Indoor Things to Do at the Arkansas State Fair
By: Suzanne Burnette, KARK 4 News Web Editor
Updated: October 19, 2011
When the weather turns wet and dreary, it's no reason to ditch the Arkansas State Fair.
That's because there's plenty of things to see and do indoors all across the state fairgrounds.
There are two possible stops that are fun for the kids.
The Children's Barnyard and Ag in Action Educational Center for Children are side by side and you can walk from one to the other.
Inside the barnyard, you'll see everything from ducklings and a baby llama to miniature cows and even a Silkie/Silky chicken known for its fluffy plumage.
The Ag in Action Educational Center for Children has a menagerie of animals from the simple farm variety to the exotic. There are llamas, dorper sheep, miniature horses and miniature donkeys, to name a few.
For the adults looking to get out of the rain or chill at the State Fair, you might try the Hall of Industry, the Arts & Crafts Building and the State Fair Museum right next door.
The museum is housed inside a red manufactured building.
It's a small exhibit but one that is filled with the history of the Arkansas State Fair, which dates back to 1906.
You'll learn that the first 17 State Fairs were held at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. In 1918, the event moved to Jonesboro for a couple of years, before making its first move to Little Rock in 1921. Back then, the fair was held at what would become War Memorial Park. The Depression Era phased out the fair until it returned in North Little Rock in 1938. It made its final move back to Little Rock in 1945, and has been there ever since.
Along the museum's walls you'll see photos and newspaper articles illustrating its early years, as well as some of the first few ribbons to be won at the event.
There also a small section highlighting the rodeo part of the state fair and another area has old posters that touted special guests from Hollywood that appeared at the fair. Fess Parker of TV's "Daniel Boone" fame is there, along with the actors who played Festus and Doc on "Gunsmoke." Movie stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans also came to town for the fair one year.
That's because there's plenty of things to see and do indoors all across the state fairgrounds.
There are two possible stops that are fun for the kids.
The Children's Barnyard and Ag in Action Educational Center for Children are side by side and you can walk from one to the other.
Inside the barnyard, you'll see everything from ducklings and a baby llama to miniature cows and even a Silkie/Silky chicken known for its fluffy plumage.
The Ag in Action Educational Center for Children has a menagerie of animals from the simple farm variety to the exotic. There are llamas, dorper sheep, miniature horses and miniature donkeys, to name a few.
For the adults looking to get out of the rain or chill at the State Fair, you might try the Hall of Industry, the Arts & Crafts Building and the State Fair Museum right next door.
The museum is housed inside a red manufactured building.
It's a small exhibit but one that is filled with the history of the Arkansas State Fair, which dates back to 1906.
You'll learn that the first 17 State Fairs were held at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs. In 1918, the event moved to Jonesboro for a couple of years, before making its first move to Little Rock in 1921. Back then, the fair was held at what would become War Memorial Park. The Depression Era phased out the fair until it returned in North Little Rock in 1938. It made its final move back to Little Rock in 1945, and has been there ever since.
Along the museum's walls you'll see photos and newspaper articles illustrating its early years, as well as some of the first few ribbons to be won at the event.
There also a small section highlighting the rodeo part of the state fair and another area has old posters that touted special guests from Hollywood that appeared at the fair. Fess Parker of TV's "Daniel Boone" fame is there, along with the actors who played Festus and Doc on "Gunsmoke." Movie stars Roy Rogers and Dale Evans also came to town for the fair one year.
