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90 Years of the Pensacola Interstate Fair

Fall doesn’t really begin for me until the Ferris wheel lights up the Pensacola sky at the intersection of Mobile Hwy. and Pine Forest Rd. and the smell of funnel cakes and cotton candy permeates all of Bellview.

I’ve lived in Pensacola for 23 years, and in all that time, I haven’t missed a single Fair. What started as part of my job photographing the Fair for the Pensacola News Journal has grown into something much more personal. Now, as the PR and marketing specialist for the Fair, I get to help tell its story from the inside out. Which means it’s not just a part of my job anymore – it’s part of me.

This year, the Pensacola Interstate Fair turns 90. That’s nine decades of corndogs, concerts, cattle shows, and community coming together. Ninety years of sticky fingers, sparkly lights, screaming kids, and the familiar creak of the Ferris wheel as it pauses at the top. It’s a huge milestone, and for those of us who have been lucky enough to grow up with it, the Fair is more than just an event—it’s part of who we are. It’s a time capsule.

Every October, like clockwork, I start counting down the days to return of crisp evenings (it’s well-known the Fair brings in the cooler nights to Pensacola), the smell of sawdust, and that first glorious turkey leg – big enough to require its own seat at the table. I mean, where else is it perfectly acceptable to eat a footlong corndog followed by deep-fried Oreos and no one bats an eye?

But it’s not just about the food- it’s the animal exhibits, the arts and crafts vendors, the concerts that echo into the night, the merry-go-round’s constant carnival music, and yes—even the pungent smell of the livestock barns. The midway come alive in a way that’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there yourself: spinning rides swirling overhead, neon lights reflecting in wide eyes, kids begging their parents for “just one more ride,” friends running into each other on the midway, and the smell of sugar, grease, and hay in the air. It’s chaos, it’s wonderful, and it’s tradition.

Some of the oldest traditions live in the quieter corners, too, like the livestock arena. There's something grounding about it. The pace slows down, the energy shifts, and you get to see a different kind of magic—kids leading steers in costume for the Prettiest Cow Contest or the Youth & FFA Steer Show, brushing and prepping animals with more care than most people give their own hair. It’s full of heart.

Through programs like 4-H and FFA, kids in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties are learning life skills that will stick with them far beyond the show ring—responsibility, patience, perseverance and empathy. It’s no surprise that since 1985, the fair has awarded over $1.5 million in scholarships to support their futures. I’ve met parents and grandparents who once showed steers here, now cheering their kids on from the sidelines. Generations have literally grown up in these barns.

The Fair conjures up all kinds of memories—some sweet, like a sunset kiss at the top of the Ferris Wheel, and some... queasy, like that time you learned that corndogs, funnel cakes and the Zipper do not mix.

For many of us, it’s the backdrop to our Octobers: petting zoo giggles, neon-lit evenings, and at least one stomach-turning ride that becomes a family legend.

As the fair celebrates its 90th year, I can’t help but feel proud. Proud of this community for continuing to support this decades-long Pensacola tradition, proud of the team of people that works tirelessly behind the scenes to bring it to life every year, and proud to play even a small role in something that means so much to so many.

Here’s to another decade of laughter, lights, livestock, and lasting memories. It’s time to get faired up, y’all! I’ll see you there in October.

Katie King

Author

Katie King

Katie King, a dedicated beach enthusiast, relocated from Atlanta to Pensacola in late 2002. Over the next 13 years, she served as a photojournalist and editor at the Pensacola News Journal, capturing the essence of Pensacola through her lens. Katie's photography has been featured in prestigious publications such as The New York Times, USA Today, The Los Angeles Times, and The Washington Post, earning her a place in the Newseum’s Top Ten Front Pages exhibit. For the past decade, Katie has thrived as an account manager and public relations specialist at EW Bullock Associates. Beyond her professional roles, Katie dedicates her time as the vice president of Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue, where she can often be found chauffeuring these slobbery gentle giants around town. When not immersed in volunteer work, you'll likely spot Katie nurturing her garden in East Hill or soaking up the sun, sand and surf on the pristine shores of Pensacola Beach.

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