Florida State Fairgrounds

In 1975, Florida State Legislature created the Florida State Fair Authority and designated the Tampa event as the official Florida State Fair. In 1976, the Florida State Fair moved into “The Big Sombrero,” also known as the Tampa Stadium and home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers while its final location was built.

In February of 1977, the first Fair was held at the location it’s still held today, near Interstate 4 and U.S Highway 301 in eastern Hillsborough County. The 330-acre site sits just seven miles from its original downtown Tampa location. Once moving to the East Tampa location, new buildings, barns and even the Mildred W. and Doyle E. Carlton, Jr Cracker Country living history museum were established. The Fair grew – and continues to grow – each year.