Pensacola Interstate Fair has a little something for everyone | Troy Moon
Normally, a cattle rancher might think someone telling them "I like your cow. She's real pretty" is a little creepy. Or, they might just think the admirer has a discerning eye and proceed to gussy up said cow up a bit ? maybe a fancy bow or pretty bell necklace ? and bring the cutie to the "Prettiest Cow" contest on Oct. 20 at the Pensacola Interstate Fair, which runs Oct. 17 through Oct. 27.
The "Prettiest Cow" contest runs the day before the Youth and FFA Steer Show on Oct. 21, where judges will select winners not based on how alluring their cow eyes are, or which cow has the most confident smile, but on other important cow qualities of which I'm not familiar.
Ah, the Pensacola Interstate Fair. (The sighing "ah" is not so much for the fair, but for the cool fall air ?hopefully ? that normally accompanies the fair.) Which reminds me of one of my favorite fall songs, the Drive-By Truckers' "First Air of Autumn" ? "First air of autumn up your nose/Popcorn, hairspray and nylon panty hose..."
Sorry, the fair always conjures up music in my mind, from the dizzying sounds and melodies flowing from whirling carnival rides, to the live entertainment the fair folks bring to town this year. Past performers include, in my opinion, the greatest rock & roll artist of all time, Little Richard in 2012, Quiet Riot and Skid Row in 2006, Starship in 2019 and dozens and dozens more.
Pensacola Fair: Pensacola Interstate Fair 2024 entertainment schedule announced
Fair folks have just announced the entertainment lineup for 89th Pensacola Interstate Fair, and there's a few names that jumped out at me right away, including two big ones paired together, Twitty & Lynn. Tre Twitty and Tayla Lynn, the grandchildren of country greats Conway Twitty and Loretta Lynn, will perform Oct. 19 at the fair. This might be the show for me, because I'm a huge fan of each artist, and their 1973 smoker "Louisiana Woman, Mississippi Man" is still one of the hottest country duets ever. Twitty and Lynn released 10 albums together, and the younger Twitty and Lynn will be resurrecting some of those classics for the Pensacola performance, as well as performing music of their own. I've never listened to the grandchildren, but we already know that great country genes are sometimes carried onto the grandkids, evidenced by the great Hank Williams III, who a lot of folks would love to see in Pensacola.
Another big name for the fair lineup is Aaron Tippin, the country neotraditionalist who started out as a songwriter in the vaunted Acuff-Rose stable. (Now I have Uncle Tupelo's "Acuff-Rose" in my head). In 1991, Tippin released his blue-collar debut album, which produced the hit single "You've Got to Stand for Something" which became somewhat of an anthem for U.S. troops fighting in the Gulf War. Tippin has been solid, if sometimes underappreciated, ever since. Tippin performs Friday, Oct. 18.
Other performers include Tristan Harper, a 15-year-old Alabamian who was a Season 22 finalist on "American Idol" on Oct. 21, and Chris Janson, who has scored No. 1 country hits with "Buy Me a Boat" and "Good Vibes."
A local favorite, the White Tie Rock Ensemble, will play tributes to two Florida classics, Tom Petty and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The dapper folks from the WTRE will undoubtably be among the best dressed folks at the fair. (Though, we expect some pretty spiffy cows also.)
Note: Now I have Wussy's "Grand Champion Steer" playing in my head. Might be the most perfect fair song ever, beginning with the line "The way that you looked at the fair/The gleam in your eyes like you'd taken a dare."
I have that gleam every time I follow up a fair Pronto Pub with cotton candy. It's the best.
Details: www.pensacolafair.com.
This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Pensacola Interstate Fair with Aaron Tippin, "American Idol" alum.
