ENTERTAINMENT

Delaware State Fair starts Thursday with new sights, sounds

Ryan Cormier
The News Journal
Delaware State Fair's new VIP loft will allow 100 fans to watch shows at the Grandstand like never before.
  • State Fair admission: $9 (13 and older), $4 (6-12 years), free (5 and younger)
  • Fair Hours: Opens at noon Thursday; Opens at 8 a.m. Friday-July 30
  • Midway Hours: Opens at 5 p.m. Thursday; Opens at 1 p.m. Friday-July 30

When you get to the age of 97, sometimes change does not come easy.

But if you're the Delaware State Fair, it's the perfect age to shake things up a bit.

The 97th annual Delaware State Fair, still riding high after being named the third best state fair in the nation by SmartAsset.com last month, is rolling out a number of enhancements that will catch the attention of fairgoers.

Everything from a new VIP loft and VIP daily parking to a first-time kick-off concert are lined up for this year's fair in Harrington, which officially starts July 21. (We say "officially" because the kick-off concert is July 20. More on that later.)

In recent years, the state fair has been busy injecting modern day improvements, adding a standing-room pit in front of the 7,600-person Grandstand stage, online ticket sales, a smartphone app and The Roost, a beer and wine garden.

Some of the changes have come after fair organizers recognized the younger generation of fairgoers expect different things from the experience, like turning to their smartphone apps for information instead of more traditional outlets like newspapers and radio.

Even though the fair has been tweaked in the off-season, Danny Aguilar, the fair's assistant general manager, says great care was taken to keep the fair's tradition in mind. After all, some fairgoers have been going for decades and have their routine down pat.

"Folks expect to come in and find their favorite funnel cake stand where it's always been," he says. "Those expectations will always be true and it's important for us to be mindful and respectful of that tradition."

Before you get your hands on cotton candy or jump on a carnival ride during the 10-day fest, here are some of the biggest changes you'll find at the fairgrounds this year.

New York alternative rock band X Ambassadors, a Firefly Music Festival alum, will perform at the Delaware State Fair July 27.

The Loft: The new, two-tiered VIP viewing stand will be open for five of the fair's Grandstand shows this year: Jake Owen, Little Big Town, Alabama, X Ambassadors and George Thorogood & The Destroyers. About 100 people can watch from The Loft, paying between $125-$150 for access, which also includes a premium seat or pit pass, private bathrooms, a cash bar and a VIP parking pass with the purchase of two VIP packages. About 60 people fit in the lower deck with 40 up top. The offering is already 95 percent sold out, Aguilar says. The Loft will be located to the right of the stage, giving the very important people premium sightlines while not blocking the view for the rest of the crowd. Not only is The Loft drawing regular fans, but companies like Toyota and Bridgeville's All-Span, Inc., are using the tickets to thank customers, partners and employees, according to Aguilar.

The Delaware State Fair's entertainment tent has been moved north this year, away from the carnival entrance.

VIP parking: While 10-day VIP parking was offered last year – it costs $100 – 2016 brings the addition of a daily VIP parking. The daily VIP parking pass costs $21 – more than double the cost of the $9 general admission price. But Aguilar says the demand is there, especially after the fair increased their camping area by 90 spaces, pushing some of the parking further south. "Folks are realizing those premium spaces are becoming harder and harder to attain, so they are paying for the opportunity to park close to the main entrance," Aguilar says. An added bonus: when it's time to leave, VIP parkers can just hang a right and they will be at U.S. 13 for easy exiting. Considering between 32,000 to 48,000 people attend the fair each day, officials are banking that some fairgoers will find that the fee is worth escaping the hassle.

Jake Owen performs at the Big Barrel Country Music Festival in Dover last year.

Kick-off concert: The sudden demise of both of Delaware's major country music festivals – Big Barrel and Delaware Junction – meant some extra work for Aguilar and other fair organizers. When the fests pulled the plug, the state fair only had one country act, Alabama, on their line-up. Little Big Town was soon added and organizers wanted one more big country name. Country star Jake Owen had an availability, but it was on the night before the fair opened. The fair decided to book him anyway, opening the fair gates one night early for Owen's July 20 concert. While some food vendors will be up and running, the fair's carnival rides, livestock animals and circus performers will be dark and there will be no gate admission to enter. The man behind No. 1 country hits like "Beachin'" and "Barefoot Blue Jean Night" played Big Barrel Country Music Festival in Dover last summer, but this will be his state fair debut. About 5,000 fans are expected for the rare, one-off kick-off show.

Contestants compete in the the annual chicken pickin' contest at the Delaware State Fair, which starts July 21.

Entertainment stage on the move:  The fair's free entertainment tent won't be found near the carnival entrance and food court anymore. You're going to have to walk a little more to see your favorite acts since the tent has been moved to the far north edge of the fairgrounds near the machinery and agriculture areas. "Our goal is to stay true to our mission and promote the education of agriculture and horticulture, so we thought it would be neat to move it to an area more agriculturally-minded. Our goal is to increase foot traffic over there," Aguilar says. So tie those sneakers up tight if you want to see magicians, hypnotists, bands and home brew competitions alongside chicken pickin' and pig-kissing contests.

Jumbotron: A 16-by-10 video screen has been added to the heart of the fair by the food court. The new addition will be used to promote happenings at the fair and will offer greetings from Gov. Jack Markell and others. Commercials from local businesses will be interspersed.

Contact Ryan Cormier of The News Journal at rcormier@delawareonline.com or (302) 324-2863. Follow him on Facebook (@ryancormier), Twitter (@ryancormier) and Instagram (@ryancormier).

IF YOU GO

WHAT: The 97th annual Delaware State Fair

WHEN: July 21-30

WHERE: The fairgrounds at 18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington

DELAWARE STATE FAIR CONCERT SCHEDULE

July 20, Jake Owen with Granger Smith, 7:30 p.m. $31-$71

July 21, Monster Truck Meltdown, 7:30 p.m ($18-20) and Quillen Arena Rodeo, 7 p.m. Free-$16

July 22, Demolition derby, 7 p.m. $16-$18

July 23, Jeff Dunham, 8 p.m. $44-$59

July 24, Little Big Town with Kristian Bush, 7:30 p.m. $39-$79

July 25, Alabama, 7:30 p.m. $45-$84

July 26, For King and Country with Sidewalk Prophets and Jordan Feliz, 7:30 p.m. $20-$45

July 27, X Ambassadors, Rachel Platten and A Great Big World, 7 p.m. $39-$79

July 28, Harness racing, 7:30 p.m. Free

July 29, George Thorogood and the Destroyers with Fabulous Thunderbirds, 7:30 p.m. $34-$74

July 30, Blues Traveler and Lower Case Blues, Craft Beer Festival, 6 p.m. $25-$35

DELAWARE STATE FAIR TICKETS

Go to delawarestatefair.com or call (800) 514-3849