So are there State Fairs or something similar to the U.S. equivalent in Europe?

9 comments

1. Look up Gardaland. At least I think this is what you mean.

2. Germany: we don’t have anything that is exactly like State Fairs. However, most towns have something where you can find these kinds of rides once or twice a year.

   The names vary, but “Kirmes”, “Jahrmarkt”, or “Volksfest” would be terms understood by most. You’ll find rides and similar attractions, plus food stalls. You won’t get the full US State Fair experience (no farm animal shows, for example), but the eating fatty foods and then throwing them up again after riding some attraction your stomach can’t handle bit is definetely there.

3. Yes, but its more about national culture (national music, cuisine and so on. There are small ones in agro-towns and bigger ones in big cities and capital.

   Usually sells: food, clothes, sometimes makeup.

4. We have something we call a “kermis”, which would be akin to a traveling carnival in English.

   One of the biggest in Europe is held every year in the city of Tilburg, which attracts over a million people a year.
   It’s been held for over 450 years now.

   Other than that, we also have “jaarmarkten” or “braderie’s”, which are annual markets held in most towns across the Netherlands. They usually contain, as you may expect, market stands, flea markets, different kinds of attractions, activities and expositions (usually related to the town’s image). It is also often paired with a far smaller “kermis” than the one in Tilburg.

5. There is traveling fairs, though they are mostly rides and amusements were you win prizes, plus a few food stalls. But these are just traveling around like a circus would.

   There is also country shows that will be a lot more agricultural and are yearly events for each region. https://www.countryfile.com/go-outdoors/days-out/best-country-shows-to-visit-this-year/

6. We have that in our city – it happens twice a year, there is an amusement park section but half of the place is dedicated to companies, etc. demonstrating products or services.

7. We have much smaller types that are mobile and appear mainly by the end of harvest season (August-September) as part of end of the harvest celebration called “Dožínky”

8. No, we don’t have fun in Germany, go back to work 😀

9. We have a somewhat similar concept, which we call *feira popular* (although they’re not always explicitly called like that), they can be their own thing, or they can happen in association with local or seasonal festivities (for example, related to patron saints; the town/city/village’s votive holiday; local festivals related to harvest/food/music/what-have-you; general holidays; etc.).

   They can have carousels; roller coasters; all sorts of booths with carnival related games and small carts with carnival related foods like cotton candy, pop corn, hotdogs and even waffles and ice cream (if season appropriate).