Michigan State Fair

Last updated

The Michigan State Fair is an annual event originally held from 1849 to 2009 in Detroit, the state's largest city. In 2009 the governor declined to fund it because of other priorities.

Contents

Because agriculture still has a major place in the Michigan economy, in 2011 supporters organized the Great Lakes Agricultural Fair, a 501 C (3) organization, in order to continue the event. Since 2013 it has been organized by the private Michigan State Fair LLC and held in the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Metro Detroit suburb of Novi.

History

Card promoting the 1914 Michigan State Fair Michigan State Fair Grounds, Detroit -- card promoting the 1914 fair. (9713470110).jpg
Card promoting the 1914 Michigan State Fair

The first official Michigan State Fair was held in 1849 in Detroit, Michigan. The first state fair had been held on October 1, 1839 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. It was moved to Detroit in 1849. [1] Subsequent Michigan state fairs were held in other cities until 1905, when it received what was its permanent home for decades at the Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit.

In 1904, Joseph L. Hudson, together with three of his associates, organized to acquire a site for the fair. They formed the State Fair Land Company, which acquired 135 acres (0.55 km2) between 7½ and 8 Mile roads, east of Woodward Avenue. Having no interest in running the fair, Hudson sold the land to the Michigan State Agricultural Society for one dollar on April 18, 1905. The Agricultural Society accepted the land and purchased an additional 32 acres (130,000 m2), extending the fairgrounds to 167 acres (0.68 km2). Throughout the following years, additional land was purchased and sold. The present size of the fairgrounds in Detroit is 164 acres (0.66 km2).

Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum, also known as the Hockeytown State Fair Coliseum, was a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena located on the fairgrounds. In 1899 a one-mile track was constructed at the fairgrounds and originally used for Thoroughbred flat racing and Standardbred harness racing. In the mid-20th century, two NASCAR races were held on this track. Tommy Thompson won the 1951 event and Tim Flock won in 1952. [2]

On October 30, 2009, Governor Jennifer Granholm vetoed legislation to provide funding to the Michigan State Fair. [3] [4]

Attendance had peaked at 1.2 million in 1966. In 2009 fair attendance had declined to 217,000 visitors. [5] The state fair was not held in the following two years. [6]

On April 9, 2012, Governor Rick Snyder signed Senate Bill 515 and House Bill 4803, which would authorize the transfer of the fairgrounds land to the Land Bank Fast Track Authority, which would oversee the land for future development, including plans for a station for the proposed commuter rail service. [7] [8]

As the agricultural industry is Michigan's second leading economic industry, many people were disturbed by the failure of the state to support a state fair. They organized Great Lakes Agricultural Fair, a 501 C (3) organization, in 2011 to ensure such events continued.

The Great Lakes State Fair took place August 31 through September 3, 2012, at the Suburban Collection Showplace in the Detroit suburb of Novi. [9] [10]

In 2013, Fifth Third Bank became the name sponsor, so the event was called the Fifth Third Bank Michigan State Fair, again held in Novi at the Suburban Collection Showplace. Organizing the fair was taken over by Michigan State Fair LLC. [11]

Seven years later, a virtual fair was held as live shows & other events were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Incidents

On August 31, 2024, a teen was killed, and a second was injured, when shot in a parking lot outside the fair. Police say the attack is related to an argument that had been occurring during the week. [12]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Novi, Michigan</span> City in Michigan, United States

Novi is a city in Oakland County in the U.S. state of Michigan. A northwestern suburb of Detroit, Novi is located roughly 25 miles (40.2 km) northwest of downtown Detroit. As of the 2020 census, the city had a population of 66,243, an increase of 20% from the 2010 census.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jennifer Granholm</span> American politician (born 1959)

Jennifer Mulhern Granholm is a Canadian-born American politician. Since 2021, she has served as the 16th United States Secretary of Energy. A member of the Democratic Party, she previously served as the Attorney General of Michigan from 1999 to 2003 and as the 47th Governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011, as the first woman to hold each office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Cox (American politician)</span> American politician and lawyer

Michael Anthony Cox is an American attorney and politician who served as Michigan's 52nd Attorney General from 2003 to 2011. He was the first Republican to hold that office since Frank Millard in 1955. Cox took office in 2003 and won re-election in 2006. Jennifer Granholm, who went on to become the Governor of Michigan, preceded him in office.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Indiana State Fair</span> Annual fair held in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.

The Indiana State Fair is an annual state fair that spans 18 days in July and August in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. The Indiana State Fair debuted in 1852 at Military Park in Indianapolis and is the sixth oldest state fair in the U.S. It is the largest event in the state, drawing between 730,000 and 980,000 visitors annually since 2010. In 2015, readers of USA Today ranked the Indiana State Fair among the ten best state fairs in the country.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New York State Fair</span> 13-day showcase of agriculture and technology

The New York State Fair, also known as the Great New York State Fair, is a 13-day showcase of agriculture, entertainment, education, and technology. With midway rides, concessionaires, exhibits, and concerts, it has become New York's largest annual event and an end-of-summer tradition for hundreds of thousands of families from all corners of the state. The first fair took place in Syracuse in 1841, and took permanent residence there in 1890. It is the oldest and one of the largest state fairs in the United States, with over one million visitors annually.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2006 Michigan gubernatorial election</span>

The 2006 Michigan gubernatorial election was one of the 36 U.S. gubernatorial elections held November 7, 2006. Incumbent Democratic Governor of Michigan Jennifer Granholm was re-elected with 56% of the vote over Republican businessman Dick DeVos and three minor party candidates.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum</span>

Michigan State Fairgrounds Coliseum was a 5,600-seat multi-purpose arena in Detroit, Michigan. The coliseum, built in 1922, was part of the former Michigan State Fairgrounds until its demolition in early 2022. The Michigan State Fair, the oldest state fair in the United States, was held here until 2009. The coliseum has also been the long-time venue of Detroit performances by the Shrine Circus.

The OC Fair & Event Center (OCFEC) is a 150-acre (0.61 km2) event venue in Costa Mesa, California. The site hosts over 150 events attracting 4.3 million visitors annually, and is home to the Orange County Fair, Centennial Farm, Costa Mesa Speedway, and Pacific Amphitheatre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illinois State Fair</span> Annual agricultural festival in Springfield, Illinois, US

The Illinois State Fair is an annual festival, centering on the theme of agriculture, hosted by the U.S. state of Illinois in the state capital, Springfield. The state fair has been celebrated almost every year since 1853. Currently, the fair is held annually at the Illinois State Fairgrounds over an 11-day period in mid-August of each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maryland State Fair</span> Annual state for Maryland, United States

"The Maryland State Fair is an annual event held in the state of Maryland. It is hosted at the Maryland State Fairgrounds, located near York and Timonium roads in Timonium. As of 2006, the fair has been traditionally scheduled for a duration of 11 days. It typically begins in late August and concludes around Labor Day."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Oregon State Fair</span> United States historic place

The Oregon State Fair is the official state fair of the U.S. state of Oregon. It takes place every August–September at the 185-acre (0.75 km2) Oregon State Fairgrounds located in north Salem, the state capital, as it has almost every year since 1862. In 2006, responsibility for running the fair was delegated to the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department, and the division is now known as the Oregon State Fair & Exposition Center (OSFEC), which holds events on the fairgrounds year-round.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2010 Michigan gubernatorial election</span>

The 2010 Michigan gubernatorial election was held on November 2, 2010. Incumbent Democratic Governor Jennifer Granholm and Lieutenant Governor John D. Cherry were prohibited by the state's Constitution from seeking a third term. This resulted in a large pool of candidates which was whittled down, when the May 11 filing deadline passed, to two Democrats and five Republicans. Both the Cook Political Report and the non-partisan Rothenberg Political Report rated the election as leaning Republican.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building</span> United States historic place

The Michigan State Fair Riding Coliseum, Dairy Cattle Building, and Agricultural Building are three buildings located on the grounds of the Michigan State Fair in Detroit, Michigan. They were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pure Michigan</span> Tourism marketing campaign for the U.S. state of Michigan

Pure Michigan is as an advertising campaign by the State of Michigan to market itself as a travel and tourism destination. It was launched in 2008 featuring the voice of actor and comedian Tim Allen, using the title song from The Cider House Rules as the background music in television commercials.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs</span>

The Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA), originally the Department of Commerce among other names, is a principal department in the Michigan executive branch that oversees employment, professional licensing, construction, and commerce.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Suburban Collection Showplace</span>

The Suburban Collection Showplace is a convention center in Novi, Michigan. Located off Interstate 96, about 20 miles (32 km) northwest of Detroit, it is the second-largest convention center in Metro Detroit. It is best known as the current location of the Michigan State Fair.

The Motor City Comic Con is a fan convention held in Novi, Michigan, United States, at the Suburban Collection Showplace. It is traditionally a three-day event, usually held in May of each year. The Motor City Comic Con was founded in 1989 by comics retailer Michael Goldman.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 United States Senate election in Michigan</span>

The 2014 United States Senate election in Michigan was held on November 4, 2014, to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent the State of Michigan, concurrently with the election of the governor of Michigan, as well as other elections to the United States Senate in other states and elections to the United States House of Representatives and various state and local elections.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John C. Hertel</span> American politician

John Charles Hertel is a former chairman of the Huron–Clinton Metroparks, chairman of the Detroit Metro Convention & Visitors Bureau, and general manager of Suburban Mobility Authority for Regional Transportation. He served three terms as state senator for the 2nd District in Michigan from 1974 to 1982, was appointed by Governor John Engler to run the Michigan State Fair from 1993 to 2006, and is the only person in Michigan history to serve as chairman of the county boards of commissioners in two different counties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Hargrove Transit Center</span> Major public transit station in Detroit, Michigan

The Jason Hargrove Transit Center (JHTC) is a major public transit station in Detroit, Michigan, United States. It is the third iteration of the State Fair Transit Center, located at the old Michigan State Fairgrounds, near the Gateway Marketplace and intersection of 8 Mile Road and Woodward Avenue. It serves as the secondary hub for the Detroit Department of Transportation bus network, as well as a major transfer point for the suburban SMART network, served by 13 bus routes in total.

References

  1. "The Michigan State Fair - Michigan History - the Detroit News". Archived from the original on 2019-08-21. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
  2. "Michigan State Fairgrounds NASCAR results". Racing-reference. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
  3. Bell, Dawson (October 30, 2009). "Granholm cuts State Fair from budget". Detroit Free Press . Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved November 2, 2013.
  4. Bell, Dawson (October 30, 2009). "It's official: State Fair a goner". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on November 3, 2013. Retrieved August 8, 2015.
  5. The Future of the Michigan State Fair Archived 2009-09-13 at the Wayback Machine
  6. "Michiganians struggle with loss of state fair". WXYZ News. Retrieved 2013-11-02.[ dead link ]
  7. Oosting, Jonathan (April 9, 2012). "Snyder: Former state fairgrounds in Detroit would be 'natural location' for commuter rail station". Mlive.com . Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  8. Oosting, Jonathan (April 9, 2012). "Snyder to sign bills fast tracking sale of Michigan State Fairgrounds in Detroit". Mlive.com. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  9. "Great Lakes State Fair announcement today". WXYZ News. May 30, 2012. Archived from the original on July 8, 2012. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  10. "Great Lakes State Fair Replacing 'Michigan State Fair' in 2012". Metroparent.com. 2012-06-01. Archived from the original on November 4, 2013. Retrieved 2013-11-02.
  11. "State Fair: 20 more acres of fun for 2014". Birmingham Observer and Eccentric. August 24, 2014. Retrieved 2015-08-08.
  12. "Michigan State Fair shooting: 14-year-old killed, another teen hurt". Fox 2 Detroit. September 1, 2024. Retrieved 2024-09-01.

Further reading