DOSWELL—Food, fun, philanthropy and world record-breaking produce shared the spotlight as hundreds of thousands of fairgoers attended the 2023 State Fair of Virginia.

While the fair’s 10-day run began with a wet start and closed early the first Saturday due to Tropical Storm Ophelia, things weren’t down for long. Clear skies and warm weather greeted crowds for the remainer of the fair, with the last Saturday setting a new attendance milestone—reaching capacity for the first time in the event’s history.

“The tropical storm on the first Saturday led to a natural shift of attendance to the final weekend with perfect weather,” explained Marlene Jolliffe, the fair’s executive director. “We worked incredibly hard across the operation to serve our guests with a high level of customer service.”

Overall, the 2023 State Fair of Virginia welcomed 210,000 fairgoers under the theme “Your Fair, Your Way.” The theme was a celebration of the many different ways fairgoers enjoy the event.

“We wouldn’t be who we are today without our loyal fairgoers who create traditions and have their own approaches to what makes their visits special,” Jolliffe said.

One of the fair’s longstanding traditions is the Giant Veggie Weigh-Off, which took place on the first Saturday. During the rainy afternoon, Jason Loris of Rappahannock County set a new world record for the heaviest butternut squash. His entry weighed in at 131.4 pounds.

And after feasting their eyes on giant produce, many fairgoers indulged in another tradition—fair food. Amid classics like turkey legs and funnel cakes, several concessionaires debuted new delights and engaged in friendly competition for the inaugural Flavor of the Fair contest. Fun Times Food took first place with a nacho cheese corn dog rolled in Flamin’ Hot Cheetos®. Pumpkin ice cream with marshmallow, graham cracker and maple syrup by Polar Bear Ice Cream came in second, and Phat Boyz Catering’s crabcake eggroll placed third.

Fairgoers also voted for their favorites on social media, with Parnell Foods’ Turtle Beignets named the Facebook Fan Favorite.

In addition to fun and entertainment, the fair is known for its philanthropic endeavors supporting youth education and charitable efforts. This year’s fair raised over $137,000 for nonprofits that support youth.

The annual Sale of Champions and Black Tie & Boots events and the auction of Ben Risney chainsaw carvings raised over $136,000 for the State Fair of Virginia Youth Scholarship Program.

The fair also partnered with the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU to hold the inaugural SFVA Crafters for Children online auction. Sales of donated handcrafted items raised $1,040 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation and the fair’s scholarship program.

Media: Contact Jolliffe at 804-994-2802, or Pam Wiley, vice president of communications, at 804-291-6315.