Hillsborough County Fair 2025 - Suzanne Holcomb

The Hillsborough County Fair opens Thursday evening (October 30th). We speak with fair manager Suzanne Holcomb about what's new and returning this year. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Gordon Bird here with Beyond the News. The Hillsborough County
Fair back for another year. It opens Thursday, the thirtieth
of October, running through Sunday, November the ninth. Suzanne Holcombe
is manager of the Hillsboro County Fair and joins us
now on Beyond the News. Suzanne Holcombe, welcome in.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
Thank you so much for having me.

Speaker 1 (00:19):
All right, first question, of course, Hillsborough County when you
think of fairs, Hillsborough County is home to two of
the biggest fairs in Florida, the Florida State Fair every
February in Tapa and the Strawberry Festival in Plant City
a few weeks later. How does the Hillsboro County Fair
fit into that overall picture?

Speaker 2 (00:38):
Well, where actually the County Fair? And it is unique
that we do have three affairs and festivals in the county.
Obviously the Florida State there is the state there and
then each county has their own fare which helps feed
into that state there. In regards to livestock exhibitors and
youth events. True County Fair, it's nice that we're in

(01:02):
the fall. We do a lot of celebrate harvest and
a lot of the things that you see in the fall,
so we differ a little bit. They have a very
strong agricultural project with the livestock projects, and then also
we focus a lot.

Speaker 1 (01:17):
On community and that focus on livestock, and you have
a rodeo as well that's very much central to the
Hillsboro County Fair. If you could talk a little bit
about that, Yes, sir.

Speaker 2 (01:29):
We have a full lineup of what we call our
grandstand events in our bush Flight Arena. We have a
family Day at the Rodeo, which is a really fun
day to get the kids and the families involved and
kind of see the behind the scenes of the rodeo.
This year we also added a new event, Bulls, Barrels
and Boogie, which will be a bull riding, barrel racing

(01:52):
and followed by a live concert. And then we have
a full line of motor sports. We have a two
nights of a County Fair truck and tector poll which
is very unique. And then we conclude with that demolition derby.

Speaker 1 (02:05):
And the demolition Derby that you mentioned is Sunday afternoon,
the ninth, the last day of the fair, and it's
kind of become one of the signature events of the fair.

Speaker 2 (02:14):
It has it's a great event to come to. Like
you mentioned, it's the last day of the fair. We
normally have about twenty cars that go into that arena
and it's really laugh man standing as they smash each
other up, and it's really just a fun event to
watch and something that is very unique. Demolition derbies are

(02:36):
very popular in the Northern States, and I think we're
one of the only fairs here in Florida actually to
have a demolition derby.

Speaker 1 (02:43):
And talk with us a little bit more about the
kinds of musical events that you're going to be having
at the fair this year.

Speaker 2 (02:50):
Of course, Well, we first highlight our community stage, which
has a lot of local talent, a lot of local
dance groups, a lot of local bands that come and perform.
We also highlight the Dennis Lee Band, which is very popular.
And then in the arena itself is part of that Bulls,

(03:10):
Barrels and Boogie. That live concert's going to feature Jared
Turner and Chad Brock with the eighties nineties country feel.

Speaker 1 (03:20):
And before I let you go, I have to ask you,
of course, amongst all the livestock events and things going
on there at the fair, you have a goat yoga.
Now I've heard of it, I've seen it on TV,
but I still don't get it. If you can kind
of help with the explanation of that.

Speaker 2 (03:36):
Of course, it's our first year of having goat yoga.
So what people will come and do is they'll come
and have a yoga session. They'll put their mats down
on the arena floor, but then they'll have baby many
goats which will interact with everyone as they're doing yoga.
A lot of the goats will jump on people's backs

(03:56):
as they're in yoga positions. They'll interact. There's always photo ops.
It's just a unique way to interact with with agriculture. Why,
I guess having some exercise.

Speaker 1 (04:09):
So to wrap up, where is the event, how can
people get there? How much does it cost? And are
there any deals available?

Speaker 2 (04:18):
Okay? So the Hillsborough County Fairgrounds is located at two
one five Sydney Washer Road. That's at the intersection of
Sydney Washer Road and Highway sixty, just east of Brandon.
Our website is Hillsborough countyfair dot com. It has the
full schedule of events and ticket prices, but we have
some really great daily promotions. Our opening night, which is

(04:42):
this Thursday is a parload night and that is fifty
dollars for a parload of people up to eight people.
That will get you in the gate and get you
right on vands. We also have some great specials like
two dollars night. We also have Hebroes Weekend, so just
go to that website and check out all our daily deals.

Speaker 1 (05:02):
All right, very good. Suzanne Holcomb, manager of the Hillsborough
County Fair, which is starting this Thursday, October thirtieth and
running through Sunday November ninth, Thank you very much for
joining us on Beyond the News.

Speaker 2 (05:14):
Thank you