusement rides and games, display of industrial products, automobile racing, and entertainment such as musical concerts. Large fairs can admit more than a million visitors over the course of a week or two. The first U.S. state fair was that of New York, held in 1841 in Syracuse, and has been held annually since.^[1] The second state fair was in Detroit, Michigan, which ran from 1849^[2] to 2009.^[3][4]

Events similar to state fairs are also held annually in each state capital in Australia, known as royal shows. Australian royal shows are organized by state agricultural and horticultural societies, and are described further in the agricultural show article.

A few annual exhibitions in the summer in Canada are similar to state fairs in the United States:

State and county fairs are famous for a variety of competitions that award ribbons. Awards are generally given according to the following scale:^{[citation needed][4]}

• First place – blue ribbon
• Second place – red ribbon
• Third place – white ribbon
• Fourth place – yellow ribbon
• Fifth place – green ribbon
• Sixth place – orange ribbon
• Seventh place – purple ribbon
• Eighth place – brown ribbon

As of 2019, the largest attendance at a state fair in the US is in Texas with the fair having attracted 2,514,637 visitors.^[87][88][89] Though it is longer than an average state fair, ergo, it has an advantage.

The largest average per day attendance is at the Minnesota State Fair averaging just under 200,000 people per day.^[90]

• Agricultural show
• Rodeo
• Trade fair
• World's fair