Southwest Florida Fair

The Southwest Florida Fair is held the last week of February for ten days and is similar to many county fairs held in the winter in Florida and in the summer across other parts of the country.

That familiar smell of smoking ribs, sizzling sausages, corn dogs, and cotton candy mixed with the smell of farm animals and mechanical rides slinks into the parking lot and surrounds you before you even reach the gate.

But, the fair is much more than food, rides and games. The agricultural and horticultural exhibits and the participation of school age children through their school displays, equestrian and small animal competitions and steer and hog auctions define the core educational purpose of the fair.

From the raising of farm animals for auction or competition to the planning and construction of a school exhibit, the fair offers a learning opportunity to the area youth. For some children, a visit to the fair is their only exposure to the agricultural side of the local community.