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Midway to 200

The Florida State Fair and the Gasparilla Pirate Fest begin a second century with a celebration of the past.

There's always an element of nostalgia to a state fair. Even as the country becomes more urban and more high-tech, state fairs still revel in their traditions and their agrarian roots.

That's especially true of this year's Florida State Fair, which opens today.

It's the 100th anniversary, and officials are marking the occasion by taking a look back at the fair's history.

"We started in 1904, and people ask what's the difference between the state fair of today and of the early 1900s," said Rick Vymlatil, the fair's executive director. "The answer is that it's primarily the same event. It's still the traditional fair that celebrates Florida's agriculture. But now we're starting to show the technological side of agriculture. That's the challenge, to keep these traditional kinds of exhibits from being static."

One of the highlights this year is a one-time-only exhibit in the Charles M. Davis Special Events Center that chronicles the fair's first 100 years. Fair staff members compiled artifacts and worked on the exhibit's design for most of the past year.

They were lucky, Vymlatil said, to have a huge stock of photographs to choose from, many dating back to the early days of the fair. The Burgert Brothers, who specialized in taking pictures of Tampa starting before the turn of the 20th century, took a special interest in the fair and left thousand of photos for historians.

The photographs and other memorabilia will be accompanied by a vehicle from each decade of the fair's existence. There's an REO Speedwagon from the first decade, a Sherman tank from the 1940s and a computerized tractor from today.

"We're trying to show not just the fair's history, but the way America has changed," Vyltamil said.

Despite the changes, all the attractions that have brought families to the fair - the midway rides, the corn dogs, Cracker Country, the live entertainers - will still be there.

And, of course, the agricultural exhibits, which Vymlatil said are popular with rural and urban families alike.

One exhibit that promises to be popular this year, Vymlatil said, is a mechanical cow that kids can "milk." Kids get to drink the milk, and they're shown how to make butter.

"We try to be entertaining, but we try to be educational," Vymlatil said. "Most kids think their food comes from Publix."

PREVIEW: The Florida State Fair runs today through Feb. 16 at the Florida State Fairgrounds, on U.S. 301 at Interstate 4 in Tampa. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children age 6 to 11 and free for children 5 and younger. "Senior Days," with $6 admission for those 55 and older, are Tuesday, Wednesday and Feb. 12. Midway rides and some events cost extra. Armband days, with $20 armbands good for unlimited rides, are Friday, Sunday, Feb. 13 and Feb. 15 and 16. Other ride and admission offers may be available. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-345-3247 or 813 621-7821 cq or www.floridastatefair.com

-- Sports Illustrated's 50th Anniversary Tour, with a theater, exhibits and hands-on activities, today through Feb. 14. Visits by members of the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday.

-- Horse shows daily in the Bob Thomas Equestrian Center.

-- Cracker Country, with music, artisans, food and demonstrations of pioneer life, open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

-- Antique tractor rodeo, 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

-- Royal Hanneford Circus performs several times daily under the big top in the center of the fairgrounds.

-- Laser show and fireworks nightly at 9.