SouthwestFlorida Lee County Fair under way
They spent the entire week getting the rides set up, the stages built and the midway up and running. Now, it was time to put them to use.
The 93rd Southwest Florida Lee County Fair kicked off Thursday at the Lee Civic Center with its annual “sneak peak,” which was started three years ago to add an extra day to the fair while doing a dry run to make sure everything ran properly on what it typically the fair’s least busy day.
The fair opened at 4 p.m. with $15 admission and rides.
Organizers hope attendance will be more than 100,000 for the fair’s 11 days.
It was a little cool the first night, but forecasts predicted sunny and warm weather throughout the first week of the fair, providing a realistic chance for the event to break last year’s record of 109,000.
Among the new additions to the fair are an entertainment area, which will feature new attractions such as the Timberworks Lumberjack Show, a firefighter training show, the Dennis Lee Show, Ron Diamond, a hypnotist and magician, The Rogue Brothers and Elvis, featuring renowned impersonator Billy Lindsey.
Even better, attendees get easy access to some of that awesome fair food, including the elephant ears, French fries, cotton candy and those humongous turkey legs.
Thursday is expected to be just the tip of the iceberg. The first official day of the fair today will open with free admission from 4 to 6 p.m. and free rides from 5 to 6 p.m.
That will be followed by Moonlight Madness starting at 8 p.m., with $25 wristbands that allow access to all rides all night long.
Beginning Saturday will be the 4-H shows for every farm animal under the sun. Many of the livestock shows will be at the Tinsley Pavilion and the livestock show ring.
Monday is Harry Chapin Food Bank night, with free admission with three cans of food donations; Tuesday is 12 Buck Tuesday with ride wristbands $12 plus admission; Wednesday is Senior and Military Day, with $5 admission from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and $20 all-day ride wristbands (kiddie rides open at 11 a.m.; midway rides at 4 p.m.); and Thursday is Old Fashion Dollar Day, with rides costing a dollar with a minimum $10 ride credit and admission.
Moonlight Madness will happen again on Friday, March 3, with $25 Madness wristbands after 8 p.m.
There will be a Last Blast Special on the final day of the fair on Sunday, March 5.
Adult admission to the fair is $10 and $5 for children under 12. Mega Passes are $25 and can be used any day.
Gates open at 4 p.m. weekdays except for Wednesday, when it opens at 11 a.m, the same time as weekends.
The lee County Civic Center is at 11831 Bayshore Road, North Fort Myers.
For more information visit swflcfair.com.