Cooking demos. Racing pigs. Carnival rides. Shopping. There’s only one place you can do it all: the Michigan State Fair. A true-to-form family-friendly event, the fair got its claim to fame in 1840 in Detroit by being one of the country’s first statewide fair events. With such a legacy, today’s fair strives to reflect its roots of supporting agriculture, small business and family entertainment while celebrating the new direction of the Michigan Agriculture Industry. The Equestrian Pavilion horse shows are back to feature famous riders and horses from across the state. The Shrine Circus, founded in Detroit, with a repertoire of a century full of performances, will deliver laughs, thrills and elephants. You can also count on live music, a farmers market, an arts exhibit, a beer garden, dog performances … you get the point. It’s going to be a good time. -Pure Michigan Blog