The Disneyland State Fair was a promotional event held in Frontierland during the falls of 1987 and 1988, transforming Big Thunder Ranch and nearby areas into a vibrant county fair with carnival games, fair foods, parades, and live entertainment, including the Pigmania Pig Races. Designed to evoke a traditional American state fair, it ran for two seasons before being discontinued.
Here are 10 fun facts about the Disneyland State Fair:
- Two-Season Run: The Disneyland State Fair operated in fall 1987 (August 28–October 18) and fall 1988 (August 26–October 16), turning Frontierland into a festive fairground for seven-week periods to boost late-season attendance.
- Big Thunder Ranch Hub: Big Thunder Ranch served as the main venue, hosting the Pigmania Pig Races, a petting zoo with farm animals, and a stage for live performances, decorated with hay bales and red-white-blue bunting to mimic a rural fair.
- Carnival Games Galore: The fair offered classic carnival games like ring toss, milk bottle knockdown, and a dunk tank, set up in the Hub and Frontierland, where guests could win small prizes such as stuffed animals or fair-themed trinkets.
- Fair Food Feast: Food booths sold state fair staples, including corn dogs, cotton candy, caramel apples, and funnel cakes, with the Big Thunder Barbecue providing hearty options like ribs and corn on the cob.
- State Fair Parade: A daily parade rolled through Frontierland, featuring floats with a giant Mickey Mouse balloon, farm animal puppets, stilt walkers, and the Barley Boys band, who also performed at the Pigmania races.
- Barley Boys Entertainment: The Barley Boys, a comedic musical group, headlined the Pigmania Pig Races and roamed the fairgrounds, playing banjo and fiddle tunes with pig-themed lyrics, dressed in exaggerated hillbilly overalls.
- Olym-Pigs Theme: In 1988, the fair adopted an “Olym-Pigs” theme, tying the Pigmania races to a mock Olympics with pigs competing in events like the “Three Little Pigs” sprint, complete with medal ceremony skits.
- Petting Zoo Attraction: A petting zoo at Big Thunder Ranch allowed guests to interact with goats, sheep, pigs, and chickens, complementing the fair’s agricultural focus and providing a hands-on experience for kids.
- Craft and Exhibit Booths: The fair included booths showcasing farm-related displays, such as butter churning and blacksmithing demonstrations, alongside craft stalls selling fair-themed souvenirs like ribbons and toy tractors. The fair’s main entrance featured a large archway with a “Disneyland State Fair” sign, adorned with checkered patterns and prize ribbons, setting the festive tone as guests approached Big Thunder Ranch.
- Free with Admission: All State Fair activities, including games, shows, and the petting zoo, were included with park admission, making it accessible to all guests, though food and some prizes required separate purchases.
