Pig races are on pause, but other Kansas State Fair favorites will return starting Friday
When the Kansas State Fair opens on Friday in Hutchinson, visitors will find nearly everything they look forward to each year: Pronto Pups, the butter sculpture, the Ye Old Mill ride and a bunch of crazy deep-fried fair food.
What they won’t find this year: pig races. After 35 years, the comical, pun-filled event, which had been put on by Hedrick’s Promotions from Nickerson since 1987, is taking a break this year. Instead of watching the little porkers try to beat each other to Oreo cookies and “Pig Newtons” at the finish line, fairgoers will find a new comedy attraction called the Kenny Ahern Family Variety Theatre at the spot where the pig races have always been, just west of the giant Ferris Wheel on 23rd Avenue.
“Every year, we try finding new opportunities for people,” said third-year fair general manager Bryan Schulz. “After a while, it’s time to change it up a little bit, and there’s nothing wrong with that.”
All the fair’s decisions, Schulz said, are made with one goal in mind: Keeping people coming to the fair, a 110-year tradition that draws Kansans to Hutchinson from all corners of the state for food, carnival rides and music but also for competitions, commerce and educational opportunities.
Attendance was good last year, Schulz said: just shy of 316,000 people came through the gates in 2022. And vendors also reported increased revenue.
“Overall, in just about every department, we were up, from our gate admission to food and beverage sales,” he said. “So we’re very happy with that.”
Last year’s success can be attributed to a number of factors, Schulz said, including mostly cooperative weather, people ready to experience the fair again without any major COVID restrictions, and the increase in money-saving opportunities that the fair provided. The fact that school children were able to return to the fair in groups for the first time since before COVID also helped.
Now, the fair is hoping to keep that momentum going, Schulz said. The weather forecast looks promising — with highs in just the 70s and 80s for most of the fair’s run and only slight chances of rain — and he’s hoping for even bigger 2023 crowds.
“In the past, the fair has drawn in anywhere from 325,000 to 350,000 people over 10 days,” he said. “Next week is going to be awesome for getting people out there.”
What’s new in 2023?
Though part of the fair’s charm is that it remains mostly unchanged from year to year, those who attend in 2023 will find some new attractions and will be able to enjoy some fairground improvements. Here’s what fairgoers will want to look for this year:
Crazy fair food: As always, the Kansas State Fair will offer unusual food options that will have people buzzing and likely belching. Some of the highlights this year will include frozen cocoa from Deetz Concessions; a jalapeno popper pizza at Leimons’ Pizzeria; and Flaming Hot Cheetos-crusted corn from Bravada, Inc. A guide to fair food can be found at www.kansasstatefair.com/businesses/food-beverage
IFLIP: The fair’s Gottschalk Park each year features some type of traveling performance group, and this year, it’s IFLIP, a group of aerial acrobatics that perform with a wall of trampolines, do high-flying bungee stunts and free fall into a stunt bag from 50 feet in the air. Shows will happen multiple times a day throughout the fair.
Special acts: Among the entertainers strolling the fairgrounds and interacting with visitors this year will be the Xpogo Stunt Team doing crazy pogo stick stunts from Monday through Sept. 17 by the Lair White House. Fairgoers are also likely to encounter Danny Grant and the Cowboy Circus, which will roam the fairgrounds teaching kids how to rope cattle. And a Prehistoric Dinosaur Adventures Mobile Museum will be open each day from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. except Saturdays, when it will close at 8 p.m.
All-fair announcements: Schulz said the fair was able to use some of the money it received from the Kansas Legislature last year to install a public address system on the fairgrounds, which will allow it to make announcements throughout the day that all fairgoers can hear. In addition to broadcasting 10 pre-recorded announcements in both English and Spanish throughout each day, the fair will be able to use the system to warn fairgoers in case of a weather emergency or an active shooter situation.
Other improvements to grounds, safety: Last year, for the first time, the fair put AED devices — automated external defibrillators — at strategic spots throughout the fairgrounds, and in one case, one of the machines helped save the life of a fairgoer who’d collapsed. This year, the fair has added more machines, increasing the number from 11 to 18. It’s also added more water bottle refilling stations across the fairgrounds that will help people stay hydrated. The fair was able to upgrade the asphalt throughout most of the fairgrounds, which will make for smoother walking, and it has resurfaced the interactive water playground near the House of Capper, which should cut down on kids slipping while they play.
Changes to Dillons Dollar Day Midway Pricing: Though pricing for most fair attractions is the same this year, Midway operators did make one notable change to ride prices on Dillons Dollar Day on Monday, Sept. 11, when everyone gets into the fair for $1 but people who have Dillons Plus Cards can get in free. In the past, people also were able to ride the carnival rides for just one ride ticket apiece. But because of confusion with people bringing in tickets meant to be used on other days, the Midway operators have decided to sell $25 wristbands that will be good for unlimited rides from noon to 10 p.m. on Dillons Dollar Day. Wristbands are available for purchase on the Kansas State Fair website.
What about those pig races? The pig races are off for this year, and in the spot where they usually operate, people will find the new Kenny Ahern Family Variety Theatre set up on its own temporary stage. The free show is said to feature ”amazing comedy antics, hilarious physical comedy and fun audience play.” Both Schulz and Hallie Godfrey —the daughter of pig race founder Joe Hedrick — say the pig races will likely return next year but will move to a spot nearer to the petting zoo, which the Hedricks also run. Though the family was surprised to hear that the fair had no room for the pig races this year, Godfrey said, they’re optimistic that they’ll return. “Unfortunately, there are logistics and there is a business side to it,” she said. “We want the fair to be successful as well. We want to be part of the success of the fair.”
Returning favorites: Fair-goers should check the schedule on the Kansas State Fair website to find times and locations for favorite annual attractions, including the butter sculpture, Dr. Goddard’s Lab, comic hypnotist Ron Diamond, the petting zoo, the chainsaw artist, cooking contests, the big slide, the State Fair railroad, Ye Old Mill, the Sky Ride, boat rides, the giant pumpkins, the birthing center and more.
KANSAS STATE FAIR
When: Friday-Sept. 17
Where: Kansas State Fairgrounds, 2000 N. Poplar Hutchinson
Admission: Gate admission is $10 for adults, $6 for children ages 6-12 and for seniors 60 and over, $4 for military members with ID. People also get season passes that include 10 gate admissions for $50. Tickets are available at the gate, at Dillons stores and at www.kansasstatefair.com
Midway tickets: Midway ride sheets have 20 tickets per sheet, and most rides take two to four tickets a person. A sheet costs $28. There will be six “wristband” days during the fair: on Sept. 8, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17. Wristbands are $35 and good for all rides all day. New this year: $25 wristbands will be needed to ride the rides on Monday, Sept. 11, during Dillons Dollar Day.
Discount days: Dillons Dollar Day is on Monday, Sept. 11, and people who have Dillons Plus cards can get in for free. (One ticket per Dillons card.) Gate admission after 9 p.m. is $5 each day. Admission after 4 p.m. is $4 on Tuesday, Sept. 12, and Thursday, Sept. 14. Tickets for ages 55 and older are $2 on Friday as part of Young at Heart Day. And on Friday, Sept. 15, members of the PlayOn app can get in for $2 as part of Chiefs Red Friday.
Gate hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday; 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday through Sept. 16; 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sept. 17
For more information and a daily schedule: Visit www.kansasstatefair.com
