The Miami-Dade County Fair is back.
"The next 48 hours we definitely will be ready," said Nancy Chevres, VP of marketing for the Miami-Dade fair. "Ready to party, all the way through."
Now in its 61st year, the fair's classic attractions are getting into full swing and spin. Operators ran final tests and safety checks on 100 rides Tuesday afternoon. They're ready to thrill an estimated crowd of 500,000 over two and a half weeks.
"It's fun, it's nothing but fun and this year we're actually going extreme with a lot of new things and all you see and feel is that energy of opening day," Chevres added.
One of this year's additions is a street art-inspired mural by Miami-based graffiti artist Erni Valez at the fair's entrance. He donated his talents to inspire and promote the arts.
The fair's also got a new attitude.
"We're starting with MMA, then the next day we're going to have wrestling and we're finalizing it with professional boxing, never seen in the fair before," Chevres said.
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But the old favorites are still here, like the fair's 50 games.
Choosing what to eat should be a piece of cake: 170 vendors are serving up everything deep-fried, battered and breaded.
"We're talking about elephant ears, we're talking about roasted corn, fried pickles, fried cheese, you name it, we have it," Chevres said.
The animals are excited too. And friends at the petting zoo get in on the fun.
The fair showcases the artistic talents of more than 45,000 students through competition and exhibitions. It has donated more than $8 million in scholarships and awards.
Fairgoers can take advantage of the $5 general admission fare on opening day on Thursday. It runs through April 1.
