A Mystical Land at the Fair

Come on. Cow milking. Camel rides. Do you know how this story ends yet? A county fair is a surreal event: This is where you see the cutest pig alive, where a chicken's hair gets blow-dried, where everything is fried or smothered in something sweet, where a teenager and young...

By Mickie Centrone

November 17, 2011

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Come on. Cow milking. Camel rides. Do you know how this story ends yet? A county fair is a surreal event: This is where you see the cutest pig alive, where a chicken's hair gets blow-dried, where everything is fried or smothered in something sweet, where a teenager and young lady gets appointed Miss Broward County and things are still sweet, and where guinea pigs will compete in a costume contest. This is a land that hosts the Great American Frontier Show and a Wolf Show. This happens at the Broward County Fair at the Pembroke Pines City Center (10300 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines), where -- holy hell: It's just 40 bucks for opening night (Thursday) for the whole carload. That's unlimited rides and admission for every single person in the car -- once you pay $40. Yes, if you arrive in a limo (or more practically a bus), it's still $40 for everyone. But if you walk to the fair, it's $15 -- and that's just for yourself. There will be dozens of rides. Up until the 27th, you can enjoy a bunch of crazy fair shit like watching that chicken get her hair done inside the agriculture tent for the Poultry Showmanship, Fitting & Grooming Competition; a beef-cattle show, a market lamb show, and a "Market Steer Futurity Show" -- none of which leads to an end that would make a kid squeal in horror; the Belmont Magic Show; and the sports bar tent.

Hours change. On Thursday, it's 5 to 11 p.m. For Friday, it's 4 p.m. to midnight. Saturday kicks off at noon and ends at midnight. Sunday is noon to 11 p.m. For more times and info, check out browardfair.org, or call 954-922-2224. General admission -- which doesn't include rides -- is $10 for everyone 12 and up, $5 for 11-year-olds down to age 3, free if you're younger than that.
Nov. 17-27, 2011

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