John's Pass Village 

The Florida State Fair

Sptimes.com-The Florida State Fair opens today and continues through Feb. 18. Gates open at 9 a.m. daily; midway opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Friday and at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and on Student Days (Feb. 8 and 18). Closing hours vary. For more information, call toll-free 1-800-345-3247 or (813) 621-7821.

Admission: $10 adults, $5 ages 6-11 at gate. Pepsi Armband Days ($25 for unlimited rides) are Feb. 8, 10, 15, 17 and 18. Senior Days ($6 ages 55 and older at the gate) are Feb. 12-14.

Getting there: There are three entrances, off Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard, off U.S. 301 and off Orient Road.

Parking: Free on-site parking is available with trolleys shuttling fairgoers to and from remote parking lots.

Entrance: Gates are located on four sides of the fairgrounds: Gate 1 (facing U.S. 301), Gate 2 (near Cracker Country), Gate 3 (facing Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard) and Gate 4 (facing Orient Road).

What's new

La Plaza Hispanic Village: Food, exhibits, entertainment and cultural activities from Hispanic countries, including Mexico, Cuba and Colombia.

Fair food: Deep-fried cookie dough, pizza-on-a-stick, wet burritos, "walking" tacos, deep-fried fudge, deep-fried bratwurst, fried-fruit-on-a-stick and (gasp! not fried) steamed clams.

Entertainment: Kachunga & the Alligator, featuring alligator wrestling; Hotel California, an Eagles tribute band; Bill Wharton, the Sauce Boss; Dueling Pianos, an interactive show; Jousting Tournament; the Blacksmiths World Championship.

Returning favorites

Cracker Country: A museum where visitors can experience what life was like more than 100 years ago in rural Florida.

Other favorites: Circus Hollywood, Sea Lion Splash show, Hollywood Racing Pigs, Welde's Big Bear Show & Grizzly Falls, bull riding and barrel racing, Spanish Lyric Theatre and more.

Entertainment highlights

(Entertainment Hall, free with admission)

GLITZ! - A Las Vegas Revue: 1 and 3 p.m. today; 3, 5 and 7 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1, 3 and 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday.

Country Gold Tour concert: 10 and 4 p.m. Feb. 14 (concert ticket $10, gate admission required).

FCW Wrestling featuring WWE Stars of Tomorrow: Autographs at 5 p.m.; matches at 6 and 8 p.m. Feb. 15.

Elvis Extravaganza Impersonator National Finals: 1, 3 and 6 p.m. Feb. 16-17.

Roller Derby Championship: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Feb. 18.