Get Yourself to a State Fair

Is your state fair a great state fair?

During summer, the state, regional and county fair season is at its height. In all, there are more than 3,200 such events throughout North America during the year, according to the Springfield, Mo.-based International Association of Fairs and Expositions. They range from modest agricultural-themed events, such as the Florida Strawberry Festival in Plant City, Fla., to mega-sized ones that resemble temporary theme parks, such as the 23-day State Fair of Texas in Dallas.

With that in mind, here are some fairs of note on this summer's calendar, with some insights on what makes them special.

Iowa State Fair, Aug. 7-17, Des Moines, Iowa: ...